[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23469]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6225-01]
RIN 0648-XE895


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 North Carolina to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 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 North Carolina and Massachusetts.

DATES: Effective September 28, 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).
    North Carolina and Massachusetts have requested the transfer of 
75,000 lb (34,019 kg) of bluefish commercial quota from North Carolina 
to Massachusetts. Both states have certified that the transfer meets 
all pertinent state requirements. This quota transfer was requested by 
Massachusetts 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: North Carolina, 1,391,100 lb (630,992 kg); and 
Massachusetts, 553,096 lb (250,880 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.

Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23469 Filed 9-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P