[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54534-54535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22707]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Access-Point 
Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS)

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 November 9, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, 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(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Tom Sminkey, Ph.D., (301) 427-8177 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Marine recreational anglers are surveyed to collect catch and 
effort data, fish biology data, and angler socioeconomic 
characteristics. These

[[Page 54535]]

data are required to carry out provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as 
amended, regarding conservation and management of fishery resources.
    Marine recreational fishing catch and effort data are collected 
through a combination of mail surveys, telephone surveys and on-site 
intercept surveys with recreational anglers. Amendments to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) require 
the development of an improved data collection program for recreational 
fisheries. To partially meet these requirements, NOAA Fisheries 
designed and implemented a new Access-Point Angler Intercept Survey 
(APAIS) in 2013 to ensure better coverage and representation of 
recreational fishing activity.
    The APAIS intercepts marine recreational fishers at public-access 
sites in coastal counties from Maine to Louisiana, Hawaii, and Puerto 
Rico, to obtain information about the just-completed day's fishing 
activity. Respondents are asked about the time and type of fishing, the 
angler's avidity and residence location, and details of any catch of 
finfish. Species identification, number, and size are collected for any 
available landed catch. Data collected from the APAIS are used to 
estimate the catch per angler of recreational saltwater fishers. These 
APAIS estimates are combined with estimates derived from independent 
but complementary surveys of fishing effort, the Coastal Household 
Telephone Survey and the For-Hire Survey, to estimate total, state-
level fishing catch, by species, and participation. These estimates are 
used in the development, implementation, and monitoring of fishery 
management programs by the NMFS, regional fishery management councils, 
interstate marine fisheries commissions, and state fishery agencies.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected through onsite in-person interviews.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0659.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for intercepted anglers.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,333.
    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 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 3, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-22707 Filed 9-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P