[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76724-76725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31448]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 120902C]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Gulf of Mexico 
Shrimp Economic Data Collection

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

[[Page 76725]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 11, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Michael Travis, Department of Commerce, NOAA, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St, 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2439, (727)570-5335.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NMFS proposes to collect information on fishing vessel expenses and 
earnings on a voluntary and continuous basis in the Gulf of Mexico 
offshore shrimp fishery in order to conduct socioeconomic analyses that 
will: improve fishery management making in that fishery; satisfy NMFS' 
legal mandates under Executive Order 12866, the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (U.S.C. 1801 et. seq.), the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the 
National Environmental Policy Act; and quantify achievement of the 
performances measures in the NMFS Strategic Operating Plans. Used in 
conjunction with catch and effort data already being collected in this 
fishery as part of its dealer reporting program, as well as Coast Guard 
and fishing permit data on vessel characteristics, this data will be 
used to assess how fishermen will be impacted by and respond to any 
regulation likely to be considered by fishery managers. In addition, 
this data will be used to determine how fishing communities will be 
impacted by proposed fishing regulations. In the program's first year, 
the program will only cover vessels that primarily port in the state of 
Texas, with vessels from the other Gulf States being included in the 
second year.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected using personal interviews and a formal 
survey instrument. Compared to phone interviews and mail surveys, 
personal interviews have been shown to generally produce higher 
response rates and higher quality data. Interviews will be conducted 
once each year in regards to the previous year's activities. Vessel 
owners will be asked questions pertaining to the variable costs of 
their fishing operations, such as price and amount of fuel used, price 
and amount of ice used, groceries, processing/selling fees, and labor 
costs. Vessel owners will also be asked questions regarding their 
vessel's annual or fixed costs, such as expenditures for vessel repair 
and maintenance, gear repair and maintenance, fishing licenses and 
permits, insurance, dock fees, repayment on boat and business loans, 
office expenses and so forth. Vessel owners will also be asked 
questions pertaining to the capital investment in their vessels, such 
as purchase price, cost of subsequent investments in the vessel and its 
fishing technology, and current market or replacement value. Finally, 
vessel owners will be asked questions regarding their socio-demographic 
status, such as household size, income, dependence on fishing, 
alternative employment opportunities, level of fishing experience, age, 
education level, ethnicity/race, marital status, and so forth. In 
instances where vessels are not operated by the owner, socio-
demographic data will be solicited from both the owner and captain. 
Though unknown at this time, it is assumed that nearly 50 percent of 
these vessels are operated by hired captains.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations (vessel 
owners and captains).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 185.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 20 minutes for variable cost and price 
questions; 30 minutes for annual/fixed cost and capital investment 
questions; and 10 minutes for socio-demographic questions.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 135.
    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: December 6, 2002.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-31448 Filed 12-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S