[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14531-14532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7187]


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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).

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 June 1, 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 Margo Schulze-Haugen, (301) 713-2347 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Recreational catch reporting provides important data used to 
monitor catches of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) and 
supplements other existing data collection programs. The data collected 
through this program are currently used for both domestic and 
international fisheries management and stock assessment purposes.
    Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) catch reporting provides real-time 
catch information used to monitor the recreational BFT fishery. Under 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the 
United States is required to implement recommendations of the 
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT), as necessary and appropriate, including a specified BFT quota. 
This program supports BFT quota monitoring 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 their catch after 
they land a BFT.
    Atlantic billfish and swordfish are managed internationally by 
ICCAT and nationally under ATCA and the MSFMCA. This collection 
provides 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 also provides information 
on recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish which is unavailable 
from established monitoring programs. The collection of sailfish catch 
information is authorized under MSFCMA for purposes of stock 
management.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents reporting BFT landings in all states (including the 
United States Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) other 
than Maryland or North Carolina may use either an Internet Web site or 
an interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system. The 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 may use either an 
Internet Web site or 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. The states that participate in a landing card 
program must submit weekly reports and one annual report to NOAA to 
summarize landings and results to date.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0328.
    Form Number: None.

[[Page 14532]]

    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: 10,968.
    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: 1,403.
    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 26, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-7187 Filed 3-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P