Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer, 83715 [2016-28089]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 225 / Tuesday, November 22, 2016 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 151130999–6225–01] RIN 0648–XF035 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; approval of quota transfer. AGENCY: NMFS announces its approval of a transfer of 2016 commercial bluefish quota from the State of Maine to the State of Rhode Island. The approval of the transfer complies with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement also informs the public of the revised commercial quotas for Maine and Rhode Island. DATES: Effective November 21, 2016, through December 31, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9112. 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 § 648.162. The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan was 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 Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), can request approval of a transfer of bluefish commercial quota under § 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii). The Regional Administrator must first approve any such transfer based on the criteria in § 648.162(e). Maine and Rhode Island have requested the transfer of 32,000 pounds (lb) (14,515 kilogram (kg)) of bluefish commercial quota from Maine to Rhode sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:34 Nov 21, 2016 Jkt 241001 Island. Both states have certified that the transfer meets all pertinent state requirements. This quota transfer was requested by Rhode Island to ensure that its 2016 quota would not be exceeded. The Regional Administrator has approved this quota transfer based on his determination that the criteria set forth in § 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii) have been met. The revised bluefish quotas for calendar year 2016 are: Maine, 655 lb (297 kg); and Rhode Island, 464,561 lb (210,721 kg). These quota adjustments revise the quotas specified in the final rule implementing the 2016–2018 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications published on August 4, 2016 (81 FR 51370), and reflect all subsequent commercial bluefish quota transfers completed to date. For information of previous transfers for fishing year 2016 visit: https:// go.usa.gov/xZT8H. 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 17, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–28089 Filed 11–21–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 [Docket No. 151023986–6763–02] RIN 0648–XE284 Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2016 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Bigeye Tuna Fishery; Closure National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. AGENCY: NMFS is closing the U.S. pelagic longline fishery for bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean because the fishery will reach the 2016 allocation limit for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). This action is necessary to comply with regulations managing this fish stock. DATES: Effective 12:01 a.m. local time December 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 83715 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariel Jacobs, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808–725–5182. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 22, 2016, NMFS restricted the retention, transshipment and landing of bigeye tuna captured by longline gear in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) because the U.S. longline fishery reached 2016 U.S. bigeye tuna limit of 3,554 mt (81 FR 45982, July 15, 2016). Regulations at 50 CFR 300.224(d) provide an exception to this closure for bigeye tuna caught by U.S. longline vessels identified in a valid specified fishing agreement under 50 CFR 665.819(c). Further, 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9) authorized NMFS to attribute catches of bigeye tuna made by U.S. longline vessels identified in a valid specified fishing agreement to the U.S. territory to which the agreement applies. Effective on September 9, 2016, NMFS specified a 2016 catch limit of 2,000 mt of longline-caught bigeye tuna for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or CNMI (81 FR 63145, September 14, 2016). NMFS also authorized each territory to allocate up to 1,000 mt of its 2,000 mt bigeye tuna limit to U.S. longline fishing vessels permitted to fish under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific (FEP). On September 9, 2016, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, through its Executive Director, transmitted to NMFS a specified fishing agreement between the CNMI and Quota Management, Inc. (QMI) dated April 14, 2016. NMFS reviewed the agreement and determined that it was consistent with the requirements at 50 CFR 665.819, the FEP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws (81 FR 64356, September 20, 2016). The criteria that a specified fishing agreement must meet, and the process for attributing longline-caught bigeye tuna, followed the procedures in 50 CFR 665.819— Territorial catch and fishing effort limits. In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d) and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), NMFS began attributing bigeye tuna caught in the WCPO by vessels identified in the CNMI/QMI agreement to the CNMI, beginning on September 9, 2016. NMFS monitored catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna by the CNMI longline fisheries, including catches made by U.S. longline vessels operating under the CNMI/QMI agreement. Based on this monitoring, NMFS forecasted that the E:\FR\FM\22NOR1.SGM 22NOR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 22, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 83715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28089]



[[Page 83715]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 151130999-6225-01]
RIN 0648-XF035


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; approval of quota transfer.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces its approval of a transfer of 2016 commercial 
bluefish quota from the State of Maine to the State of Rhode Island. 
The approval of the transfer complies with the Atlantic Bluefish 
Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement 
also informs the public of the revised commercial quotas for Maine and 
Rhode Island.

DATES: Effective November 21, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9112.

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.
    The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery 
Management Plan was 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 Administrator, Greater Atlantic Region, 
NMFS (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).
    Maine and Rhode Island have requested the transfer of 32,000 pounds 
(lb) (14,515 kilogram (kg)) of bluefish commercial quota from Maine to 
Rhode Island. Both states have certified that the transfer meets all 
pertinent state requirements. This quota transfer was requested by 
Rhode Island to ensure that its 2016 quota would not be exceeded. The 
Regional Administrator has approved this quota transfer based on his 
determination that the criteria set forth in Sec.  648.162(e)(1)(i) 
through (iii) have been met. The revised bluefish quotas for calendar 
year 2016 are: Maine, 655 lb (297 kg); and Rhode Island, 464,561 lb 
(210,721 kg). These quota adjustments revise the quotas specified in 
the final rule implementing the 2016-2018 Atlantic Bluefish 
Specifications published on August 4, 2016 (81 FR 51370), and reflect 
all subsequent commercial bluefish quota transfers completed to date. 
For information of previous transfers for fishing year 2016 visit: 
https://go.usa.gov/xZT8H.

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 17, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-28089 Filed 11-21-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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