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Home » 2015 Issues » 80 FR (09/02/2015) » 2015-21638. Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer

  2015-21638. Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer  

  • Start Preamble

    AGENCY:

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

    ACTION:

    Temporary rule; quota transfer.

    SUMMARY:

    NMFS approves the transfer of 2015 commercial Atlantic bluefish quota from the State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia to the State of Rhode Island. These transfers comply with the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions, specified in federal regulations. This announcement also informs the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

    DATES:

    Effective September 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

    Start Further Info

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

    End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental Information

    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 § 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 § 648.162(e). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the criteria in § 648.162(e) in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations.

    North Carolina has agreed to transfer 100,000 lb (45,359 kg), and Virginia 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) of their 2015 commercial bluefish quotas to Rhode Island. This transfer was requested by state officials in Rhode Island to ensure their commercial bluefish quota is not exceeded. The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in § 648.162(e)(1) are met and approves these transfers. The revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2015 are: North Carolina, 1,380,371 lb (626,126 kg); Virginia, 422,629 lb (191,701 kg); and Rhode Island 506,826 lb (229,892 kg), based on quota defined in the final 2015 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications (80 FR 46848, published on August 6, 2015).

    Classification

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

    Start Authority

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

    End Authority Start Signature

    Dated: August 27, 2015.

    Alan D. Risenhoover,

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

    End Signature End Supplemental Information

    [FR Doc. 2015-21638 Filed 9-1-15; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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Document Information

Effective Date:
9/1/2015
Published:
09/02/2015
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Temporary rule; quota transfer.
Document Number:
2015-21638
Dates:
Effective September 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
Pages:
53015-53015 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 140117052-4402-02
RINs:
0648-XE09
PDF File:
2015-21638.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