[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 85904-85905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28658]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6225-01]
RIN 0648-XF049


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish 
Fishery; Quota Transfers

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; approval of quota transfers.

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

DATES: Effective November 28, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

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

[[Page 85905]]


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).
    Virginia and New York have requested two transfers totaling 80,000 
lb (36,287 kg) of bluefish commercial quota from Virginia to New York. 
Both states have certified that the transfers meet all pertinent state 
requirements. These quota transfers were requested by New York to 
ensure that its 2016 quota would not be exceeded. The Regional 
Administrator has approved these quota transfers 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: Virginia, 370,287 lb (167,959 kg); and New York, 877,289 
lb (397,932 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 22, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28658 Filed 11-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P