Rules and Regulations. Notification; quota transfers

460 words·~2 min read·/register/2022/08/09/2022-17010

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 220126-0034; RTID 0648-XC249] Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfers From MD to RI AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification; quota transfers. SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the State of Maryland is transferring a portion of its 2022 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 Maryland and Rhode Island. DATES: Effective August 8, 2022, through December 31, 2022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Deighan, Fishery Management Specialist,

(978)281-9184. 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 2022 allocations were published on February 2, 2022 (87 FR 5739). 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 § 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. Maryland is transferring 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) to Rhode Island through mutual agreement of the states. This transfer was requested to ensure Rhode Island would not exceed its 2022 state quota. The revised bluefish quotas for 2022 are: Maryland, 70,698 lb (32,068 kg) and Rhode Island, 324,956 lb (147,398 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: August 3, 2022. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2022-17010 Filed 8-8-22; 8:45 am]

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