[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 74009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30852]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 101228634-1149-02]
RIN 0648-XA825


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; 
Quota Transfer

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: The State of Florida is transferring a portion of its 2011 
commercial bluefish quota to New York State. By this action, NMFS 
adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each 
state involved.

DATES: Effective November 29, 2011, through December 31, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Bari, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the bluefish fishery 
are found at 50 CFR part 648, subpart J. 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 are 
described in Sec.  648.160.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery 
Management Plan, which was published on July 26, 2000 (65 FR 45844), 
provided a mechanism for bluefish 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 bluefish commercial quota under 
Sec.  648.160(f). The Regional Administrator is required to consider 
the criteria in Sec.  648.160(f)(1) in the evaluation of requests for 
quota transfers or combinations.
    Florida has agreed to transfer 200,000 lb (90,718.5 kg) of its 2011 
commercial quota to New York. This transfer was prompted by the 
diligent efforts of state officials in New York not to exceed the 
commercial bluefish quota. The Regional Administrator has determined 
that the criteria in Sec.  648.160(f)(1) have been met. The revised 
bluefish quotas for calendar year 2011 are: Florida, 743,117 lb 
(337,072.2 kg); and New York, 1,173,624 lb (532,346.9 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 23, 2011.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30852 Filed 11-29-11; 8:45 am]
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