Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer, 64182 [2013-25362]

Download as PDF 64182 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2013 / Rules and Regulations to 12:01 a.m., local time, November 14, 2013, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. For a person on board a vessel for which a Federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for the South Atlantic snappergrouper fishery has been issued, the bag and possession limit and sale and purchase provisions of the commercial closure for gray triggerfish would apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in state or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.193(q)(1)(i). The commercial sector for gray triggerfish will reopen on January 1, 2014, the beginning of the 2014 commercial fishing season. Classification wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with RULES The Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS, has determined this temporary rule is necessary for the conservation and management of South Atlantic gray triggerfish and is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is taken under 50 CFR 622.8(c) and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. These measures are exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because the temporary rule is issued without opportunity for prior notice and comment. This action responds to the best available scientific information, and pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive the requirements to provide prior notice and the opportunity for public comment on this temporary rule. Such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because NMFS previously determined the commercial ACL for gray triggerfish would be reached by July 7, 2013, and therefore, closed the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 7, 2013. However, updated landings estimates indicate the commercial ACL for gray triggerfish has not been reached at this time, and therefore additional harvest is available in order to achieve optimum yield. All that remains is to notify the public that additional harvest is available under the VerDate Mar<15>2010 12:59 Oct 25, 2013 Jkt 232001 established ACL and, therefore, the commercial sector for gray triggerfish will reopen. Additionally, reopening the commercial sector for gray triggerfish will likely result in revenue increases to commercial vessels. Fishermen will be able to keep the gray triggerfish that they are currently required to discard. Delaying the implementation of this rulemaking to provide prior notice and the opportunity for public comment would reduce the likelihood of reopening the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the 2013 fishing year. For the aforementioned reasons, the AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 23, 2013. Kelly Denit, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–25297 Filed 10–23–13; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 130104009–3416–02] RIN 0648–XC921 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer. AGENCY: NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a portion of its 2013 commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved. DATES: Effective October 25, 2013, through December 31, 2013. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Bari, Fishery Management Specialist, 978–281–9224. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the 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 § 648.162. The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan, which was published on July 26, 2000 (65 FR 45844), provided a mechanism for bluefish quota to be transferred from one state to another. 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 § 648.162(e). The Regional Administrator is required to consider the criteria in § 648.162(e)(1) in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations. New Jersey has agreed to transfer 300,000 lb (136,078 kg) of its 2013 commercial quota to New York. This transfer was prompted by the diligent efforts of state officials in New York not to exceed the commercial bluefish quota. The Regional Administrator has determined that the criteria set forth in § 648.162(e)(1) have been met. The revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2013 are: New Jersey, 1,044,713 lb (473,874 kg); and New York, 1,242,548 lb (563,610 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: October 23, 2013. James P. Burgess, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–25362 Filed 10–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\28OCR1.SGM 28OCR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 64182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25362]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 130104009-3416-02]
RIN 0648-XC921


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; 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 State of New Jersey is transferring a 
portion of its 2013 commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York. 
By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised 
commercial quota for each state involved.

DATES: Effective October 25, 2013, through December 31, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Bari, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the 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.  648.162.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery 
Management Plan, which was published on July 26, 2000 (65 FR 45844), 
provided a mechanism for bluefish quota to be transferred from one 
state to another. 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.  648.162(e). The Regional Administrator is required to consider 
the criteria in Sec.  648.162(e)(1) in the evaluation of requests for 
quota transfers or combinations.
    New Jersey has agreed to transfer 300,000 lb (136,078 kg) of its 
2013 commercial quota to New York. This transfer was prompted by the 
diligent efforts of state officials in New York not to exceed the 
commercial bluefish quota. The Regional Administrator has determined 
that the criteria set forth in Sec.  648.162(e)(1) have been met. The 
revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2013 are: New Jersey, 
1,044,713 lb (473,874 kg); and New York, 1,242,548 lb (563,610 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: October 23, 2013.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-25362 Filed 10-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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