[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 250 (Thursday, December 31, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 69287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-31064]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 0809251266-81485-02]
RIN 0648-XT39


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder 
Fishery; Quota Transfer

AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:  Temporary rule; inseason quota transfers.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a 
portion of its 2009 commercial summer flounder quota to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas 
and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the summer flounder 
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 North Carolina through Maine. The process to set 
the annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state are 
described in Sec.  648.100.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 5 to the Summer Flounder, 
Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, which was published 
on December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65936), provided a mechanism for summer 
flounder quota to be transferred from one state to another. Two or more 
states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence of the 
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), can 
transfer or combine summer flounder commercial quota under Sec.  
648.100(d). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the 
criteria set forth in Sec.  648.100(d)(3) in the evaluation of requests 
for quota transfers or combinations.
    Maine has agreed to transfer 3,790 lb (1,719.1 kg) of its 2009 
commercial quota to Massachusetts to cover the summer flounder landings 
of one vessel granted safe harbor in Massachusetts due to mechanical 
issues on December 15, 2009. The Regional Administrator has determined 
that the criteria set forth in Sec.  648.100(d)(3) have been met. The 
revised quotas for calendar year 2009 are: Maine, 1,317 lb (597.4 kg); 
and Massachusetts, 706,404 lb (320.4 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, 2009.
William D. Chappell,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-31064 Filed 12-30-09; 8:45 am]
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