Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster Fishery; Interim Prohibition on Certain Vessels Landing Lobster in Excess of Specified Limits

NMFS issues this interim final rule to implement Congressionally mandated regulations contained in the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA), which amended the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act). The interim final rule implements regulations that prohibit any vessel that takes lobster in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by a method other than pots or traps from landing lobsters (or any parts thereof) at any location within the United States in excess of 100 lobsters (or parts thereof) for each fishing trip of 24 hours, or less duration, 500 lobsters (or parts thereof) during any 5-day period; or 500 lobsters (or parts thereof) for each fishing trip of 5 days or longer.