[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 229 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62706-62707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28759]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 090206144 9697 02]
RIN 0648-XS73


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 States of Connecticut and Florida are 
transferring commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York from 
their 2009 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces 
the revised commercial quotas for New York, Connecticut, and Florida.

DATES: Effective November 30, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Heil, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9257.

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.
    Connecticut and Florida have agreed to transfer 75,000 lb (34,019 
kg) and 200,000 lb (90,718 kg), respectively, of their 2009 commercial 
quota to New York. 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 2009 are: New York, 1,401,384 lb 
(635,657 kg); Connecticut, 48,219 lb (21,872 kg); and Florida, 778,869 
lb (353,289 kg).

[[Page 62707]]

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 24, 2009
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-28759 Filed 11-30-09; 8:45 am]
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