Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Southeast Region Family of Forms
| Published date | 19 August 2020 |
| Record Number | 2020-18182 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 161 (Wednesday, August 19, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51019-51020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18182]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Southeast Region Family of Forms
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps to assess the impact of information collection
requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of
this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding
submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received by October 19, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please
reference OMB Control Number ``0648-0016'' in the subject line of your
comments. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Rich Malinowski, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue S, St. Petersburg,
Florida 33701, phone: (727) 824-5305, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension and revision of a current
information collection.
Participants in most federally managed fisheries in the NMFS
Southeast Region are currently required to keep and submit catch and
effort logbooks from their fishing trips. A subset of fishermen on
these vessels also provides information on the species and quantities
of fish, shellfish, marine turtles, and marine mammals that are
[[Page 51020]]
caught and discarded or have interacted with the fishing gear. A subset
of fishermen on these vessels also provides information about dockside
prices, trip operating costs, and annual fixed costs.
The data are used for scientific analyses that support critical
conservation and management decisions made by national and
international fishery management organizations. Interaction reports are
needed for fishery management planning and to help protect endangered
species and marine mammals. Price and cost data will be used in
analyses of the economic effects of proposed and existing regulations.
Final rules implementing requirements under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) will require an owner or operator of a vessel with a
Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef
fish, Gulf coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) species, Atlantic CMP
species, Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, or South Atlantic snapper-grouper
to submit an electronic fishing report (also referred to as an
electronic logbook) for each fishing trip (85 FR 10331, February 24,
2020, and 85 FR 44005, July 21, 2020). NMFS is designing and plans to
implement an intercept survey in 2021 to support and validate the
electronic logbooks submitted for the Gulf and Atlantic reporting
programs. These survey data are required to carry out provisions of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as amended, regarding
conservation and management of fishery resources.
The survey would intercept captains (respondents) of federally-
permitted charter vessels and headboats (for-hire vessels) in the
aforementioned fisheries at verified landing locations that are
randomly selected in Gulf and Atlantic coastal counties to obtain
information after that day's fishing activity has occurred. The
intercept survey is not a census of all electronically reported
logbooks but instead would use random sampling to select landing
locations for port samplers to gather a representative sample.
Respondents would be asked about vessel information, time and type of
fishing, the number of anglers, and details of catch. Catch information
would include species identification and number of fish. Length and
weight measurements of species retained on fishing trips may also be
collected if time allows.
The purpose of the intercept survey is to validate the electronic
logbooks submitted through the Gulf and Atlantic for-hire reporting
programs, the information collections for which are approved under OMB
Control Number 0648-0016. The data collected from the intercept survey
would be used to estimate non-reporting of fishing trips and reporting
errors. Data from the intercept survey would be analyzed through
statistical methods to provide accurate estimates of the total catch
and effort. Without the intercept survey, the electronic logbook
results would be left unchecked and could be erroneous due to no
adjustments for non-reporting and misreporting. Erroneous fisheries
information could mislead management and lead to inappropriate or
unnecessary regulations or lead to lack thereof when needed.
The total for-hire catch and effort estimates obtained from the
survey, as well as from the Gulf and Atlantic for-hire reporting
programs are intended to be used on an ongoing basis by NMFS, regional
fishery management councils, interstate marine fisheries commissions,
and state natural resource agencies to develop, implement, and monitor
fishery management programs, per statutory requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Catch and effort statistics are fundamental for
assessing the influence of fishing on any fish stock. Accurate
estimates of the quantities taken, fishing effort, and both the
seasonal and geographic distributions of the catch and effort are
required for the development of regional management policies and plans.
II. Method of Collection
The information is submitted on paper forms and electronic
transmissions. Logbooks are completed daily and submitted on either a
per trip, weekly, or monthly basis, depending on the fishery. Fixed
costs are submitted on an annual basis. Other information is submitted
on a per trip basis.
For the proposed intercept survey, information would be collected
through in-person interviews at verified landing locations.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0016.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission--extension and revision of a
current information collection.
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations;
individuals.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,971.
Estimated Time Per Response: Annual fixed-cost report, 45 minutes;
Colombian fishery logbook, 18 minutes; discard logbook, 15 minutes;
headboat, charter vessel, golden crab, reef fish-mackerel, economic
cost per trip, wreckfish, and shrimp logbooks, 10 minutes; no-fishing
report for golden crab, reef fish-mackerel, charter vessels, wreckfish
and Colombian fisheries, 2 minutes; installation of a vessel monitoring
unit, 5 hours; landing location request and power-down exemption
request, 5 minutes; trip declaration, 2 minutes; and proposed intercept
survey, 15 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 69,752.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,706,211 in record-keeping
or reporting cost.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
IV. Request for Comments
NMFS is soliciting public comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the
proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions
of the Department, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the time and cost
burden estimates for this proposed collection, including the validity
of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. NMFS will include or summarize each comment in our
request to OMB to approve this information collection request. Before
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, NMFS cannot guarantee that will occur.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-18182 Filed 8-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
