[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 27977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4522]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 051128313[dash]6029[dash]02; I.D. 050906C]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish 
Fishery; Commercial Quota Adjustment for New York

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces an adjustment in the Atlantic bluefish 
commercial quota available to New York. This action complies with 
regulations implementing the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP), which require that landings in excess of a state's commercial 
quota be deducted from that state's quota the following year. The 
public is advised that a quota adjustment has been made and is informed 
of the revised quota for New York.

DATES: This rule is effective May 15, 2006 through December 31, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Van Pelt, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, (978) 281-9244.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations implementing Atlantic bluefish 
management measures are found at 50 CFR part 648, subpart J. An annual 
commercial quota is allocated to each of the Atlantic coastal states 
from Maine through Florida. The process to set the annual commercial 
quota and the percent allocated to each state is described in Sec.  
648.160(e).
    Section 648.160(e)(2) provides that all landings in a state shall 
be applied against that state's annual commercial quota. Any landings 
in excess of the state's quota must be deducted from that state's 
annual quota for the following year. The final specifications for the 
2005 Atlantic bluefish fishery set the total adjusted coastwide 
commercial quota equal to 10,398,671 lb (4,717 mt) (70 FR 13402; March 
21, 2005). New York's adjusted quota share was calculated to be 
1,079,912 lb (489,840 kg).
    Based on dealer reports and other information available as of May 
1, 2006, NMFS determined that the State of New York landed 1,131,309 lb 
(513,153 kg) of Atlantic bluefish in 2005, thus exceeding its 2005 
adjusted commercial quota by 51,397 lb (23,313 kg). Landings for other 
states were below their respective quotas.
    On March 17, 2006, final specifications for the 2006 Atlantic 
bluefish commercial fishery became effective (71 FR 13776). The total 
adjusted commercial harvest was specified at 7,962,586 lb (3,612 mt). 
New York's portion of the commercial quota for 2006 totaled 826,923 lb 
(375,086 kg). Consistent with the regulations regarding the disposition 
of overages, New York's 2006 Atlantic bluefish commercial quota is 
hereby reduced by 51,397 lb (23,313 kg), from 826,923 lb (375,086 kg) 
to 775,526 lb (351,773 kg).

Classification

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

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

    Dated: May 9, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-4522 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S