[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 83715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28089]



[[Page 83715]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6225-01]
RIN 0648-XF035


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 2016 commercial 
bluefish quota from the State of Maine to the State of Rhode Island. 
The 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 Maine and 
Rhode Island.

DATES: Effective November 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 was 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).
    Maine and Rhode Island have requested the transfer of 32,000 pounds 
(lb) (14,515 kilogram (kg)) of bluefish commercial quota from Maine to 
Rhode Island. Both states have certified that the transfer meets all 
pertinent state requirements. This quota transfer was requested by 
Rhode Island 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: Maine, 655 lb (297 kg); and Rhode Island, 464,561 lb 
(210,721 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: November 17, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28089 Filed 11-21-16; 8:45 am]
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