[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27015-27016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12947]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Economic Data for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of 
Alaska Groundfish Fisheries and Alaska Halibut Fisheries

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).


[[Page 27016]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Dave Colpo, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 
Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115, (206) 526-4251.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Data on cost, earnings and employment in Bering Sea/Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries and the 
Alaska halibut fisheries will be collected from the following four 
groups: (1) On-shore processors; (2) motherships; (3) catcher/processor 
vessels; and (4) catcher vessels. Companies associated with these 
groups will be surveyed for cost, earnings and employment data. In 
general, questions will be asked concerning ex-vessel and wholesale 
prices and revenue, variable and fixed costs, dependence on the 
fisheries, and fishery employment. During the first year of this data 
collection program, data will be collected for the BSAI pollock 
fishery. The BSAI pollock fishery data are expected to be used for the 
following three purposes: (1) To evaluate methods for collecting cost, 
earnings and employment data on an ongoing basis for the Alaska 
groundfish and halibut fisheries in order to better assess inter-annual 
changes in the economic performance of the fishery and the effects of 
alternative management measures; (2) to allow the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) and the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) to conduct such assessments for the BSAI pollock fishery; and 
(3) to prepare the Regulatory Impact Review (E.O. 12866) and Regulatory 
Flexibility Act Review of the BSAI pollock allocation alternatives that 
the Council and the Secretary of Commerce will consider before the 
current inshore, offshore and CDQ allocations expire at the end of 
1998. As required by law, the confidentiality of the data will be 
protected.
    The ex-vessel and product value of the BSAI pollock fishery in 1995 
exceeded $250 million and $800 million, respectively. The large scale 
of many of the harvesting and processing operations and the 
concentration of ownership in this fishery mean that improved economic 
data for the management of this fishery is a high priority for the 
individuals who will provide data for each of the four groups. This is 
demonstrated by the fact that the associations representing the four 
groups support this data collection effort and have volunteered to 
assist in proving the data.
    In each subsequent year, the data collection effort will focus on a 
different component of the groundfish and halibut fisheries and more 
limited data will be collected for the previously surveyed components 
of these fisheries. The latter would be done to update the models that 
will be used to track economic performance and to evaluate the economic 
effects of alternative management actions. This cycle of data 
collection will result in cost, earning and employment data being 
available and updated for all the components of the groundfish and 
halibut fisheries.

II. Method of Collection

    During the first year, data will be collected from a sample of the 
owners and operators of catcher vessels and factory trawlers that 
participate in the BSAI pollock fishery and from the owners of each of 
the principal on-shore processing plants and motherships that 
participate in the BSAI pollock fishery. The data are expected to be 
collected principally by NMFS economists unless funding becomes 
available to collect some of the data under contract. Questionnaires 
will be mailed to the selected members of each of the four survey 
groups and in many cases those individuals will be interviewed to 
ensure the clarity of their responses. To the extent practicable, the 
data collected will consist of data that the respondents maintain for 
their own business purposes. Therefore, the collection burden will 
consist principally of transcribing data from their internal records to 
the survey instrument and participating in personal interviews.
    In subsequent years, a similar method will be used to collect the 
same types of information from comparable groups for other components 
of the groundfish and halibut fisheries and brief questionnaires will 
be sent to a sample of previous respondents to update that data. 
Current data reporting requirements will be evaluated to determine if 
they can be modified to provide improved economic data at a lower cost 
to respondents and the Agency.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Selected harvesters and processors in the Alaska 
groundfish and halibut fisheries.
    Estimated Number of Respondents First Year: 45 in total consisting 
of 20 catcher vessel owners, 15 factory trawler owners, 5 mothership 
owners, and 5 on-shore processing plant owners.
    Estimated Time Per Response First Year: 2 hours per catcher vessel 
and on average 2 catcher vessels per respondent; 5 hours per factory 
trawler and on average 2 vessels per respondent; and 5 hours per 
mothership and on-shore processor.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours First Year: 255 hours.
    Estimated Number of Respondents in Subsequent Years: 60-200.
    Estimated Time Per Response in Subsequent Years for New 
Respondents: 2 hours per catcher vessel per respondent; 5 hours per 
processing vessel or plant per respondent.
    Estimated Time Per Response in Subsequent Years for Previous 
Respondents: 1 hour per catcher vessel per respondent; 2 hours per 
processing vessel or plant per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Subsequent Years: 400-600 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. Respondents will not be 
required to purchase equipment or materials to respond to this survey.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 12, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
(FR Doc. 97-12947 Filed 5-15-97; 8:45 a.m.)
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P