[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2323-2324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00150]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Foreign Fishing 
Vessel Permits, Vessel, and Gear Identification, and Reporting 
Requirements

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

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 March 10, 2017.

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 and instructions should 
be directed to Christopher Rogers, Office for International Affairs and 
Seafood Inspection (F/IS5), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910, 301-427-8350 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issues 
permits, under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; MSA), to foreign fishing vessels fishing 
or operating in United States' (U.S.) waters. MSA and associated 
regulations at 50 CFR part 600 require that vessels apply for fishing 
permits, that vessels and certain gear be marked for identification 
purposes, that observers be embarked on selected vessels, and that 
permit holders report their fishing effort and catch or, when 
processing fish under joint ventures, the amount and locations of fish 
received from U.S. vessels. These requirements apply to all foreign 
vessels fishing, transshipping, or processing fish in U.S. waters.

[[Page 2324]]

Information is collected from persons who operate a foreign fishing 
vessel in U.S. waters to participate in a directed fishery or joint 
venture operation, transship fish harvested by a U.S. vessel to a 
location outside the U.S., or process fish in internal waters. Each 
person operating a foreign fishing vessel under MSA authority may be 
required to submit information for a permit, mark their vessels and 
gear, or submit information about their fishing activities. To 
facilitate observer coverage, foreign fishing vessel operators must 
provide a quarterly schedule of fishing effort and upon request must 
also provide observers with copies of any required records. For foreign 
fishing vessels that process fish in internal waters, the information 
collected varies somewhat from other foreign fishing vessels that 
participate in a directed fishery or a joint venture operation. In 
particular, these vessels may not be required to provide a permit 
application or mark their vessels. The information submitted in 
applications is used to determine whether permits should be used to 
authorize directed foreign fishing, participation in joint ventures 
with U.S. vessels, or transshipments of fish or fish products within 
U.S. waters. The display of identifying numbers on vessels and gear aid 
in fishery law enforcement and allows other fishermen to report 
suspicious activity. Reporting of fishing activities allows monitoring 
of fish received by foreign vessels.

II. Method of Collection

    Foreign fishing activity reports are made by radio when fishing 
begins or ceases, to report on transfers of fish, and to file weekly 
reports on the catch or receipt of fish. Weekly reports may be 
submitted by fax or email. Recordkeeping requirements for foreign 
vessels include a communications log, a transfer log, a daily fishing 
log, a consolidated fishing or joint venture log, and a daily joint 
venture log. These records must be maintained for three years. Paper 
forms are used for foreign fishing vessel permit applications. No 
information is submitted to NMFS for the vessel and gear marking 
requirements.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0075.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular (extension of a currently approved 
collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8.
    Estimated Time per Response: For permit applications: One and one 
half hours for an application for a directed fishery; two hours for a 
joint venture application, and 45 minutes for a transshipment permit; 
for fishing activity reporting: 6 minutes for a joint venture report; 
30 minutes per day for joint venture record-keeping; and 7.5 minutes 
per day for record-keeping by transport vessels; for weekly reports, 30 
minutes per response; for foreign vessel and gear identification 
marking: 15 minutes per marking.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 82.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,337 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: January 4, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-00150 Filed 1-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P