[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22953]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140117052-4402-02]
RIN 0648-XE162


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 Commonwealth of Virginia is 
transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial Atlantic bluefish quota 
to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This quota adjustment is 
necessary to comply with the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota 
transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the 
revised commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective September 8, 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 commercial 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.
    Virginia has agreed to transfer 50,000 lb (22,680 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: Virginia, 422,629 lb (191,701 kg); 
and Massachusetts, 602,036 lb (273,079 kg), based on the final 2015 
Atlantic Bluefish Specifications published August 6, 2015 (80 FR 
46848).

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: September 8, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-22953 Filed 9-8-15; 4:15 pm]
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