[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62642-62643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26202]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

RIN 0648-XA694


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Tilefish Fishery; 
2012 Tilefish Fishing Quota Specification

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

ACTION: Quota specification.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the overall annual tilefish quota for the 
2012 fishing year will remain the same as it was in fishing year 2011. 
Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public 
in the Federal Register of the overall annual quota levels for tilefish 
if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged.

DATES: Effective November 1, 2011, through October 31, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Berthiaume, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9177; fax (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The tilefish regulations at 50 CFR 648.292 
specify that, in the absence of a new stock assessment or 
recommendation from the Tilefish Monitoring Committee, the previous 
year's tilefish specifications will remain effective for the following 
fishing year. The most recent tilefish stock assessment was completed 
in 2009, and the Tilefish Monitoring Committee has not taken any action 
to change the tilefish quota levels; therefore, the tilefish total 
allowable landings (TAL) for the 2012 fishing year will remain the same 
as the fishing year 2011 TAL of 1.995 million lb (904,917 kg). Five 
percent of the TAL (99,750 lb (45,246 kg)) is allocated to incidental 
catch, leaving 1,895,250 lb

[[Page 62643]]

(859,671 kg) to be allocated to Individual Fishing Quota holders.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR part 648 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 4, 2011.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-26202 Filed 10-7-11; 8:45 am]
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