[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 250 (Thursday, December 30, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 82295-82296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32951]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 100204079-0199-02]
RIN 0648-XA084


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 Commonwealth of Virginia is 
transferring commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina 
from its 2010 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and 
announces the revised commercial quotas for Virginia and North 
Carolina.

DATES: Effective December 27, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

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.
    Virginia has agreed to transfer 250,000 lb (113,398 kg) of its 2010 
commercial quota to North Carolina. 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 2010 are: Virginia, 
963,280 lb (436,937 kg); and North Carolina, 3,524,441 lb (1,528,860 
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.


[[Page 82296]]


    Dated: December 27, 2010.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-32951 Filed 12-27-10; 4:15 pm]
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