Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Resubmitted Measures

NMFS issues this final rule to implement three provisions of Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries (FMP) that were initially disapproved but have been revised and resubmitted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). These measures revise the overfishing definition for Atlantic mackerel, establish criteria for a moratorium vessel permit for Illex squid, and establish a 5,000-lb (2.27 mt) incidental catch permit for Illex squid. The intent of these measures is to prevent overfishing and to avoid overcapitalization of the domestic fleet in these fisheries.