[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55305-55306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22591]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Social Impacts 
of the Implementation of a Catch Shares Program in the Mid-Atlantic

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 November 9, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Lisa L. Colburn, (401) 782-3253 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for new information collection.
    Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is required in fisheries under both 
the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.).
    The required information is used to evaluate the impacts of the 
proposed activity on fishermen still involved in fishing since catch 
shares were implemented. In promulgating and issuing regulations, 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) must determine the relative 
impacts of different management measures.
    Catch shares are being highly encouraged as a core strategy to 
improve the status of fish stock and habitat, and also the social and 
economic status of communities and individual fishermen (NOAA Draft 
Catch Share Policy). The use of catch share programs will have an 
impact on those individuals participating in the affected fisheries. 
Possible impacts include loss of employment opportunities and shoreside 
infrastructure, and disruption to social networks.
    Amendment 16 to the Multispecies (groundfish) Fishery Management 
Plan, implemented on May 1, 2010, is the largest catch share program in 
number of permit holders that has ever been implemented in the U.S., 
and includes 17 group quota or `sector' allocations. More catch share 
plans are in discussion for the Northeast within the next several 
years. NMFS is required to assess the impact of these plans as well as 
their impacts relative to other management measures in place in the 
Northeast. The rapid implementation of the groundfish catch share 
program made capturing a full pre-implementation baseline virtually 
impossible. A University of Rhode Island survey of fishermen and former 
fishermen in New England in 2009/2010 partially captured this baseline 
for fisheries in general, as well as some immediate post-implementation 
impacts for groundfishermen in that region. This research aims to study 
the immediate post-implementation effects on fishermen in the 
groundfish fishery and those that have already exited the fishery in 
the Mid-Atlantic, as well as provide a baseline for other fisheries 
prior to any implementation of additional catch share programs.
    The data collected will provide a baseline description of the 
affected industry to compare with future assessments of fishermen and 
cover (1) Participation in sectors and the management process, (2) job 
satisfaction, and (3) self-reported general well-being. This 
information will lead to a greater understanding of the social impacts 
this management measure may have on the individuals in the fishery.
    To achieve these goals it is critical to collect the necessary data 
immediately after the implementation of the program. This study is a 
post-implementation data collection effort to achieve the stated 
objectives.

II. Method of Collection

    The surveys will be conducted by in-person interviews.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 125.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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

[[Page 55306]]

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: September 7, 2010.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-22591 Filed 9-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P