[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71561-71562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27890]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 071212833-8179-02]
RIN 0648-XL76


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 Connecticut, the State of 
Rhode Island, the State of Delaware, and the

[[Page 71562]]

State of Maryland are transferring commercial bluefish quota to the 
State of New York from their 2008 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts 
the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state 
involved.

DATES: Effective November 19, 2008, through December 31, 2008.

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 inSec.  648.160(f)(1) in the evaluation of requests 
for quota transfers or combinations.
    Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Delaware have agreed to 
transfer 20,000 lb (9,072 kg), 50,000 lb (22,680 kg), 50,000 lb (22,680 
kg), and 90,000 lb (40,823 kg), respectively, of their 2008 commercial 
quotas to New York. The Regional Administrator has determined that the 
criteria set forth inSec.  648.160(f)(1) have been met. The revised 
bluefish quotas for calendar year 2008 are: New York, 1,157,057 lb 
(524,832 kg); Connecticut, 77,398 lb (35,107 kg); Rhode Island, 473,649 
lb (214,844 kg); Maryland, 180,885 lb (82,048 kg); and Delaware, 54,463 
lb (24,704 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 18, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-27890 Filed 11-19-08; 4:15 pm]
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