[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37862-37863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12373]


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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; Gulf of Mexico Electronic Logbook

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 OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before August 8, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0543 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 Rebecca

[[Page 37863]]

Smith, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center, Fisheries Statistics Division, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 
77551, 409-210-1817, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a current information 
collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorizes the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any 
fishery in waters under its jurisdiction. NMFS manages the commercial 
shrimp fishery in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) under the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf. The 
electronic logbook (ELB) regulations for the Gulf shrimp fishery may be 
found at 50 CFR 622.51(a)(2). The ELB is a device that records the 
position of the vessel every ten minutes. The tracks of the vessels can 
be examined to determine when and where shrimp trawling is occurring.
    As of May 1, 2023, there are approximately 1,319 valid or renewable 
Federal permits to commercially harvest shrimp from the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) in the Gulf. Monitoring shrimp vessels, operating 
together with many other fishing vessels of differing sizes, gears 
types used, and fishing capabilities, is made even more challenging by 
seasonal variability in shrimp abundance and price, and the broad 
geographic distribution of the fleet. ELBs provide a precise means of 
estimating the amount of shrimp fishing effort. Using ELBs to estimate 
fishing effort serves an important role to help estimate bycatch in the 
Gulf shrimp fleet.

II. Method of Collection

    The ELB unit automatically collects fishing effort data on a Secure 
Digital (SD) card. Twice per year the NMFS Galveston Laboratory mails 
replacement SD cards to the permit holders. The card in the ELB unit 
must be removed by the shrimper and mailed to the NMFS Galveston 
Laboratory, and replaced in the unit by the newly one received.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0543.
    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: 1,319.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,638.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping or 
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required.
    Legal Authority: Fishing Regulation 50 CFR 622.51(a)(2).

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 Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-12373 Filed 6-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P