[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 3 (Friday, January 5, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 051104293-5344-02; I.D. 122806A]


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 Massachusetts is 
transferring 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the 
State of Rhode Island from its 2006 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts 
the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state 
involved.

DATES: Effective December 29, 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.
    Massachusetts has agreed to transfer 20,000 lb (9,072 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, 622,101 lb (282,180 kg) and Massachusetts, 
514,823 lb (233,520 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 28, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9994 Filed 12-29-06; 1:29 pm]
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