On December 5, 1996, NMFS published an emergency rule that closed the drift gillnet fishery for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, from December 1, 1996, through May 29, 1997, and announced that it had reinitiated consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for Atlantic swordfish fisheries. On May 29, 1997, NMFS issued a biological opinion (BO) that concluded that the swordfish, shark, and tuna driftnet fishery segments of the Atlantic pelagic fishery are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the North Atlantic right whale. Two alternatives that would avoid the likelihood of jeopardy were set forth in the BO, although NMFS has not identified a preferred alternative at this time. This action extends the emergency closure for the swordfish drift gillnet fishery for a second period of 180 days until November 26, 1997, or until a preferred option to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy is identified and implemented. This action also corrects the effective date language of the initial emergency closure that was published on December 5, 1996, because it inadvertently added the codified text of the temporary rule on a permanent basis.