[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 75008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30447]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 140117052-4402-02]
RIN 0648-XE321


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 State of New York. These quota adjustments are necessary to 
comply with the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer 
provision. This announcement is intended to inform the public of the 
revised commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective November 30, 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, which was published in the Federal Register 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, 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 250,000 lb (113,398 kg) of 
its 2015 commercial quota to New York. This transfer was prompted by 
state officials in New York to address an overage of its commercial 
bluefish quota and to provide sufficient quota to allow the fishery to 
remain open. The Regional Administrator has determined that the 
criteria set forth in Sec.  648.162(e)(1) have been met. The revised 
bluefish quotas for calendar year 2015 are: North Carolina, 1,139,371 
lb (512,727 kg); and New York, 1,094,304 lb (496,367 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 25, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30447 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
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