[Federal Register: August 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 161)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48306]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19au08-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 061109296-7009-02]
RIN 0648-XJ49
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; inseason quota transfer.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is
transferring commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York from
its 2008 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces
the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
DATES: Effective August 18, 2008, through December 31, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Bryant, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9244, fax (978) 281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish
fishery are found at 50 CFR part 648. The regulations require annual
specification of a commercial quota that is apportioned among the
coastal states from Florida through Maine. The process to set the
annual commercial quota and the percent allocated to each state is
described in Sec. 648.160.
Two or more states, under mutual agreement and with the concurrence
of the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
can transfer or combine bluefish commercial quota under Sec.
648.160(f). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the
criteria set forth in Sec. 648.160(f)(1) in the evaluation of requests
for quota transfers or combinations.
North Carolina has agreed to transfer 100,000 lb (45,359 kg) of its
2008 commercial quota to New York. The Regional Administrator has
determined that the criteria set forth in Sec. 648.160(f)(1) have been
met. The revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2008 are: New York,
847,057 lb (384,218 kg); and North Carolina, 2,365,973 lb (1,073,187
kg).
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: August 13, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19190 Filed 8-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S