[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 65305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22868]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6225-01]
RIN 0648-XE868


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; approval of quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces its approval of a transfer of a portion of the 
2016 commercial bluefish quota from the State of New Jersey to the 
State of New York. This approval of the transfer complies with the 
Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. 
This announcement also informs the public of the revised commercial 
quotas for New Jersey and New York.

DATES: Effective September 21, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

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

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 request approval of a transfer of 
bluefish commercial quota under Sec.  648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii). 
The Regional Administrator must first approve any such transfer based 
on the criteria in Sec.  648.162(e).
    Both states have requested the transfer of 40,000 lb (18,144 kg) of 
bluefish commercial quota from New Jersey to New York. Both states have 
certified that the transfer meets all pertinent state requirements. 
This quota transfer was requested by the New York to ensure that its 
2016 quota would not be exceeded. The Regional Administrator has 
approved this quota transfer based on his determination 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: New 
Jersey, 683,739 lb (310,139 kg); and New York, 727,289 lb (329,893 kg). 
These quota adjustments revise the quotas specified in the final rule 
implementing the 2016-2018 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications published 
on August 4, 2016 (81 FR 51370), and reflect all subsequent commercial 
bluefish quota transfers completed to date. For information of previous 
transfers for fishing year 2016, visit: http://go.usa.gov/xZT8H.

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 19, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-22868 Filed 9-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P