[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6849-6850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02471]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Marine Recreational Information Program, Access-Point Angler 
Intercept Survey (APAIS)

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 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 April 8, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0659 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 John Foster, Chief, Recreational Fisheries Statistics Branch, 
Fisheries Statistics Division, 301-427-8130, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Marine recreational anglers are surveyed to collect catch and 
effort data, fish biology data, and angler socioeconomic 
characteristics. These data are required to carry out provisions of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), as amended, regarding conservation and management of 
fishery resources.
    Marine recreational fishing catch and effort data are collected 
through a combination of mail surveys, telephone surveys and on-site 
intercept surveys with recreational anglers. Amendments to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) require 
the development of an improved data collection program for recreational 
fisheries. To partially meet these requirements, NOAA Fisheries 
designed and implemented a new Access-Point Angler Intercept Survey 
(APAIS) in 2013 to ensure better coverage and representation of 
recreational fishing activity.
    The APAIS intercepts marine recreational fishers at public-access 
sites in coastal counties from Maine to Mississippi, Hawaii, and Puerto 
Rico to obtain information about the just-completed day's fishing 
activity. Respondents are asked about the time and type of fishing, the 
angler's avidity and residence location, and details of any catch of 
finfish. Species identification, number, and size are collected for any 
available landed catch. Data collected from the APAIS are used to 
estimate the catch per angler of recreational saltwater fishers. These 
APAIS estimates are combined with estimates derived from independent 
but complementary surveys of fishing effort, the Fishing Effort Survey 
and the For-Hire Survey, to estimate total, state-level fishing catch, 
by species, and participation. These estimates are used in the 
development, implementation, and monitoring of fishery management 
programs by the NMFS, regional fishery management councils, interstate 
marine fisheries commissions, and state fishery agencies.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected through onsite in-person interviews.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0659.
    Form Number(s): None.

[[Page 6850]]

    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for intercepted anglers.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,333.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

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. 2022-02471 Filed 2-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P