On June 30, 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service received a Court Order from Judge Steven D. Merryday relative to the May, 1997 lawsuit challenging commercial harvest quotas for Atlantic sharks. This new decision virtually eliminates many of the new shark management measures that were to go into effect July 1, 1999, except for limited access (including incidental catch limits), trip limits (4,000 lb large coastal sharks), shark gillnet observer coverage, and all recreational shark measures. Specifically, the order states:

.... the Court hereby preliminarily, and until further order of the Court, expressly ENJOINS the defendant and his designees from enforcing the 1999 regulations, 64 Fed. Reg. 29090 (May, 28, 1999) with respect to Atlantic shark commercial catch quotas and flsh-counting methods (including the counting of dead discards and state commercial landings after federal closures) that are different from the quotas and fish counting methods prescribed by the 1997 Atlantic shark regulations, 62 Fed. Reg. 16648 (April 7, 1997)."

Therefore, the large coastal shark (LCS) quota reverts to its 1997 level of 1,285 mt dw (all species of LCS included), with no minimum size on ridgebacks, the pelagic and small coastal shark quotas also revert to their 1997 levels, the 1997 prohibited species list now applies in commercial fisheries only (five prohibited species: white, basking, whale, sand tiger and bigeye sand tiger). Note in particular that duskies are again an allowed species.

Limited access (including incidental trip limits), the 4,000 lb trip limit for LCS, the 100% observer coverage (for shark gillnets), and all recreational measures (minimum size, bag limits, and 1999 prohibited species list) still apply and will be enforced.