[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19486]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140117052-4402-02]
RIN 0648-XE077


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; quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is 
transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial Atlantic bluefish quota 
to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These quota adjustments are 
necessary to comply with the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota 
transfer provision. This announcement informs the public of the revised 
commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective August 5, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9112.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the 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 are 
described in Sec.  648.162.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery 
Management Plan published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2000 (65 
FR 45844), provided a mechanism for transferring bluefish quota from 
one state to another. Two or more states, under mutual agreement and 
with the concurrence of the Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, 
NMFS (Regional Administrator), can transfer or combine bluefish 
commercial quota under Sec.  648.162(e). The Regional Administrator is 
required to consider the criteria in Sec.  648.162(e)(1) in the 
evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations.
    North Carolina has agreed to transfer 200,000 lb (90,719 kg) of its 
2015 commercial quota to Massachusetts. This transfer was prompted by 
state officials in Massachusetts to ensure their commercial bluefish 
quota is not exceeded. The Regional Administrator has determined that 
the criteria set forth in Sec.  648.162(e)(1) are met. The revised 
bluefish quotas for calendar year 2015 are: North Carolina, 1,480,371 
lb (671,485 kg); and Massachusetts, 552,036 lb (250,399 kg), based on 
the final 2015 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications.

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: August 3, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-19486 Filed 8-5-15; 8:45 am]
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