[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 28, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25697]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6594-02]
RIN 0648-XF834


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; quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is 
transferring a portion of its 2017 commercial bluefish quota to the 
State of Rhode Island. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply 
with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer 
provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 
commercial bluefish quotas for Virginia and Rhode Island.

DATES: Effective November 22, 2017, through December 31, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9180.

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 and the initial 2017 allocations were 
published on March 13, 2017 (82 FR 13402).
    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 NMFS Greater Atlantic 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 is transferring 338 lb (153 kg) of Atlantic bluefish 
commercial quota to Rhode Island. This transfer was requested by 
Virginia to repay landings by a Virginia-permitted vessel that landed 
in Rhode Island under a safe harbor agreement. Both states have agreed 
to the transfer and certified that it meets all pertinent requirements. 
The revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2017 are now: Virginia, 
1,014,435 lb (460,140 kg); and Rhode Island, 731,901 lb (331,985 kg); 
based on the initial quotas published in the 2016-2018 Atlantic 
Bluefish Specifications and subsequent transfers.

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, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25697 Filed 11-22-17; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P