[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 32 (Friday, February 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10250-10251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03366]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Southeast Region Vessel and Gear Identification Requirements

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 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 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 the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received by April 20, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA 
Officer, at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control 
Number 0648-0358 in the subject line of your comments. All comments 
received are part of the public record and will generally be posted on 
www.regulations.gov without change. 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 Adam Bailey, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries 
Division, 263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, telephone: 
727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The NMFS Southeast Region manages the U.S. fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South 
Atlantic regions under multiple fishery management plans (FMPs). The 
regional fishery management councils prepare the FMPs pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). NMFS implements the regulations for the FMPs, which are 
located at 50 CFR part 622.
    The recordkeeping and reporting regulations located at 50 CFR part 
622 form the basis for the information collection requirements that are 
currently approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0358. NMFS proposes to 
extend the information collections under 0648-0358 without change. 
Regulations at 50 CFR part 622 require that all federally permitted 
fishing vessels must be marked with the official identification number 
or some other form of identification. A vessel's official number, under 
most regulations, must be displayed on the port and starboard sides of 
the deckhouse or hull, and on the weather deck. In addition, 
regulations for certain fisheries also require the display of the 
assigned color code for the vessel. The official number and color code 
identify each vessel and should be visible at distance from the sea and 
in the air. These markings provide law enforcement personnel with a 
means to monitor fishing, at-sea processing, and other related 
activities, as well as to ascertain whether the vessel's observed 
activities are in accordance with those authorized for that vessel. The 
identifying official number is used by NMFS, the United States Coast 
Guard, and other marine agencies in issuing violations, prosecutions, 
and other enforcement actions. Vessels that are authorized for 
particular fisheries are readily identified, gear violations are more 
readily prosecuted, and this allows for more cost-effective 
enforcement.
    In addition to vessel marking, requirements that fishing gear be 
marked are essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link 
fishing gear to the vessel owner is crucial to enforcement of 
regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens

[[Page 10251]]

Act. The marking of fishing gear is also valuable in actions concerning 
damage, loss, and civil proceedings. The requirements imposed in the 
U.S. southeast region are for aquacultured live rock; golden crab 
traps; spiny lobster traps; black sea bass pots; Spanish mackerel 
gillnets; and buoy gear.

II. Method of Collection

    Markings, such as numbers, are placed directly on fishing vessels 
and gear.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0358.
    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: 7,825.
    Estimated Time per Response: Vessel marking: 75 minutes. Gear 
marking: Aquacultured live rocks, 10 seconds each; golden crab traps, 2 
minutes each; spiny lobster traps, 7 minutes each; sea bass pots, 16 
minutes each; and Spanish mackerel gillnets, 20 minutes each; and buoy 
gear, 10 minutes each.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 51,070.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $673,277 in recordkeeping 
and reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are 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 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 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, 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. 2021-03366 Filed 2-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P