[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 193 (Monday, October 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62712-62713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21877]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA479]


Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
Provisions; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Withdrawal of Notice of Intent 
To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 7

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

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council initiated 
development of Amendment 7 to the

[[Page 62713]]

Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan in late 2017. A notice of 
intent to develop an environmental impact statement for this action was 
published in June 2018. However, following a second round of scoping 
meetings in February and March 2020, it has been determined that the 
range of proposed alternatives included in this amendment are not 
expected to have significant impacts on the fishery or affected 
environment. Therefore, NMFS is withdrawing the notice of intent and 
will continue development of an environmental assessment instead.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Ferrio, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, (978) 281-9180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December 2017, the Council initiated a 
comprehensive amendment to the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 
to review and update the goals and objectives of this FMP, as well as 
reevaluate quota allocation and transfer provisions between sectors and 
states, in light of changing fishery conditions and stakeholder 
priorities. The Council published a notice of intent to develop an 
environmental impact statement for this amendment in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act to analyze the impacts of any 
proposed management measures (83 FR 26267; June 6, 2018), and held a 
series of scoping hearings with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission's Bluefish Board in June and July of 2018. Following this 
round of scoping, development on the amendment was put on hold until 
the results of the August 2019 operational stock assessment were 
available that incorporated revised Marine Recreational Information 
Program data into its model.
    The 2019 assessment determined that the bluefish stock is now 
overfished although overfishing is not occurring, and at its December 
2019 meeting, the Council decided to add the rebuilding plan to 
Amendment 7. The Council must develop and implement a rebuilding plan 
within 2 years of notification that a stock is overfished, by the end 
of November 2021. Following a second round of scoping hearings in 
February and March 2020, the Council and NMFS have determined that the 
range of proposed alternatives included in this amendment are not 
expected to have significant impacts on the fishery or affected 
environment and that an environmental assessment will be developed. 
Therefore, this notice announces the Council's withdrawal of the Notice 
of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 7 
to the Bluefish FMP. Development of the amendment will continue with an 
environmental assessment instead.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 29, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-21877 Filed 10-2-20; 8:45 am]
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