2021-20763. Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfers From VA to NY and NJ to NC  

  • Start Preamble

    AGENCY:

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

    ACTION:

    Notification; quota transfers.

    SUMMARY:

    NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of New Jersey are transferring a portion of their 2021 commercial bluefish quota to the states of New York and North Carolina, respectively. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and New York.

    DATES:

    Effective September 23, 2021, through December 31, 2021.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Laura Hansen, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9225.

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish fishery are found in 50 CFR 648.160 through 648.167. These 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 is described in § 648.162, and the final 2021 allocations were published on December 16, 2020 (85 FR 81421).

    The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 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 NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator, can request approval to transfer or combine bluefish commercial quota under § 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii). The Regional Administrator must approve any such transfer based on the criteria in § 648.162(e). In evaluating requests to transfer a quota or combine quotas, the Regional Administrator shall consider whether: The transfer or combinations would preclude the overall annual quota from being fully harvested; the transfer addresses an unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery; and the transfer is consistent with the objectives of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

    Virginia is transferring 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) to New York, and New Jersey is transferring 40,000 lb (18,144 kg) to North Carolina through mutual agreement of the states. These transfers were requested to ensure that New York and North Carolina would not exceed their 2021 state quota. The revised bluefish quotas for 2021 are: Virginia, 258,800 lb (117,390 kg); New York, 357,438 lb (162,131 kg); New Jersey, 370,082 lb (167,866 kg); and, North Carolina, 927,377 lb (420,651 kg).

    Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempted from review under Executive Order 12866.

    Start Authority

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

    End Authority Start Signature

    Dated: September 21, 2021.

    Jennifer M. Wallace,

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

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2021-20763 Filed 9-23-21; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/23/2021
Published:
09/24/2021
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Notification; quota transfers.
Document Number:
2021-20763
Dates:
Effective September 23, 2021, through December 31, 2021.
Pages:
53012-53012 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 201209-0332
PDF File:
2021-20763.pdf
Supporting Documents:
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfers from Virginia to North Carolina and Florida to Rhode Island
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfers from Delaware to North Carolina and Maryland to Rhode Island
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfers from New Jersey to New York, Delaware to North Carolina, and New Hampshire to Rhode Island
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfers from NJ to RI and MD to NC
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfers from VA to NY and NJ to NC
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer from ME to RI
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer from VA to NY
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; 2021 Bluefish Specifications
» Fisheries of the Northeastern United States: Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; 2021 Bluefish Specifications
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 648