Proposed Changes Would Facilitate Year-End Commercial Quota Transfers in the Bluefish and Summer Flounder Fisheries Under current regulations for the bluefish and summer flounder fisheries, states may request written approval to transfer all or part of their annual commercial quota to other states. The Mid-Atlantic Council has raised a concern regarding the current NOAA policy of considering only quota transfer requests submitted by December 15 of each year. Unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather may prevent vessels from returning safely to their intended port of landing during the second half of December in any given year. This
would allow NOAA Fisheries Service to consider and process state commercial quota transfer requests for the commercial bluefish and summer flounder fisheries through December 31. The intent of this action is to provide flexibility to address unpredictable late-season events that may result in safety concerns.
Written comments must be received by August 10, 2005. Comments may be sent by e-mail to:
BF***********@no**.gov. Include in the subject line the following identifier: Comments on Bluefish and Summer Flounder State Quota Transfer Amendment.Proposed Changes Would Facilitate Year-End Commercial Quota Transfers in the Bluefish and Summer Flounder Fisheries
Under current regulations for the bluefish and summer flounder fisheries, states may request written approval to transfer all or part of their annual commercial quota to other states. The Mid-Atlantic Council has raised a concern regarding the current NOAA policy of considering only quota transfer requests submitted by December 15 of each year. Unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather may prevent vessels from returning safely to their intended port of landing during the second half of December in any given year.
This
proposed rulewould allow NOAA Fisheries Service to consider and process state commercial quota transfer requests for the commercial bluefish and summer flounder fisheries through December 31. The intent of this action is to provide flexibility to address unpredictable late-season events that may result in safety concerns.
Written comments must be received by August 10, 2005. Comments may be sent by e-mail to:
BF***********@no**.gov. Include in the subject line the following identifier: Comments on Bluefish and Summer Flounder State Quota Transfer Amendment.