Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From New Jersey to North Carolina, 79173 [2024-22210]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 188 / Friday, September 27, 2024 / Rules and Regulations through December season by September 29, 2024. Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic snowy grouper is closed starting on September 29, 2024, and remains closed through December 31, 2024. The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper having snowy grouper on board must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such snowy grouper before September 29, 2024. During the commercial closure, the sale or purchase of snowy grouper taken from South Atlantic Federal waters is prohibited. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of snowy grouper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold before September 29, 2024, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. The recreational harvest of snowy grouper is also closed for the rest of 2024 [50 CFR 622.183(b)(8)], and therefore, the bag and possession limits of snowy grouper harvested in or from the South Atlantic are zero. For a person on a vessel issued a valid Federal commercial or charter vessel/ headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper, the bag and possession limits and the sale and purchase provisions during the commercial closure for snowy grouper apply regardless of whether the fish are harvested in State or Federal waters, as specified in 50 CFR 622.190(c)(1)(ii). lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1 NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(b)(1), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 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 as such procedures are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the regulations associated with the commercial quota and accountability measures for South Atlantic snowy grouper have already been subject to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the commercial closure for the remainder of the July through December fishing season this year. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action is contrary to the public interest 15:52 Sep 26, 2024 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 24, 2024. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–22232 Filed 9–24–24; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 231221–0314; RTID 0648– XE335] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From New Jersey to North Carolina National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; quota transfer. AGENCY: Classification VerDate Sep<11>2014 because of the need to immediately implement the commercial closure to protect South Atlantic snowy grouper, because the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial quota. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest that exceeds the commercial quota. For the reasons just stated, there is good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action. Jkt 262001 NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a portion of their 2024 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2024 commercial bluefish quotas for New Jersey and North Carolina. SUMMARY: Effective September 26, 2024, through December 31, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Rigdon, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 281–9336. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations governing the Atlantic bluefish fishery are found in 50 CFR DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 79173 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 2024 allocations were published on January 2, 2024 (89 FR 34). The final rule implementing amendment 1 to the FMP, as published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2000 (65 FR 45844), provided a mechanism for transferring bluefish commercial 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 § 648.162(e). The Regional Administrator is required to consider three criteria in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or combinations: (1) the transfers would not preclude the overall annual quota from being fully harvested; (2) the transfers address an unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery; and (3) the transfers are consistent with the objectives of the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The Regional Administrator has determined these criteria have been met for the transfers approved in this notification. New Jersey is transferring 100,000 lb (45,359 kg) to North Carolina through mutual agreement of the states. This transfer was requested to ensure North Carolina would not exceed its 2024 state quota. The revised bluefish quotas for 2024 are: New Jersey, 148,898 lb (67,539 kg) and North Carolina, 965,996 lb (438,168 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 24, 2024. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–22210 Filed 9–26–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\27SER1.SGM 27SER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 79173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22210]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 231221-0314; RTID 0648-XE335]


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish 
Fishery; Quota Transfer From New Jersey to North Carolina

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 their 2024 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North 
Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the 
Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer 
provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2024 
commercial bluefish quotas for New Jersey and North Carolina.

DATES: Effective September 26, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Rigdon, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9336.

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 2024 allocations were 
published on January 2, 2024 (89 FR 34).
    The final rule implementing amendment 1 to the FMP, as published in 
the Federal Register on July 26, 2000 (65 FR 45844), provided a 
mechanism for transferring bluefish commercial 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). The Regional Administrator is required to consider 
three criteria in the evaluation of requests for quota transfers or 
combinations: (1) the transfers would not preclude the overall annual 
quota from being fully harvested; (2) the transfers address an 
unforeseen variation or contingency in the fishery; and (3) the 
transfers are consistent with the objectives of the FMP and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). The Regional Administrator has determined these criteria 
have been met for the transfers approved in this notification.
    New Jersey is transferring 100,000 lb (45,359 kg) to North Carolina 
through mutual agreement of the states. This transfer was requested to 
ensure North Carolina would not exceed its 2024 state quota. The 
revised bluefish quotas for 2024 are: New Jersey, 148,898 lb (67,539 
kg) and North Carolina, 965,996 lb (438,168 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 24, 2024.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22210 Filed 9-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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