[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 15918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05948]



[[Page 15918]]

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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; Survey To Collect Economic Data From Recreational Anglers 
Along the Atlantic Coast

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 May 20, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0783 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 Scott Steinback, Economist, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 
Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543. Tel: (508) 645-6443 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection and is sponsored by NOAA's Northeast Fisheries 
Science Center (NEFSC).
    The original data collection effort in 2019 under OMB Control 
Number 0648-0783 was to assess how changes in saltwater recreational 
fishing regulations affect angler effort, angler welfare, fishing 
mortality, and future stock levels. That data collection effort focused 
on anglers who fished for Atlantic cod and haddock off the Atlantic 
coast from Maine to Massachusetts. In 2020, the collection was revised 
to remove the cod and haddock survey and add a survey focused on 
anglers who fish for summer flounder and black sea bass along the 
Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to North Carolina. This current 
revision will re-add the original cod and haddock survey to this 
control number.
    The objective of the surveys will be to understand how anglers 
respond to changes in management options and fishing regulations (e.g., 
bag limits, size limits, dates of open seasons, etc.) along the 
Atlantic coast. We are conducting this survey to improve our ability to 
understand and predict how changes in management options and 
regulations may change the number of trips anglers take for highly 
sought after recreational fish species. This data will allow fisheries 
managers to conduct updated and improved analysis of the socio-economic 
effects to recreational anglers and to coastal communities of proposed 
changes in fishing regulations. The recreational fishing community and 
regional fisheries management councils have requested more species-
specific socio-economic studies of recreational fishing that can be 
used in the analysis of fisheries policies. These surveys will address 
that stated need for more species-specific studies. The population 
consists of those anglers who fish in saltwater along the Atlantic 
coast and who possess a license to fish. A sample of anglers will be 
drawn from state fishing license frames. The survey will be conducted 
using both mail and email to contact anglers and invite them to take 
the survey online. Anglers not responding to the online survey may 
receive a paper survey in the mail.

II. Method of Collection

    The survey will be conducted using two modes: Mail and internet.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0783.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority:

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. 2022-05948 Filed 3-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P