87 FR 137 pgs. 43008-43009 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports
Type: NOTICEVolume: 87Number: 137Pages: 43008 - 43009
Pages: 43008, 43009FR document: [FR Doc. 2022-15346 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
[top]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports
AGENCY:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of information collection, request for comment.
[top]
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 us assess the impact of our 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 on or before September 19, 2022.
ADDRESSES:
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at NOAA.PRA@noaa.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 0648-0328 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 copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Clifford Hutt, NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Management Division, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 427-8503; or Cliff.Hutt@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ), NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the nation's marine fisheries. Catch reporting from recreational and commercial handgear fisheries provides important data used to monitor catches of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) and supplements other existing data collection programs. Data collected through this program are used for both domestic and international fisheries management and stock assessment purposes. NMFS would also like to expand the title of the collection to "Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports" from the current "Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings Reports."
Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) catch reporting provides real-time catch information used to monitor the BFT fishery. Under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the United States is required to adopt regulations, as necessary and appropriate, to implement binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including recommendations on a specified BFT quota. BFT catch reporting helps the U.S. monitor this quota and supports scientific research consistent with ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ). Recreational anglers and commercial handgear fishermen are required to report specific information regarding their catch of BFT.
Atlantic billfish and swordfish are managed internationally by ICCAT and nationally under ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This collection provides information needed to monitor the recreational catch of Atlantic blue and white marlin, which is applied to the recreational limit established by ICCAT, and the recreational catch of North Atlantic swordfish, which is applied to the U.S. quota established by ICCAT. This collection also provides information on recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish, which is unavailable from other established monitoring programs. Collection of sailfish catch information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for purposes of stock management.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents reporting BFT, Atlantic marlin, West Atlantic sailfish, or North Atlantic swordfish catch in states (and the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) other than Maryland and North Carolina may use either an internet website, mobile smartphone app, or a toll-free telephone number. In Maryland and North Carolina, a paper reporting system is used for all of the aforementioned species. Under state law, respondents in Maryland and North Carolina must submit a landing card at a state-operated reporting station. States that participate in a landing card program must submit weekly reports and one annual report to NMFS to summarize landings and results to date.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0328.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of an approved information collection).
Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,193.
Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for an initial call-in, internet, or smartphone app report; 5 minutes for a confirmation call; 10 minutes for a landing card; 1 hour for a weekly state report; and 4 hours for an annual state report.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,637.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ), and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. )
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 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 our estimate of the time and cost burden 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this Information Collection Review (ICR). 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, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-15346 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P