Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer
NMFS announces that the State of Maine and the State of Maryland are transferring commercial bluefish quota to the State of Rhode Island from their 2007 quotas. By this action, ...
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Temporary rule; inseason quota transfer.
SUMMARY:
NMFS announces that the State of Maine and the State of Maryland are transferring commercial bluefish quota to the State of Rhode Island from their 2007 quotas. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
DATES:
Effective December 6, 2007, through December 31, 2007.
Regulations governing the Atlantic 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 is described in § 648.160.
Two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), can transfer or combine bluefish commercial quota under § 648.160(f). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the criteria set forth in § 648.160(f)(1) in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations.
Maine and Maryland have agreed to transfer 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) and 50,000 lb (22,680 kg), respectively, of their 2007 commercial quotas to Rhode Island. The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in § 648.160(f)(1) have been met. The revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2007 are: Rhode Island, 738,790 lb (335,110 kg); Maine, 32,323 lb (14,661 kg); and Maryland, 207,403 lb (94,076 kg).
( printed page 70236)