[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14186-14187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04931]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NOAA Fisheries 
Greater Atlantic Region Gear Identification 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. This action proposes to extend the 
information collection for the Greater Atlantic Gear Identification.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 11, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or via the 
internet 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 Laura Hansen, Fishery Management Specialist, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930; 978-281-9225, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This is a request for renewal of a current information collection.
    This notice is for the extension of Paperwork Reduction Act 
requirements regarding Greater Atlantic Region fishing gear marking 
requirements. Regulations at 50 CFR 648.84(a),(b), and (d), 
648.123(b)(3), 648.144(b)(1), 648.264(a)(5), and 697.21(a) and (b) 
require that Federal permit holders using certain types of fishing gear 
mark the gear with specified information for the purposes of vessel and 
gear identification (e.g., hull identification number, Federal fishing 
permit number, etc.). The regulations also specify how the gear is to 
be marked for the purposes of visibility (e.g., buoys, radar 
reflectors, etc.).
    The success of fisheries management programs depends on regulatory 
compliance. The ability to link fishing gear to the vessel owner or 
operator is crucial to the enforcement of regulations under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. The ability to identify gear allows state and federal enforcement 
personnel to identify permit holders that are using unapproved gear 
configuration, using the gear during a time restriction, or using gear 
in a restricted area. In the Greater Atlantic Region, gear marking is 
required of permit holders in the Northeast multispecies longline and 
gillnet fisheries, American lobster trap fishery, scup trap/pot 
fishery, the deep-sea red crab fishery, the tilefish longline fishery, 
and the black sea bass trap/pot fishery.
    The marking of gear is also a valuable tool in ascertaining 
ownership of lost or damaged gear, as well as gear involved in civil 
proceedings. Gear can be lost or damaged as the result of interactions

[[Page 14187]]

between mobile and fixed gears. Gear identification is an important 
tool in identifying the parties involved in these conflicts. Proper 
marking also makes gear more visible to other vessels in the water to 
aid in navigation and increase safety at sea.
    The quantity of gear in this collection is distinguished by the 
number of attached end lines associated with each string of hooks, 
pots, or traps. As such, a single Federal permit holder may be 
responsible for marking several strings of a given gear type, or may 
use multiple different gear types that require marking.

II. Method of Collection

    No information is submitted to NMFS as a result of this collection. 
The vessel's hull identification number or other means of 
identification specified in the regulations must be affixed to the buoy 
or other part of the gear as specified in the regulations.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0351.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals and households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,789.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 minute per string of gear.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,886.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $47,890.

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,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-04931 Filed 3-10-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P