81 FR 56536 - Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 162 (August 22, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 162 (August 22, 2016)
| Page Range | 56536-56537 | |
| FR Document | 2016-19997 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 162 (Monday, August 22, 2016)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 56536-56537] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-19997] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 151130999-6225-01] RIN 0648-XE802 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the states of Florida and Delaware and the Commonwealth of Virginia are transferring portions of their 2016 commercial bluefish quota to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial quotas. DATES: Effective August 19, 2016, through December 31, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9112. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish fishery are found in 50 CFR 648.160 through 648.167. The regulations require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from Maine through Florida. 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), 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)(1)(i) through (iii). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the criteria in Sec. 648.162(e) in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations. The transfers and the final revised quotas are shown in Table 1. These quota transfers were requested by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to ensure that its 2016 quota would not be exceeded. The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in Sec. 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii) have been met. The quotas in Table 1 are based on the final rule implementing the 2016-2018 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications that became effective August 4, 2016 (81 FR 18559), and any subsequent approved state transfers. Table 1--Atlantic Bluefish Transfers, by State ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfer Final 2016 quota State --------------------------------------------------------------- lb kg lb kg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Massachusetts................................... 150,000 68,039 478,096 216,861 Delaware........................................ -50,000 -22,679 41,746 18,935 Virginia........................................ -50,000 -22,679 450,287 204,246 Florida......................................... -50,000 -22,679 341,394 154,853 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 56537]] 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: August 17, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-19997 Filed 8-19-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![56536 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
28, 2015). The percent allocated to The Assistant Administrator for Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These
vessels landing summer flounder in Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause quota adjustments are necessary to
Massachusetts is 6.82046 percent, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive comply with the Atlantic Bluefish
resulting in an initial commercial quota prior notice and the opportunity for Fishery Management Plan quota transfer
of 554,097 lb (251,334 kg). This public comment because it would be provision. This announcement informs
allocation was adjusted to 577,777 lb contrary to the public interest. This the public of the revised commercial
(262,075 kg) after Massachusetts action closes the summer flounder quotas.
received quota transfers from the states fishery for Massachusetts until January
of Virginia and North Carolina. 1, 2017, under current regulations. The DATES: Effective August 19, 2016,
The Administrator, Greater Atlantic regulations at § 648.103(b) require such through December 31, 2016.
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), action to ensure that summer flounder FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid
monitors the state commercial landings vessels do not exceed quotas allocated Lichwell, Fishery Management
and determines when a state’s to the states. If implementation of this Specialist, (978) 281–9112.
commercial quota has been harvested. closure was delayed to solicit prior
NMFS is required to publish public comment, the quota for this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
notification in the Federal Register fishing year would be exceeded, thereby Regulations governing the Atlantic
advising and notifying commercial undermining the conservation bluefish fishery are found in 50 CFR
vessels and dealer permit holders that, objectives of the Summer Flounder 648.160 through 648.167. The
effective upon a specific date, the state’s Fishery Management Plan. The AA regulations require annual specification
commercial quota has been harvested further finds, good cause to waive the of a commercial quota that is
and no commercial quota is no longer 30-day delayed effectiveness period, as apportioned among the coastal states
available to landing summer flounder in outline in 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), for the from Maine through Florida. The
that state. The Regional Administrator reason stated above. process to set the annual commercial
has determined, based upon dealer quota and the percent allocated to each
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
reports and other available information, state are described in § 648.162.
that the 2016 Massachusetts commercial Dated: August 17, 2016.
The final rule implementing
summer flounder quota will be Emily H. Menashes, Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery
harvested by August 12, 2016. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Management Plan published in the
Section 648.4(b) provides that Federal Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Federal Register on July 26, 2000 (65 FR
permit holders agree, as a condition of [FR Doc. 2016–19995 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am] 45844), provided a mechanism for
the permit, not to land summer flounder BILLING CODE 3510–22–P transferring bluefish quota from one
in any state that the Regional state to another. Two or more states,
Administrator has determined no longer under mutual agreement and with the
has commercial quota available. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE concurrence of the Administrator,
Therefore, effective 0001 hours, August Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS
19, 2016, landings of summer flounder National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (Regional Administrator), can transfer or
in Massachusetts by vessels holding
combine bluefish commercial quota
summer flounder commercial Federal
50 CFR Part 648 under § 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii).
fisheries permits are prohibited for the
The Regional Administrator is required
remainder of the 2016 calendar year, [Docket No. 151130999–6225–01] to consider the criteria in § 648.162(e) in
unless additional quota becomes
RIN 0648–XE802 the evaluation of requests for quota
available through a transfer and is
transfers or combinations.
announced in the Federal Register.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United The transfers and the final revised
Effective 0001 hours, August 19, 2016,
States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; quotas are shown in Table 1. These
federally permitted dealers are also
Quota Transfer quota transfers were requested by the
notified that they may not purchase
summer flounder from federally AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Commonwealth of Massachusetts to
permitted vessels that land in Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and ensure that its 2016 quota would not be
Massachusetts for the remainder of the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), exceeded. The Regional Administrator
calendar year, or unless additional Commerce. has determined that the criteria set forth
quota becomes available through a ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.
in § 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii) have
transfer from another state. been met. The quotas in Table 1 are
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the based on the final rule implementing
Classification states of Florida and Delaware and the the 2016–2018 Atlantic Bluefish
This action is required by 50 CFR part Commonwealth of Virginia are Specifications that became effective
648 and is exempt from review under transferring portions of their 2016 August 4, 2016 (81 FR 18559), and any
Executive Order 12866. commercial bluefish quota to the subsequent approved state transfers.
TABLE 1—ATLANTIC BLUEFISH TRANSFERS, BY STATE
Transfer Final 2016 quota
State
lb kg lb kg
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Massachusetts ................................................................................................. 150,000 68,039 478,096 216,861
Delaware .......................................................................................................... ¥50,000 ¥22,679 41,746 18,935
Virginia ............................................................................................................. ¥50,000 ¥22,679 450,287 204,246
Florida .............................................................................................................. ¥50,000 ¥22,679 341,394 154,853
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 162 / Monday, August 22, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 56537
Classification Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 17, 2016.
This action is taken under 50 CFR Emily H. Menashes,
part 648 and is exempt from review Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
under Executive Order 12866. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–19997 Filed 8–19–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:37:56
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:37:56
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Rules and Regulations | |
| Action | Temporary rule; quota transfer. | |
| Dates | Effective August 19, 2016, through December 31, 2016. | |
| Contact | Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9112. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 56536 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XE80 |
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