Fishery conservation and management: Northeastern United States fisheries— Atlantic bluefish,

[Federal Register: December 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 235)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 70906-70907]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr07de06-20]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 051104293-5344-02; I.D. 112406A]

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; inseason quota transfer.

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is transferring 300,000 lb (136,078 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina from its 2006 quota and that the State of Maine is transferring 52,000 lb (23,587 kg) of commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective December 6, 2006 through December 31, 2006, unless NMFS publishes a superseding document in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Potts, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281-9341, 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 are 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.

Virginia has agreed to transfer 300,000 lb (136,078 kg) of its 2006 commercial quota to North Carolina. Maine has agreed to transfer 52,000 lb (23,587 kg) of its 2006 commercial quota to North Carolina. The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in Sec. 648.160(f)(1) have been met for each

[[Page 70907]]

of these transfers. The revised quotas for calendar year 2006 are: North Carolina, 3,204,869 lb (1,453,704 kg); Virginia, 420,915 lb (190,924 kg); and Maine, 1,230 lb (558 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: November 29, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. E6-20713 Filed 12-6-06; 8:45 am]

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