[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44866-44867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19092]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast 
Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and Related Requirements

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 November 5, 
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 email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Adam Bailey, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 
Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701, (727) 824-5305, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
authorizes the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council) 
and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council) 
to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any fishery in 
Federal waters under their respective jurisdictions. NMFS and the Gulf 
Council manage the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) under 
the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf 
of Mexico. NMFS and the South Atlantic Council manage the fishery for 
rock shrimp in the South Atlantic under the FMP for the Shrimp Fishery 
in the South Atlantic Region. The vessel monitoring system (VMS) 
regulations for the Gulf reef fish fishery and the South Atlantic rock 
shrimp fishery may be found at 50 CFR 622.28 and 622.205, respectively.
    The FMPs and the implementing regulations contain several specific 
management areas where fishing is restricted or prohibited to protect 
habitat or spawning aggregations, or to control fishing pressure. 
Unlike size, bag, and trip limits, where the catch can be monitored on 
shore when a vessel returns to port, area restrictions require at-sea 
enforcement. However, at-sea enforcement of offshore areas is difficult 
due to the distance from shore and the limited number of patrol 
vessels, resulting in a need to improve enforceability of area fishing 
restrictions through remote sensing methods. In addition, all fishing 
gears are subject to some area fishing restrictions. Because of the 
sizes of these areas and the distances from shore, the effectiveness of 
enforcement through over flights and at-sea interception is limited. An 
electronic VMS allows a more effective means to monitor vessels for 
intrusions into restricted areas.
    The VMS provides effort data and significantly aids in enforcement 
of areas closed to fishing. All position reports are treated in 
accordance with NMFS existing guidelines for confidential data. As a 
condition of authorized fishing for or possession of Gulf reef fish or 
South Atlantic rock shrimp in or from Federal waters, vessel owners or 
operators subject to VMS requirements must allow NMFS, the United 
States Coast Guard, and their authorized officers and designees, access 
to the vessel's position data obtained from the VMS.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, and mail and 
facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0544.
    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: 927.
    Estimated Time per Response: Installation, 5 hours; installation 
and activation checklist, 20 minutes; power-down exemption requests, 5 
minutes; transmission of fishing activity reports, 1 minute; and annual 
maintenance, 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,557.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,466,255 in start-up, 
transfer, operations, and maintenance 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.


[[Page 44867]]


    Dated: August 28, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-19092 Filed 8-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P