[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16611-16612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6924]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Socio-Economic 
Surveys of Vessel Owners, Permit Holders, and Crew in New England and 
Mid-Atlantic Fisheries

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 23, 2011.

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 Andrew Kitts, 508-495-2231 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new collection.
    The purpose of this survey is to provide for the ongoing collection 
of social and economic data related to fisheries and their communities 
in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. These data are needed to 
support fishery performance measures recently developed by NOAA's 
Northeast Science Center's Social Science Branch (SSB) in Woods Hole, 
MA. The measures are: Financial viability, distributional outcomes, 
stewardship, governance and well-being. Data to support some indicators 
for these measures are already routinely collected by NMFS. This survey 
will fill in the gaps, and allow the Northeast to collect trend data 
needed for more thorough analysis of changes in the fisheries, 
including impacts from changes in regulations. The National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA), as amended, both contain 
requirements for considering the social and economic impacts of fishery 
management decisions. Currently, however, no data exist that allow for 
tracking the social impacts of fishery management policy and decisions 
over time in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, and insufficient 
economic trend data are available. In implementing policies and 
management programs and in meeting the social and economic impact 
assessment requirements of NEPA and MSA, there is a need to understand 
how such policies and programs will affect the social and economic 
characteristics of those involved in the commercial fishing industry. 
Under this survey, the SSB intends to collect socio-economic data from 
vessel owners, permit holders, hired captains, and crew involved in 
commercial fishing in New England and the Mid-Atlantic States. Data to 
be collected include information on crew, wage calculation systems, 
individual and community well-being, fishing practices, job 
satisfaction, job opportunities, and attitudes toward fisheries 
management. SSB intends to collect these data on an ongoing (e.g., 
annually or biennially) basis in order to track how socio-economic 
characteristics of fisheries are changing over time and to track the 
impact of fishery policies and management programs implemented in New 
England and the Mid-Atlantic.
    NOAA is aware of a survey begun by the University of Rhode Island 
in 2009/2010 in New England under a grant from the Commercial Fisheries 
Research Foundation, that seeks PRA clearance for a follow-up in the 
Mid-Atlantic in summer 2011 under NOAA funding (Social Impacts of the 
Implementation of Catch Shares Programs in the Mid-Atlantic, OMB 
Control No. 0648-xxxx). The current request has learned from some 
elements of the URI and follow-on survey. However, this request (1) Is 
focused on fisheries management in general while the earlier study is 
focused solely on catch shares, (2) is an ongoing survey rather than a 
one-time effort, and (3) specifically targets performance indicators 
for which data are not currently being collected.

II. Method of Collection

    The most appropriate method of collection is still being 
investigated through an ongoing research project. For the owners/permit 
holders' survey, NOAA is considering in-person interviewing, a phone 
survey, or mail survey, although the possibility of using an e-mail 
survey is also being considered. For the crew survey, research is being 
conducted to determine the most appropriate method of collection. Given 
the population (ships' crew), NOAA is considering either an in-person 
intercept approach or a phone survey, depending on the availability of 
phone numbers for crew.
    Additionally, in order to reduce per-respondent burdens, SSB is 
considering splitting questions asked among the respondents. A core set 
of questions would be asked to all sample respondents, but some 
questions would only be asked to one half of the sample and another set 
of questions would be asked to the other half of the sample.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000 annually.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 500.
    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.


[[Page 16612]]


    Dated: March 18, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-6924 Filed 3-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P