[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11929-11930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04113]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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; Pacific Islands Region Vessel and Gear Identification 
Requirements

    The Department of Commerce will submit the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite 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. Public comments were previously requested via the 
Federal Register on October 28, 2020, (85 FR 68305) during a 60-day 
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public 
comments.
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.
    Title: Pacific Islands Region Vessel and Gear Identification 
Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0360.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular.
    Number of Respondents: 484.
    Average Hours per Response: 1 Hour, Vessel ID Requirements; 1 
Minute, Gear ID Requirements.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,217.
    Needs and Uses: Regulations at 50 CFR 665.16, 300.35, and 300.217 
require that all U.S. vessels with Federal permits fishing for western 
Pacific fishery management unit species display identification markings 
on the vessel. Each Vessel registered for use with a permit issued 
under Subparts B through E and Subparts G through I of 50 CFR 665, must 
have the vessel's official number displayed on both sides of the 
deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather deck. Regulations at 
50 CFR 300.35 require that each vessel fishing under the South Pacific 
Tuna Treaty must display its international radio call sign on the hull, 
the deck, and on the sides of auxiliary equipment, such as skiffs and 
helicopters. Vessels fishing for highly migratory species in the 
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Convention 
Area and in international waters must comply with the regulations at 50 
CFR 300.217 requiring the display of the vessel's international radio 
call sign on both sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate 
weather deck, unless specifically exempted. In each case, the numbers 
must be a specific size and in specified locations. The display of the 
identifying numbers aids in fishery law enforcement.
    The regulations at 50 CFR 665.128, 665.228, 665.428, 665.628, and 
665.804 require that certain fishing gear must be marked. In the 
pelagic longline fisheries, the vessel operator must

[[Page 11930]]

ensure that the official number of the vessel is affixed to every 
longline buoy and float. In the coral reef ecosystem fisheries, the 
vessel number must be affixed to all fish and crab traps. The marking 
of gear links fishing or other activity to the vessel, aids law 
enforcement, and is valuable in actions concerning the damage to or 
loss of gear, and civil proceedings.
    Affected Public: Mainly small for-profit businesses and 
individuals.
    Frequency: As required.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of 
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB 
Control Number 0648-0360.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-04113 Filed 2-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P