[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7853-7854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3721]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021100D]


Bluefin Tuna Recreational Landings Reports; Proposed Information 
Collection; Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

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)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5027, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via 
Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Christopher Rogers,

[[Page 7854]]

Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), Office of 
Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), NOAA is responsible for 
management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In addition, NOAA must 
comply with the United States' obligations under the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). The National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) collects information via angler landings 
reports to monitor the U.S. recreational catch of bluefin tuna in 
relation to the quota, thereby ensuring that the United States complies 
with its international obligations to the International Commission for 
the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Provisions of the domestic 
regulations are also monitored through this collection of information, 
such as compliance with area closures, fishing seasons, and regional 
subquotas. This information provides the catch data necessary to assess 
the status of bluefin tuna resources. Assessments are conducted and 
presented to ICCAT annually. The data provide, in part, the basis for 
ICCAT management recommendations which become binding on member 
nations. In addition, angler landings reports provide essential 
information for domestic management policy and rulemaking.

II. Method of Collection

    Recreational anglers who land any size class Atlantic bluefin tuna 
are required to report those landings to NMFS via a an automated 
landings reporting system (ALRS) accessible toll-free by touch-tone 
telephone. The ALRS collects certain information for each Atlantic 
bluefin tuna that is landed. NMFS' regulations allow for cooperative 
efforts with the states and
    in recent years, North Carolina and Maryland have implemented a 
catch card and landing tag system to census landings of bluefin tuna. 
In such cases of an equivalent state program, anglers are exempted from 
the requirement to use the ALRS.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0328.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals (recreational fishermen), business and 
other for-profit (charter boat operators).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes for automated telephone 
reports, 10 minutes for landing cards.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 850.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: February 10, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-3721 Filed 2-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F