NMFS is closing the waters of Pamlico Sound, North Carolina to fishing with gillnets with a mesh size larger than 5 inches (12.7 cm) stretched mesh for a 30-day period. The closed area includes all inshore waters of Pamlico Sound south of 35 deg.23' N. lat. and east of 76 deg.05' W. long. NMFS is taking this action because of its determination that the large mesh gillnet fishery is the most likely cause of significant increases in the stranding of sea turtles listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in Pamilco Sound. This action is necessary to protect threatened and endangered turtles from being taken by the large mesh, gillnet fishery in Pamlico Sound.