2015-04215. Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer  

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    AGENCY:

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

    ACTION:

    Temporary rule; quota transfer.

    SUMMARY:

    NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of New Jersey. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement is intended to inform the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

    DATES:

    Effective February 25, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9112.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery are in 50 CFR 648.100 through 648.110. These regulations require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the coastal states from North Carolina through Maine. The process to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state are described in § 648.10(c)(1)(i).

    The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan provided a mechanism for summer flounder quota to be transferred from one state to another (December 17, 1993; 58 FR 65936). Two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator, can transfer or combine summer flounder commercial quota under § 648.102(c)(2). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the criteria in § 648.102(c)(2)(i) when evaluating requests for quota transfers or combinations.

    North Carolina has agreed to transfer 23,480 lb (10,650 kg) of its 2015 commercial quota to Virginia. This transfer was prompted by landings of the F/V Illusion and the F/V Jo Ann B, North Carolina vessels that were granted safe harbor in Virginia due to hazardous weather, medical emergencies, and mechanical failure on January 5 and 15, 2015. As a result of these landings, a quota transfer is necessary to account for an increase in Virginia's landings that would have otherwise accrued against the North Carolina quota. North Carolina has also agreed to transfer 9,062 lb (4,110 kg) of its 2015 commercial quota to New Jersey. This transfer was prompted by summer flounder landings of the F/V Bella Sky, a North Carolina vessel that was granted safe harbor in New Jersey due to mechanical failure on January 29, 2015. The quota transfer is necessary to account for an increase in New Jersey's landings that would have otherwise accrued against the North Carolina quota.

    The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in § 648.102(c)(2)(i) have been met. These transfers are consistent with the criteria because they will not preclude the overall annual quota from being fully harvested, the transfers address an unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery, and the transfers are consistent with the objectives of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The revised summer flounder commercial quotas for calendar year 2015 are: New Jersey, 1,860,420 lb (843,872 kg); Virginia, 2,383,120 lb (1,080,965 kg); and North Carolina, 3,005,551 lb (1,363,295 kg).

    Classification

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

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

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    Dated: February 24, 2015.

    Emily H. Menashes,

    Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

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    [FR Doc. 2015-04215 Filed 2-25-15; 4:15 pm]

    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
2/25/2015
Published:
03/02/2015
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Temporary rule; quota transfer.
Document Number:
2015-04215
Dates:
Effective February 25, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
Pages:
11139-11139 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 140117052-4402-02
RINs:
0648-XD77
PDF File:
2015-04215.pdf
Supporting Documents:
» Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska: Inseason Adjustment to the 2021 Gulf of Alaska Pollock and Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 2021 Specifications
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer from MD to NC
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan; Correction
» Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic: Electronic Reporting for Federally Permitted Charter Vessels and Headboats in Atlantic Fisheries
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Illex Squid Fishery; Revised 2020 Illex Squid Specifications
» Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic: Electronic Reporting for Federally Permitted Charter Vessels and Headboats in Gulf of Mexico Fisheries
» Pacific Halibut Fisheries: Catch Sharing Plan
» Vessel Monitoring Systems: Requirements for Type-Approval of Cellular Transceiver Units
» Taking and Importing Marine Mammals: Incidental to the U.S. Navy Training and Testing Activities in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Area
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 648