[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7165-7166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03366]


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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 and Gear Identification 
Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0358.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 7,825.
    Average Hours per Response: Vessel marking: 45 minutes. Gear 
marking: Aquacultured live rocks, 10 seconds each; golden crab traps, 2 
minutes each; spiny lobster traps, 7 minutes each; sea bass pots, 16 
minutes each; and mackerel gillnets, and buoy gear, 20 minutes each.
    Burden Hours: 51,070.
    Needs and Uses: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
Southeast Region manages the U.S. fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zone of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic regions under 
various fishery management plans (FMPs). The regional fishery 
management councils prepared the FMPs pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The 
regulations implementing the FMPs are located at 50 CFR part 622.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR part 622 
form the basis for this collection of information. The NMFS Southeast 
Region requires that all permitted fishing vessels must mark their 
vessel with the official identification number or some form of 
identification. A vessel's official number, under most regulations, is 
required to be displayed on the port and starboard sides of the 
deckhouse or hull, and weather deck. In addition, certain fisheries are 
required to display their assigned color code. The official number and 
color code identify each vessel and should be visible at distance from 
the sea and in the air. These markings provide law enforcement 
personnel with a means to monitor fishing, at-sea processing, and other 
related activities, to ascertain whether the vessel's observed 
activities are in accordance with those authorized for that vessel. The 
identifying official number is used by NMFS, the United States Coast 
Guard, and other marine agencies in issuing violations, prosecutions, 
and other enforcement actions. Vessels that are authorized for 
particular fisheries are readily identified, gear violations are more 
readily prosecuted, and this allows for more cost-effective 
enforcement.
    In addition to vessel marking, requirements that fishing gear be 
marked are essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link 
fishing gear to the vessel owner is crucial to enforcement of 
regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The 
marking of fishing gear is also valuable in actions concerning damage, 
loss, and civil proceedings. The requirements imposed in the Southeast 
Region are for coral aquacultured live rock; golden crab traps; 
mackerel gillnet floats; spiny lobster traps; black sea bass pots; and 
buoy gear.
    Affected Public: Business and other for profit organizations; 
individuals and households.
    Frequency: 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.


[[Page 7166]]


    Dated: February 14, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-03366 Filed 2-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P