[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53105-53106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21620]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Electronic 
Monitoring Systems for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)

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 December 3, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or at 
[email protected]). All comments received are part of the public 
record. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Ian Miller, phone 301-427-8503, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and other electronic monitoring 
systems collect important information on fishing effort, catch, and the 
geographic location of fishing effort and catch for certain sectors of 
the Atlantic HMS fleet. Data collected through these systems are used 
in both domestic and international fisheries management, including for 
law enforcement, stock assessments, and quota management purposes. 
Atlantic HMS vessels required to use VMS are pelagic longline, purse 
seine, bottom longline (directed shark permit holders in North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia), and gillnet (directed shark 
permit holders consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic large 
whale take reduction plan requirements at 50 CFR 229.39.(h)) vessels. 
In addition to VMS, pelagic longline vessels are also required to have 
electronic monitoring systems to monitor catch and account for bluefin 
tuna interactions.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Law 
Enforcement monitors fleet adherence to gear- and time-area 
restrictions with VMS position location data. Gear restricted areas and 
time-area closures are important tools for Atlantic HMS management that 
have been implemented to reduce bycatch of juvenile swordfish, sea 
turtles, and bluefin tuna, among other species. Electronic monitoring 
data from the pelagic longline fleet are used by NMFS to accurately 
monitor bluefin tuna catch by the pelagic longline fleet, to ensure 
compliance with Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) limits and requirements, 
and to ensure that the Longline category bluefin tuna quota is not 
over-harvested. Additionally, electronic monitoring is used to verify 
disposition of retained shortfin mako sharks, consistent with binding 
international agreements. VMS reporting of bluefin tuna catch is used 
to monitor IBQ allocations in real-time.
    Atlantic HMS fisheries are managed under the dual authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the 
Atlantic Tunas Conservation Act (ATCA). Under the

[[Page 53106]]

MSA, management measures must be consistent with ten National 
Standards, and fisheries must be managed to maintain optimum yield, 
rebuild overfished fisheries, and prevent overfishing. Under ATCA, the 
Secretary of Commerce shall promulgate regulations, as necessary and 
appropriate, to implement measures adopted by the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

II. Method of Collection

    First-time VMS respondents must install a VMS unit and submit an 
activation checklist to NMFS via mail. Hail-out, hail-in, hourly 
position reports, and bluefin tuna catch reports must be submitted to 
NMFS electronically via the VMS communication system. First-time 
electronic monitoring respondents must have an electronic monitoring 
system installed by a NMFS contractor. Electronic monitoring data must 
be submitted after each pelagic longline trip via mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0372.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 311.
    Estimated Time per Response: 4 hours for initial VMS installation; 
5 minutes per VMS initial activation checklist; 2 minutes per hail-out/
hail-in declaration; 6 hours for initial electronic monitoring 
installation; 5 minutes for pelagic longline bluefin tuna catch 
records; 15 minutes for purse seine bluefin tuna catch records; 1 
minute for dockside review of bluefin tuna catch records; 2 hours for 
electronic monitoring data retrieval.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,420.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $422,329.

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. 2019-21620 Filed 10-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P