Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Fishery Management Plan for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; Recreational Measures for the 1999 Fisheries
SUMMARY: NMFS issues this final rule to implement annual Federal recreational measures for the 1999 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The purpose of these measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass resources. In addition, NMFS issues interim measures to allow states to implement a conservation equivalency provision. This provision allows states to implement measures for the summer flounder recreational fishery that are alternatives to the annual Federal measures, yet achieve a reduction in fishing mortality equivalent to that achieved by the annual Federal measures.