Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries (FMP); Recreational Measures for the 1997 Summer Flounder Fishery

NMFS issues this rule to amend the regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries (FMP) in order to implement management measures for the 1997 summer flounder recreational fishery. The measures include no closed season, a possession limit of ten fish per person, and a minimum fish size of 14.5 inches (36.8 cm). The intent of this rule is to comply with implementing regulations for the fishery that require NMFS to publish measures for the current fishing year that will prevent overfishing of the resource. This rule also makes minor technical changes to 50 CFR part 648 that are unrelated to implementing these management measures.