[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7456-7457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03542]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Socio-Economic 
Survey of Hired Captains and Crew in New England and Mid-Atlantic 
Commercial Fisheries

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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 April 23, 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 Lisa L. Colburn, (401) 782-3252 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for a reinstatement with change of a previously 
approved collection.
    The NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Social 
Science Branch (SSB) seeks to conduct surveys to provide for the 
ongoing collection of social and economic data related to the fishing 
industry in the New England and Mid-Atlantic States. The purpose of 
this survey is to assess the current social and economic conditions of 
commercial fishing crews for which little is known. The proposed survey 
is as a follow-up to a baseline study conducted in 2011/2012. The 
intent of the proposed study is to assess how and why commercial crew 
working conditions may have changed since the initial 2011/2012 
assessment. Data needed for this assessment support fishery performance 
measures developed by the SSB, which include information on financial 
viability, distributional outcomes, stewardship, governance, and well-
being. Data to be collected include demographic information on crew, 
wage calculations systems, individual and community well-being, fishing 
practices, job satisfaction, job opportunities, and attitudes toward 
fisheries management. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA) both contain 
requirements for considering the social and economic impacts of fishery 
management decisions. There is a need to understand how such fishery 
management policies and programs will affect the social and economic 
characteristics of those involved in the commercial fishing industry. 
To help meet these requirements of NEPA and MSA, the SSB will collect 
data on an ongoing basis to track how socio-economic characteristics of 
fisheries are changing over time and the impact of fishery management 
policies and programs implemented in New England and the Mid-Atlantic 
regions.

II. Method of Collection

    This information will be collected though in-person intercept 
surveys.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0636.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (reinstatement with change of a 
previously approved collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 167.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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.


[[Page 7457]]


    Dated: February 15, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-03542 Filed 2-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P