[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61268-61269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27928]


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

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

[[Page 61269]]

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Pacific Islands Region Vessel and Gear Identification 
Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0360.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 339.
    Average Hours per Response: Vessel-marking for all but purse seine 
vessels: 45 minutes; purse seine vessels, 75 minutes; gear-marking, 5 
minutes per piece of gear.
    Burden Hours: 2,348.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 665.16 require that all U.S. vessels with 
Federal permits fishing for Western Pacific fishery management unit 
species display identification markings on the vessel and gear, as 
specified in 50 CFR 665 and 50 CFR 300. Vessels registered for use with 
a permit issued under Subparts B through E and Subparts G through I of 
50 CFR 665, must display the vessel's official number on both sides of 
the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather deck. Vessels 
fishing for highly migratory species in the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Convention Area must comply with the 
regulations at 50 CFR 300.217. These regulations require that vessels 
must display their international radio call sign on both sides of the 
deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather deck, unless 
specifically exempted. Regulations at 50 CFR 300.35 require that 
vessels fishing under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty must display their 
international radio call sign on the hull, the deck, and on the sides 
of auxiliary equipment such as skiffs and helicopters. The numbers must 
be a specific size at specified locations. The display of the 
identifying numbers aids in fishery law enforcement.
    Western Pacific fisheries regulations at 50 CFR 665.128, 665.228, 
665.428, 665.628, and 665.804 require that certain fishing gear must be 
marked. In the pelagic longline fisheries, the vessel operator must 
ensure that the official number of the vessel is affixed to every 
longline buoy and float. In the coral reef ecosystem fisheries, the 
vessel number must be affixed to all fish and crab traps. The marking 
of gear links fishing or other activity to the vessel, aids law 
enforcement, and is valuable in actions concerning the damage, loss of 
gear, and civil proceedings.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Frequency: Annually or 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: December 21, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-27928 Filed 12-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P