{"abstract":"NMFS is enacting a seasonally adjusted gear restriction by closing portions of the Mid-Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters to fishing with gillnets with a mesh size larger than 8-inch (20.3 cm) stretched mesh. The purpose of this action is to reduce the impact of large-mesh gillnet fisheries on endangered and threatened species of sea turtles, primarily the monkfish fishery which uses large-mesh gillnet gear and operates in the area when sea turtles are present.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","name":"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration","id":361,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/361","parent_id":54,"slug":"national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2002/12/03/02-30605.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":222,"title":50},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":223,"title":50}],"citation":"67 FR 71895","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This final rule is effective on January 2, 2003.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket 020313057-2278-02","I.D. 031102E"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"02-30605","effective_on":"2003-01-02","end_page":71900,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2002/12/03/02-30605.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2002/12/03/02-30605/sea-turtle-conservation-restrictions-to-fishing-activities","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/02-30605?publication_date=2002-12-03","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2002-12-03/02-30605/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":6,"page_views":{"count":158,"last_updated":"2026-07-26 18:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-12-03/pdf/02-30605.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2002-12-03","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2002/12/03/02-30605.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0648-AP91":{"issue":"200210","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-AP91/sea-turtle-conservation-regulations-fishery-activities","title":"Sea Turtle Conservation Regulations; Fishery Activities","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200210&RIN=0648-AP91&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0648-AP91"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":71895,"subtype":null,"title":"Sea Turtle Conservation; Restrictions to Fishing Activities","toc_doc":"Mid-Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone; closure to large-mesh gillnet fishing","toc_subject":"Endangered and threatened species:","topics":[],"type":"Rule","volume":67}