Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From NJ to RI, 55595 [2020-19923]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 175 / Wednesday, September 9, 2020 / Rules and Regulations
(ii) * * *
(C) From October 1 through the end
of February—100 fish.
(iii) * * *
(C) From October 1 through the end
of February—100 fish.
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[FR Doc. 2020–17863 Filed 9–8–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No.200623–0167; RTID 0648–
XA421]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery;
Quota Transfer From NJ to RI
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification; quota transfer.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces that the
State of New Jersey is transferring a
portion of its 2020 commercial bluefish
quota to the State of Rhode Island. This
quota adjustment is necessary to comply
with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery
Management Plan quota transfer
provisions. This announcement informs
the public of the revised commercial
bluefish quotas for New Jersey and
Rhode Island.
DATES: Effective September 8, 2020,
through December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations governing the Atlantic
bluefish fishery are found in 50 CFR
648.160 through 648.167. These
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 is described in § 648.162, and the
final 2020 allocations were published
on June 29, 2020 (85 FR 38794).
The final rule implementing
Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) 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 NMFS
SUMMARY:
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15:58 Sep 08, 2020
Jkt 250001
Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator,
can request approval to transfer or
combine bluefish commercial quota
under § 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii).
The Regional Administrator must
approve any such transfer based on the
criteria in § 648.162(e). In evaluating
requests to transfer a quota or combine
quotas, the Regional Administrator shall
consider whether: The transfer or
combinations would preclude the
overall annual quota from being fully
harvested; the transfer addresses an
unforeseen variation or contingency in
the fishery; and the transfer is consistent
with the objectives of the FMP and the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
New Jersey is transferring 45,000 lb
(20,412 kg) of bluefish commercial
quota to Rhode Island through mutual
agreement of the states. This transfer
was requested to ensure that Rhode
Island would not exceed its 2020 state
quota. The revised bluefish quotas for
2020 are: New Jersey, 314, 934 lb
(142,852 kg) and Rhode Island, 283,366
lb (128,533 kg).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii), which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is
exempted from review under Executive
Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 3, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–19923 Filed 9–8–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 200221–0062; RTID 0648–
XA311]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
55595
the C season allowance of the 2020 total
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
Area 610 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), September 3, 2020,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., October 1,
2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Obren Davis, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The C season allowance of the 2020
total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 9,357
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(85 FR 13802, March 10, 2020) and
inseason adjustment (85 FR 49606,
August 14, 2020).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the C season allowance
of the 2020 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 9,257 mt and is
setting aside the remaining 100 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA.
While this closure is effective the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. This action is required by 50 CFR
part 679, which was issued pursuant to
section 304(b), and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there
is good cause to waive prior notice and
an opportunity for public comment on
this action, as notice and comment
would be impracticable and contrary to
the public interest, as it would prevent
NMFS from responding to the most
recent fisheries data in a timely fashion
E:\FR\FM\09SER1.SGM
09SER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 9, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19923]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No.200623-0167; RTID 0648-XA421]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish
Fishery; Quota Transfer From NJ to RI
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification; quota transfer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a
portion of its 2020 commercial bluefish quota to the State of Rhode
Island. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic
Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This
announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish
quotas for New Jersey and Rhode Island.
DATES: Effective September 8, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish
fishery are found in 50 CFR 648.160 through 648.167. These 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 is
described in Sec. 648.162, and the final 2020 allocations were
published on June 29, 2020 (85 FR 38794).
The final rule implementing Amendment 1 to the Bluefish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) 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 NMFS Greater Atlantic
Regional Administrator, can request approval to transfer or combine
bluefish commercial quota under Sec. 648.162(e)(1)(i) through (iii).
The Regional Administrator must approve any such transfer based on the
criteria in Sec. 648.162(e). In evaluating requests to transfer a
quota or combine quotas, the Regional Administrator shall consider
whether: The transfer or combinations would preclude the overall annual
quota from being fully harvested; the transfer addresses an unforeseen
variation or contingency in the fishery; and the transfer is consistent
with the objectives of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
New Jersey is transferring 45,000 lb (20,412 kg) of bluefish
commercial quota to Rhode Island through mutual agreement of the
states. This transfer was requested to ensure that Rhode Island would
not exceed its 2020 state quota. The revised bluefish quotas for 2020
are: New Jersey, 314, 934 lb (142,852 kg) and Rhode Island, 283,366 lb
(128,533 kg).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 648.162(e)(1)(i) through
(iii), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b), and is exempted
from review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 3, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-19923 Filed 9-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P