[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 42315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6489]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 051128313-6029-02; I.D. 071906C]


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

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is 
transferring 125,000 lb (56,699 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the 
State of New York from its 2006 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the 
quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for New York and 
Virginia.

DATES: Effective July 21, 2006 through December 31, 2006, unless NMFS 
publishes a superseding document in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9341, fax (978) 281-9135.

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 Florida through Maine. The process to set the 
annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state 1s 
described in Sec.  648.160.
    Two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence 
of the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
can transfer or combine bluefish commercial quota under Sec.  
648.160(f). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the 
criteria set forth in Sec.  648.160(f)(1) in the evaluation of requests 
for quota transfers or combinations.
    Virginia has agreed to transfer 125,000 lb (56,699 kg) of its 2006 
commercial quota to New York. The Regional Administrator has determined 
that the criteria set forth in Sec.  648.160(f)(1) have been met. The 
revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2006 are: New York, 900,526 
lb (408,472 kg); and Virginia, 720,915 lb (327,002 kg).

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: July 20, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6489 Filed 7-21-06; 1:04 pm]
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