[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 27, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 77626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9878]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 051104293 5344-02; I.D. 121806B]


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 State of Maryland is transferring 
45,000 lb (20,412 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the State of 
Rhode Island from its 2006 quota and that the State of Delaware is 
transferring 15,000 lb (6,804 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the 
State of Rhode Island. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and 
announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective December 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 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.
    Maryland has agreed to transfer 45,000 lb (20,412 kg) of its 2006 
commercial quota to Rhode Island. Delaware has agreed to transfer 
15,000 lb (6,804 kg) of its 2006 commercial quota to Rhode Island. The 
Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in 
Sec.  648.160(f)(1) have been met for each of these transfers. The 
revised quotas for calendar year 2006 are: Rhode Island, 602,101 lb 
(273,108 kg); Maryland, 194,021 lb (88,006 kg); and Delaware, 134,553 
(61,032 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: December 20, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9878 Filed 12-21-06; 2:17 pm]
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