[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57223-57224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26023]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast 
Region Gear Identification Requirements

AGENCY: National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, 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 February 2, 
2018.

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 Keeley Kent, (206) 526-4655 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly 
on regulatory compliance. The requirements that fishing gear be marked 
are essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link fishing 
gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to enforcement of 
regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act. The marking of fishing gear is also 
valuable in actions concerning damage, loss, and civil proceedings. The 
regulations specify that fishing gear must be marked with the vessel's 
official number, Federal permit or tag number, or some other specified 
form of identification. The regulations further specify how the gear is 
to be marked (e.g., location and color). Law enforcement personnel rely 
on gear marking information to assure compliance with fisheries 
management regulations. Gear that is not properly identified is 
confiscated. Gear violations are more readily prosecuted when the gear 
is marked, and this allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Gear 
marking helps ensure that a vessel harvests fish only from its own 
traps/pots/other gear are not illegally placed. Cooperating fishermen 
also use the gear marking numbers to report suspicious or non-compliant 
activities that they observe, and to report placement or occurrence of 
gear in unauthorized areas. The identifying number on fishing gear is 
used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the United States 
Coast Guard (USCG), and other marine agencies in issuing regulations, 
prosecutions, and other enforcement actions necessary to support 
sustainable fisheries behaviors as intended in regulations. Regulation-
compliant fishermen ultimately benefit from these requirements, as 
unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome 
regulations are avoided.

II. Method of Collection

    The physical marking of fishing buoys is done by fishermen in the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery) according to regulation.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0352.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,125.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 574 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $11,351.60 for materials.

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 and whether the information shall have 
practical utility) 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.

[[Page 57224]]

    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: November 29, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-26023 Filed 12-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P