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DOC/NOAA

RIN: 0648-AX49

Publication ID: Spring 2009

Title: ●2009 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications
Abstract: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission manage the Atlantic bluefish fishery jointly through the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The FMP includes a specification process that requires the Council to recommend, on an annual basis, a total allowable catch (TAC) and total allowable landings (TAL) that are consistent with the stock rebuilding program. The TAL is composed of a commercial quota (allocated to the states from Maine to Florida in specified shares) and a coastwide recreational harvest limit. The Council may also specify a research set-aside (RSA) quota. The FMP also requires the Council to recommend annual fishing measures, such as possession limits, to assure that the recommended quotas will not be exceeded. The Council has submitted proposed specifications for the 2009 Atlantic bluefish fishery. In summary, the specifications propose: (1) A TAC for bluefish of 34.081 million lb (an increase from 31.887 million lb in 2008); (2) an overall TAL of 29.356 million lb (an increase from 28.156 million lb in 2008); (3) zero transfer from the recreational sector to the commercial sector, to achieve a commercial quota of 4.991 million lb (a reduction from 7.692 million lb in 2008) and a recreational harvest limit of 24.366 million lb (an increase from 20.415 million lb in 2008); (4) an RSA quota of 97,750 lb (would further reduce quota and limit above); and (5) a recreational possession limit of 15 fish.
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 648
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	03/02/2009	74 FR 9072
NPRM Comment Period End	03/17/2009
Final Action	05/00/2009

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes
Agency Contact: Patricia A. Kurkul Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 55 Great Republic Way, Gloucester, MA 01930 Phone:978 281-9200 Fax:978 281-9117 Email: pat.kurkul@noaa.gov