[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41151-41152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19770]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 0102208032-110902-02; I.D. 072301E]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish 
Fishery; Commercial Quota Transfer and Fishery Reopening

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

ACTION: Commercial quota transfer; fishery reopening.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, and the State of Florida have transferred a total of 700,000 
lb (317,515 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the State of North 
Carolina from their respective 2001 quotas. NMFS has adjusted the 
quotas and announces the revised commercial quotas of Atlantic bluefish 
for each state involved and the reopening of the commercial Atlantic 
bluefish fishery in North Carolina. This action is permitted under the 
regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for the Bluefish 
Fishery (FMP) and is intended to reduce discards and economic impacts 
in the North Carolina commercial bluefish fishery.

DATES: Effective August 2, 2001 through December 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Ferreira, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9103, fax (978) 281-9135, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Maine through Florida. The

[[Page 41152]]

process to set the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to 
each state are described in Sec. 648.160.
    The initial total commercial quota for bluefish for the 2001 
calendar year was set equal to 9,583,010 lb (4,348,008 kg) (66 FR 
23625, May 9, 2001). The resulting quota for North Carolina was 
3,072,386 lb (1,394,005 kg), for Maryland was 287,662 (130,518 kg), for 
Virginia was 1,138,412 lb (516,521 kg), and for Florida was 964,021 lb 
(437,396 kg). The commercial quota for North Carolina was attained and 
the fishery closed on May 15, 2001 (66 FR 27043).
    The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the FMP was published on 
July 26, 2000 (65 FR 45844), and allows two or more states, under 
mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the Administrator, 
Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), to transfer or combine 
part or all of their annual commercial quota. The Regional 
Administrator must consider the criteria set forth in Sec. 648.160 
(f)(1) in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or 
combinations.
    Maryland, Virginia, and Florida have agreed to transfer 100,000 lb 
(45,359 kg), 300,000 lb (136,116 kg), and 300,000 lb (136,116 kg) of 
their respective 2001 commercial quotas to North Carolina. The Regional 
Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in Sec.  
648.160(f)(1) have been met, and publishes this notification of quota 
transfer. The revised quotas for the calendar year 2001 are: Maryland, 
187,662 lb (85,122 kg); Virginia, 838,412 lb (380,405 kg); Florida, 
664,021 (301,195 kg); and North Carolina, 3,772,386 lb (1,711,126 kg). 
NMFS also announces the reopening of the commercial bluefish fishery in 
North Carolina.
    This action does not alter any of the conclusions reached in the 
environmental impact statement prepared for Amendment 1 to the FMP 
regarding the effects of bluefish fishing activity on the human 
environment. Amendment 1 established procedures for setting an annual 
coastwide commercial quota for bluefish and a formula for determining 
the commercial quota for each state. Amendment 1 also established the 
quota transfer provision. This is a routine administrative action that 
reallocates commercial quota within the scope of previously published 
environmental analyses.

Classification

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

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

    Dated: August 1, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-19770 Filed 8-2-01; 4:29 pm]
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