[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 16, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19504]



[[Page 54519]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6225-01]
RIN 0648-XE782


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 Florida is transferring a 
portion of its 2016 commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York. 
These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Atlantic 
Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This 
announcement informs the public of the revised commercial quotas for 
Florida and New York.

DATES: Effective August 15, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Scheimer, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9236.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish 
fishery are found in 50 CFR 648.160 through 648.167. The regulations 
require annual specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned 
among the coastal states from Maine through Florida. 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), and 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)(1)(i) through (iii). The 
Regional Administrator is required to consider the criteria in Sec.  
648.162(e) in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or 
combinations.
    Florida is transferring 50,000 lb (22,679 kg) of Atlantic bluefish 
commercial quota to New York. This quota transfer was requested by the 
State of New York to ensure that its 2016 quota would not be exceeded. 
The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth 
in Sec.  648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii) have been met. The revised 
bluefish quotas for calendar year 2016 are: Florida, 391,394 lb 
(177,533 kg); and New York, 587,289 lb (266,390 kg). These quotas are 
based on the final rule implementing the 2016-2018 Atlantic Bluefish 
Specifications that became effective August 4, 2016, inclusive of 
previous commercial bluefish transfers that were implemented in that 
rule.

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 11, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-19504 Filed 8-15-16; 8:45 am]
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