80 FR 57103 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 183 (September 22, 2015)

NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial Atlantic bluefish quota to the State of Rhode Island. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57103-57104]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24014]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140117052-4402-02]
RIN 0648-XE113


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish 
Fishery; Quota Transfer

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a 
portion

[[Page 57104]]

of its 2015 commercial Atlantic bluefish quota to the State of Rhode 
Island. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the 
Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This 
announcement informs the public of the revised commercial quota for 
each state involved.

DATES: Effective September 21, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978)-281-9112.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the bluefish fishery 
are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual 
specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the 
coastal states from Florida through Maine. The process to set the 
annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state are 
described in Sec.  648.162.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery 
Management Plan published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2000 (65 
FR 45844), and provided a mechanism for transferring bluefish quota 
from one state to another. Two or more states, under mutual agreement 
and with the concurrence of the Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, 
NMFS (Regional Administrator), can transfer or combine bluefish 
commercial quota under Sec.  648.162(e). The Regional Administrator is 
required to consider the criteria in Sec.  648.162(e)(1) in the 
evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations.
    Maine has agreed to transfer 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) of its 2015 
commercial quota to Rhode Island. This transfer was prompted by state 
officials in Rhode Island to ensure the state's commercial bluefish 
quota is not exceeded. The Regional Administrator has determined that 
the criteria set forth in Sec.  648.162(e)(1) are met. The revised 
bluefish quotas for calendar year 2015 are: Maine, 5,037 lb (2,284 kg); 
and Rhode Island, 536,826 lb (243,500 kg), based on the final 2015 
Atlantic Bluefish Specifications (80 FR 46848; August 6, 2015).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 17, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24014 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P