[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9102-9103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04617]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey To 
Collect Economic Data From Recreational Anglers That Fish for Summer 
Flounder and Black Sea Bass in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States

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 May 13, 2019.

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 Scott Steinback, Economist, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543. Tel: (508) 495-4701 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection. The title will be 
``Understanding Anglers' Preferences for Summer Flounder and Black Sea 
Bass.''
    The recreational fishing community and regional fisheries 
management councils along the Atlantic coast have requested more 
species-specific socio-economic and behavioral studies of recreational 
fishing that can be used in the analysis of fisheries policies. This 
survey will address that stated need for more species-specific studies 
by focusing on two very popular recreational species caught along the 
Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to North Carolina: Summer flounder 
and black sea bass. The objective of the survey will be to understand 
how anglers respond to changes in expected harvest distributions of 
summer flounder and black sea bass. This

[[Page 9103]]

information is important to fisheries managers because changes in 
recreational fishing regulations (e.g., bag limits, size limits, season 
lengths, etc.) affect anglers' harvest distributions. Anglers will be 
asked a series of questions designed to elicit their willingness to 
trade off lower/higher expected catch for reduced/increased catch 
variability, and whether those trade-offs depend on fishing mode, trip 
length, trip costs, and demographic characteristics. Responses to these 
questions will provide the data necessary to evaluate anglers' expected 
catch preferences for summer flounder and black sea bass. Additional 
data gathered will include questions that focus on anglers' recent 
recreational fishing experiences, such as how often they go fishing, 
species targeted, and primary mode of fishing. Ultimately, the data 
collected from the survey will allow fisheries managers to better 
evaluate the socio-economic effects of proposed changes in recreational 
fishing regulations for summer flounder and black sea bass.
    A survey sample will be drawn from the National Saltwater Angler 
Registry, a database of licensed recreational anglers living in the 
U.S. The information comes primarily from state-based saltwater fishing 
license and registration programs. The survey will be conducted using 
both mail and email to contact anglers and invite them to take the 
survey online. Anglers not responding to the online survey may receive 
a paper survey in the mail. This survey is part of a series of planned 
surveys across the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to gather socio-economic 
data on saltwater recreational anglers' preferences for different 
fishery management options.

II. Method of Collection

    The survey will be conducted using two modes: Paper via regular 
mail and electronically via internet.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (request for a new information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 500 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-04617 Filed 3-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P