[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 63371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30291]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 120301A]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Economic Data 
Collection for the Atlantic Wreckfish Fishery

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 
(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 4, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 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 Jim Waters, Department of Commerce, NOAA, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 
28516-9722, (252-7288710).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to collect to 
conduct a one-time census to collect economic, sociocultural, and 
demographic data about commercial fishing for wreckfish (Polyprion 
americanus) along the U.S. south Atlantic coast. The wreckfish fishery 
has been managed with individual transferable quotas (ITQs) since 1992. 
Few shareholders currently fish for wreckfish, yet they have not sold 
or leased their shares. This project will address why shareholders 
chose not to participate in the wreckfish fishery, where and for what 
species they did fish, and why they did not sell or lease their unused 
quota to generate revenue even though they did not fish for wreckfish. 
Equally important is to determine if the process of developing an ITQ 
system contributed to the rapid increase in fishing effort in the early 
1990s. The results of this inquiry could offer important lessons for 
economists, fishery managers and others researching the appropriateness 
of applying ITQ systems in other fisheries in the southeast.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected through personal interviews with 
approximately 50 past and current shareholders in the ITQ management 
system for the wreckfish fishery. Interviews will include open-ended 
questions so that respondents can put into their own words their 
thoughts, interpretations and experiences with the fishery and the ITQ 
management program. All interviews will be tape-recorded and 
transcribed. Results of the study will be made available both through 
publications and on a National Marine Fisheries Community Impacts web 
page. Participation in the study will be voluntary.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    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: November 29, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-30291 Filed 12-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S