[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21638]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140117052-4402-02]
RIN 0648-XE096


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 approves the transfer of 2015 commercial Atlantic 
bluefish quota from the State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of 
Virginia to the State of Rhode Island. These transfers comply with the 
Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions, specified 
in federal regulations. This announcement also informs the public of 
the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective September 1, 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) in the evaluation 
of requests for quota transfers or combinations.
    North Carolina has agreed to transfer 100,000 lb (45,359 kg), and 
Virginia 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) of their 2015 commercial bluefish quotas 
to Rhode Island. This transfer was requested by state officials in 
Rhode Island 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 and approves these transfers. The 
revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2015 are: North Carolina, 
1,380,371 lb (626,126 kg); Virginia, 422,629 lb (191,701 kg); and Rhode 
Island 506,826 lb (229,892 kg), based on quota defined in the final 
2015 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications (80 FR 46848, published on August 
6, 2015).

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 27, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21638 Filed 9-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P