[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 1994)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 93-32091]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 625

[Docket No. 921230-3020; I.D 122793C]

 

Summer Flounder Fishery

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

ACTION: Notification of commercial quota transfer and commercial quota 
availability.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notification to announce that 10,000 pounds 
(4,536 kg) of summer flounder commercial quota available to the State 
of North Carolina has been transferred to the State of Rhode Island. 
This transfer adjusts the commercial quota for the State of North 
Carolina to 3,121,750 pounds (1,416,016 kg) and adjusts the Rhode 
Island quota to 1,946,851 pounds (883,086 kg). As a result of this 
transfer, NMFS announces that vessels issued a Federal fisheries permit 
for the summer flounder fishery may resume landing summer flounder in 
the State of Rhode Island until further notice.

EFFECTIVE DATES: December 28, 1993 through December 31, 1993.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hannah Goodale, Fishery Policy Analyst, 508-281-9101.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Summer Flounder Fishery (FMP) are found at 50 
CFR part 625 (December 4, 1992, 57 FR 57358). The regulations require 
an 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 Sec. 625.20.
    The commercial quota for summer flounder for the 1993 calendar year 
is set equal to 12.35 million pounds (5.6 million kg) (January 22, 
1993, 58 FR 5658). The percent allocated to each state was adjusted by 
Amendment 4 to the FMP (September 24, 1993, 58 FR 49937) with 15.68298 
percent or 1,936,851 pounds (878,550 kg) allocated to Rhode Island, and 
27.44584 percent, or 3,389,565 pounds (1,537,497 kg) allocated to North 
Carolina.
    An emergency interim rule published August 26, 1993, (58 FR 45075), 
and extended on November 29, 1993 (58 FR 62556), allows two or more 
states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the 
Director, Northeast Region, NMFS, (Regional Director), to transfer or 
combine summer flounder commercial quota. The Regional Director is 
required to consider the criteria set forth in Sec. 625.20 in the 
evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations.
    The 1993 coastwide commercial quota apportioned to North Carolina 
effective on January 1, 1993 (58 FR 5658; January 22, 1993), in the 
amount of 3,435,214 pounds (1.56 million kg) was revised by Amendment 4 
to the FMP effective October 25, 1993 (58 FR 49937), reducing the 
amount by 45,649 pounds (20,706 kg) totalling 3,389,565 pounds (1.54 
million kg). North Carolina made three transfers during 1993 totalling 
257,815 pounds (116,942 kg) of summer flounder, reducing the amount to 
3,131,750 pounds (1.42 million kg). Two transfers were made to Virginia 
for 125,000 pounds (56,699 kg) each; one was effective on November 3, 
1993 (58 FR 59196; November 8, 1993), and the other was effective on 
November 19, 1993 (58 FR 62050). The third transfer was made to New 
Jersey in the amount of 7,815 pounds (3,545 kg) and was effective on 
November 18, 1993 (58 FR 61844; November 23, 1993).
    Further, the Regional Director is required to publish a 
notification in the Federal Register advising a state, and notifying 
Federal vessel and dealer permit holders that, effective upon a 
specific date, a portion of a state's commercial quota has been 
transferred to, or combined with, the commercial quota of another 
state.
    North Carolina and Rhode Island have agreed to transfer 10,000 
pounds (4,536 kg) of North Carolina's commercial quota to Rhode Island. 
The Regional Director has determined that the criteria set forth in 
Sec. 625.20 have been met, and publishes this notification of quota 
transfer. The revised quotas for the calendar year 1993 are: North 
Carolina--3,121,750 pounds (1,416,016 kg); Rhode Island--1,946,851 
pounds (883,086 kg).
    As a result of this quota transfer, the previous notice of closure 
effective December 22, 1993, is rescinded and vessels may again land 
summer flounder in Rhode Island until the available 1993 quota is 
harvested.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR part 625.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 625

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

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

    Dated: December 28, 1993.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 93-32091 Filed 12-28-93; 4:41 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M