[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 224 (Friday, November 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72708-72709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29587]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Southeast Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and Related 
Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0544.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 927.
    Average Hours per Response: Installation, 5 hours; installation and 
activation checklist, 20 minutes; power-down exemption requests, 5 
minutes; transmission of fishing activity reports, 1 minute; and annual 
maintenance, 2 hours.
    Burden Hours: 2,557.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
authorizes the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council) 
and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council) 
to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any fishery in 
Federal waters under their respective jurisdictions. NMFS and the Gulf 
Council manage the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) under 
the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). NMFS and the South 
Atlantic Council manage the fishery for rock shrimp in the South 
Atlantic under the Shrimp FMP. The vessel monitoring system (VMS) 
regulations for the Gulf reef fish fishery and the South Atlantic rock 
shrimp fishery may be found at 50 CFR 622.28 and 622.205, respectively.
    The FMPs contains several area-specific regulations where fishing 
is restricted or prohibited in order to protect habitat or spawning 
aggregations, or to control fishing pressure. Unlike size, bag, and 
trip limits, where the catch can be monitored on shore when a vessel 
returns to port, area restrictions require at-sea enforcement. However, 
at-sea enforcement of offshore area restrictions is difficult due to 
the distance from shore and the limited number of patrol vessels, 
resulting in a need to improve enforceability of area fishing 
restrictions through remote sensing methods. In addition, all fishing 
gears are subject to some area fishing restrictions. Because of the 
sizes of these areas and the distances from shore, the effectiveness of 
enforcement through over flights and at-sea interception is limited. An 
electronic VMS allows a more effective means to monitor vessels for 
intrusions into restricted areas.
    The VMS provides effort data and significantly aids in enforcement 
of areas closed to fishing. All position reports are treated in 
accordance with NMFS existing guidelines for confidential data. As a 
condition of authorized fishing for or possession of reef fish or rock 
shrimp in or from the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or South 
Atlantic EEZ, respectively, vessel owners or operators subject to VMS 
requirements must allow NMFS, the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and 
their authorized officers and designees, access to the vessel's 
position data obtained from the VMS.
    NMFS would like to move the collection of information requirement 
for VMS applicable to vessels with limited access endorsements for 
South Atlantic rock shrimp under OMB Control No. 0648-0205 to this 
collection. The burden estimates have changed due to inclusion of the

[[Page 72709]]

applicable burden from OMB Control No. 0648-0205.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Frequency: One time, annually and on occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: November 16, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-29587 Filed 11-19-15; 8:45 am]
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