[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76616-76617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29912]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; International 
Billfish Angler Survey

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing

[[Page 76617]]

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 February 17, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 Suzanne Kohin, (858) 546-7104 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The International Billfish Angler Survey began in 1969 and is an 
integral part of the Billfish Research Program at NOAA's Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). The Survey tracks recreational angler 
fishing catch and effort for billfish in the Pacific and Indian Oceans 
in support of the Pacific and Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Councils, authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and 
Conservation Act. The data are used by scientists and fishery managers 
to assist with assessing the status of billfish stocks. The Survey is 
intended for anglers cooperating in the Billfish Program and is 
entirely voluntary. The National Marine Fisheries Service collects 
fishing catch and effort information for most domestic and foreign 
fisheries. This survey is specific to recreational anglers fishing for 
Istiophorid billfish in the Pacific and Indian Oceans; as such it 
provides the only estimates of catch per unit of effort for 
recreational billfish fishing in those areas.

II. Method of Collection

    The paper form is sent to anglers with recent participation in the 
SWFSC Billfish Research Program and is also available for downloading 
on the SWFSC Billfish Program website. Completed forms are submitted by 
mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0020.
    Form Number: NOAA Form 88-10.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 83.
    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 12, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-29912 Filed 12-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P