[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14502-14503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4114]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Recreational Landings Reports

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 22, 2006.

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 Margo Schulze-Haugen, (301) 713-2347 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Recreational catch reporting supplements existing data collection 
programs and provides important data used to monitor catches of highly 
migratory species. The data collected through this program are 
currently used for both domestic and international management and stock 
assessment purposes. The intent of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) catch 
reporting is to provide real-time catch information for monitoring the 
recreational BFT fishery. Under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 
1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the United States is required to abide by 
recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including a specified BFT quota. This program 
supports BFT management and scientific research authorized under ATCA 
and the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(MSFMCA,16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Recreational anglers are required to 
report specific information regarding

[[Page 14503]]

their catch after they land a BFT. The reported information is tallied 
and used to monitor recreational landings and incorporated into 
scientific analysis of BFT stock status. Any State that participates in 
tagging programs to monitor recreational landings would submit weekly 
and one annual report to summarize landings and results to date. 
Atlantic swordfish and billfish are managed internationally by ICCAT 
and nationally under the ATCA and the MSFMCA. This collection will 
provide information needed to monitor the recreational limit 
established by ICCAT for Atlantic blue and white marlin, and the 
recreational catch of North Atlantic swordfish, which is applied to the 
ICCAT established U.S. quota. This collection will also provide 
information on recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish which is 
unavailable from established monitoring programs. Collection of 
sailfish catch information is authorized under MSFCMA for purposes of 
stock management.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents reporting BFT in all states (including the United 
States Virgin Islands and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico) other than 
MD or NC may use either an Internet Website or an interactive voice 
response (IVR) telephone system. Respondents reporting Atlantic marlin, 
West Atlantic sailfish, or North Atlantic swordfish in all states 
(including the United States Virgin Islands and the commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico) other than MD or NC must report by calling a toll-free 
telephone number. In MD and NC a paper reporting system is used for all 
of the aforementioned species. Respondents in MD and NC must submit a 
landing card at a state reporting station.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0328.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,089.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for an initial call-in or 
Internet 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: 1,369.
    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: March 16, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-4114 Filed 3-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P