[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 89396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29720]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6225-01]
RIN 0648-XF069


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 Maryland to the State of New York. 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 Maryland and 
New York.

DATES: Effective December 9, 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).
    Maryland and New York have requested the transfer of 50,000 lb 
(22,680 kg) of bluefish commercial quota from Maryland to New York. 
Both states have certified that the transfer meets all pertinent state 
requirements. This quota transfer was requested by 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: Maryland, 
96,631 lb (43,831 kg); and New York, 927,289 lb (420,611 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: December 7, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-29720 Filed 12-9-16; 8:45 am]
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