[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 235 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70906-70907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20713]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 051104293-5344-02; I.D. 112406A]


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

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 300,000 lb (136,078 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to 
the State of North Carolina from its 2006 quota and that the State of 
Maine is transferring 52,000 lb (23,587 kg) of commercial bluefish 
quota to the State of North Carolina. By this action, NMFS adjusts the 
quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state 
involved.

DATES: Effective December 6, 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 are 
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 300,000 lb (136,078 kg) of its 2006 
commercial quota to North Carolina. Maine has agreed to transfer 52,000 
lb (23,587 kg) of its 2006 commercial quota to North Carolina. The 
Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in 
Sec.  648.160(f)(1) have been met for each

[[Page 70907]]

of these transfers. The revised quotas for calendar year 2006 are: 
North Carolina, 3,204,869 lb (1,453,704 kg); Virginia, 420,915 lb 
(190,924 kg); and Maine, 1,230 lb (558 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: November 29, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-20713 Filed 12-6-06; 8:45 am]
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