[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 11, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70235-70236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6010]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 061109296-7009-02]
RIN 0648-XE18


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 State of Maine and the State of 
Maryland are transferring commercial bluefish quota to the State of 
Rhode Island from their 2007 quotas. By this action, NMFS adjusts the 
quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state 
involved.

DATES: Effective December 6, 2007, through December 31, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Bryant, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9244, 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 is 
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.
    Maine and Maryland have agreed to transfer 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) 
and 50,000 lb (22,680 kg), respectively, of their 2007 commercial 
quotas to Rhode Island. 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 2007 are: Rhode Island, 
738,790 lb (335,110 kg); Maine, 32,323 lb (14,661 kg); and Maryland, 
207,403 lb (94,076 kg).

[[Page 70236]]

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 5, 2007.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 07-6010 Filed 12-6-07; 1:33 pm]
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