[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 14 (Monday, January 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6873-6874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01473]


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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; West Coast Region Gear Identification Requirements

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

[[Page 6874]]

(PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment 
on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us 
assess the impact of our 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 on or before March 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0352 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 Keeley Kent, (206) 247-8252 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly 
on regulatory compliance. The requirements that fishing gear be marked 
are essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link fishing 
gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to enforcement of 
regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act. The marking of fishing gear is also 
valuable in actions concerning damage, loss, and civil proceedings. The 
regulations specify that fishing gear must be marked with the vessel's 
official number, Federal permit or tag number, or some other specified 
form of identification. The regulations further specify how the gear is 
to be marked (e.g., location and color). Law enforcement personnel rely 
on gear marking information to assure compliance with fisheries 
management regulations. Gear that is not properly identified is 
confiscated. Gear violations are more readily prosecuted when the gear 
is marked, and this allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Gear 
marking helps ensure that a vessel harvests fish only from its own 
traps/pots/other gear and the gear are not illegally placed. 
Cooperating fishermen also use the gear marking numbers to report 
suspicious or non-compliant activities that they observe, and to report 
placement or occurrence of gear in unauthorized areas. The identifying 
number on fishing gear is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and other marine agencies 
in issuing regulations, prosecutions, and other enforcement actions 
necessary to support sustainable fisheries behaviors as intended in 
regulations. Regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit from 
these requirements, as unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred, 
and more burdensome regulations are avoided.

II. Method of Collection

    The physical marking of fishing buoys is done by fishermen in the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery according to regulation.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0352.
    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: 811.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per gear marking.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,236 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,236.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR 660.12.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
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 our estimate of the time and cost burden 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-01473 Filed 1-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P