[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51019-51020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18182]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Southeast Region Family of Forms

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

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps to assess the impact of information collection 
requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of 
this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding 
submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received by October 19, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number ``0648-0016'' in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Rich Malinowski, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 
Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue S, St. Petersburg, 
Florida 33701, phone: (727) 824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension and revision of a current 
information collection.
    Participants in most federally managed fisheries in the NMFS 
Southeast Region are currently required to keep and submit catch and 
effort logbooks from their fishing trips. A subset of fishermen on 
these vessels also provides information on the species and quantities 
of fish, shellfish, marine turtles, and marine mammals that are

[[Page 51020]]

caught and discarded or have interacted with the fishing gear. A subset 
of fishermen on these vessels also provides information about dockside 
prices, trip operating costs, and annual fixed costs.
    The data are used for scientific analyses that support critical 
conservation and management decisions made by national and 
international fishery management organizations. Interaction reports are 
needed for fishery management planning and to help protect endangered 
species and marine mammals. Price and cost data will be used in 
analyses of the economic effects of proposed and existing regulations.
    Final rules implementing requirements under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) will require an owner or operator of a vessel with a 
Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef 
fish, Gulf coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) species, Atlantic CMP 
species, Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, or South Atlantic snapper-grouper 
to submit an electronic fishing report (also referred to as an 
electronic logbook) for each fishing trip (85 FR 10331, February 24, 
2020, and 85 FR 44005, July 21, 2020). NMFS is designing and plans to 
implement an intercept survey in 2021 to support and validate the 
electronic logbooks submitted for the Gulf and Atlantic reporting 
programs. These survey data are required to carry out provisions of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as amended, regarding 
conservation and management of fishery resources.
    The survey would intercept captains (respondents) of federally-
permitted charter vessels and headboats (for-hire vessels) in the 
aforementioned fisheries at verified landing locations that are 
randomly selected in Gulf and Atlantic coastal counties to obtain 
information after that day's fishing activity has occurred. The 
intercept survey is not a census of all electronically reported 
logbooks but instead would use random sampling to select landing 
locations for port samplers to gather a representative sample. 
Respondents would be asked about vessel information, time and type of 
fishing, the number of anglers, and details of catch. Catch information 
would include species identification and number of fish. Length and 
weight measurements of species retained on fishing trips may also be 
collected if time allows.
    The purpose of the intercept survey is to validate the electronic 
logbooks submitted through the Gulf and Atlantic for-hire reporting 
programs, the information collections for which are approved under OMB 
Control Number 0648-0016. The data collected from the intercept survey 
would be used to estimate non-reporting of fishing trips and reporting 
errors. Data from the intercept survey would be analyzed through 
statistical methods to provide accurate estimates of the total catch 
and effort. Without the intercept survey, the electronic logbook 
results would be left unchecked and could be erroneous due to no 
adjustments for non-reporting and misreporting. Erroneous fisheries 
information could mislead management and lead to inappropriate or 
unnecessary regulations or lead to lack thereof when needed.
    The total for-hire catch and effort estimates obtained from the 
survey, as well as from the Gulf and Atlantic for-hire reporting 
programs are intended to be used on an ongoing basis by NMFS, regional 
fishery management councils, interstate marine fisheries commissions, 
and state natural resource agencies to develop, implement, and monitor 
fishery management programs, per statutory requirements of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Catch and effort statistics are fundamental for 
assessing the influence of fishing on any fish stock. Accurate 
estimates of the quantities taken, fishing effort, and both the 
seasonal and geographic distributions of the catch and effort are 
required for the development of regional management policies and plans.

II. Method of Collection

    The information is submitted on paper forms and electronic 
transmissions. Logbooks are completed daily and submitted on either a 
per trip, weekly, or monthly basis, depending on the fishery. Fixed 
costs are submitted on an annual basis. Other information is submitted 
on a per trip basis.
    For the proposed intercept survey, information would be collected 
through in-person interviews at verified landing locations.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0016.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission--extension and revision of a 
current information collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,971.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Annual fixed-cost report, 45 minutes; 
Colombian fishery logbook, 18 minutes; discard logbook, 15 minutes; 
headboat, charter vessel, golden crab, reef fish-mackerel, economic 
cost per trip, wreckfish, and shrimp logbooks, 10 minutes; no-fishing 
report for golden crab, reef fish-mackerel, charter vessels, wreckfish 
and Colombian fisheries, 2 minutes; installation of a vessel monitoring 
unit, 5 hours; landing location request and power-down exemption 
request, 5 minutes; trip declaration, 2 minutes; and proposed intercept 
survey, 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 69,752.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,706,211 in record-keeping 
or reporting cost.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

IV. Request for Comments

    NMFS is soliciting public comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the 
proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions 
of the Department, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the time and cost 
burden estimates for this proposed collection, including the validity 
of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. NMFS will include or summarize each comment in our 
request to OMB to approve this information collection request. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, NMFS cannot guarantee that will occur.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-18182 Filed 8-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P