[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76188-76190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24440]


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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; Large Pelagic Fishing Survey

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

[[Page 76189]]

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 January 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0380 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, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Science 
and Technology, 1315 East-West Hwy./FST1, Silver Spring, MD 21910, 
Phone: (301) 427-8130 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for the extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for 
monitoring and managing United States (U.S.) marine fisheries 
resources. Collection of information regarding fishing for large 
pelagic species (tunas, billfishes, swordfish, and sharks) is necessary 
to fulfill the following statutory requirements: Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and to meet 
administrative requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) Marine Recreational Fishery Policy implemented to comply with 
Executive Order 12962 on Recreational Fisheries.
    The Atlantic Tunas Convention Act at 16 U.S.C. 971d(c)(3)(I) 
provides the Secretary of Commerce the authority to ``require any 
commercial or recreational fisherman to obtain a permit from the 
Secretary and report the quantity of catch of a regulated species''. 
Section 303(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies data and analyses 
to be included in Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), as well as pertinent 
data, which shall be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce under the 
plan. Recommendation One of the NMFS Marine Recreational Fishery (MRF) 
Policy focuses on developing ``a comprehensive data acquisition and 
analysis system (participation, catch, effort and socio-economic data) 
on a regular, continuing basis'' in support of the Executive Order 
12962 requirement to assess the implementation and evaluate 
achievements of the ``Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation 
Plan.''
    Because highly migratory species are only sought on a relatively 
small proportion of the total marine recreational angler fishing trips 
made, the fishing effort directed at such species, and the resulting 
angler catches are generally not estimated very precisely or accurately 
by general (all species) recreational surveys. Therefore, the Large 
Pelagics Survey (LPS) was designed as a specialized survey that would 
focus specifically on the recreational fishery directed at large 
pelagic, also called highly migratory, species. This specialization has 
allowed higher levels of sampling needed to provide more precise and 
accurate estimates of pelagic fishing effort and catches of large 
pelagic species.
    The LPS consists of two complementary surveys: a directory frame 
telephone survey of tuna and/or HMS permit holders to obtain fishing 
effort information (Large Pelagic Telephone Survey or LPTS), and a 
dockside survey which collects catch information and also estimates the 
proportion of vessels fishing for large pelagics that are not on the 
telephone frame (Large Pelagic Intercept Survey or LPIS). Results from 
the two survey components are combined to estimate total landings of 
Highly Migratory Species. In addition, we are requesting approval to 
continue to implement the Large Pelagic Biological Survey (LPBS) to 
collect supplemental weight and length measurements of landed fish 
through independent dockside sampling, as well as LPIS Validation 
telephone calls to validate LPIS data. Implementation of certain 
components will depend on fiscal year funding and NMFS priorities.
    NMFS, regional fishery management councils, interstate marine 
fisheries commissions, and state fishery agencies use the data in 
developing, implementing and monitoring fishery management programs. 
This collection has been the key source of data used to monitor 
recreational quotas for the harvest of bluefin tuna in the Mid-Atlantic 
and southern New England regions. Catch distributions, harvested size 
distributions, and other indices obtained in this data collection have 
formed the basis of fishery management plans and used in stock 
assessments for Atlantic highly migratory species such as tunas, 
billfish, swordfish and sharks.

II. Method of Collection

    Dockside (in-person) interviews and telephone interviews.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0380.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,024.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 11 minutes for a telephone interview; 
5 minutes for a dockside interview, 1\1/2\ minutes to respond to a 
follow-up validation call for dockside interviews; 1 minute for 
biological sampling of catch.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,608.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, Atlantic Tunas Convention Act.

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

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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. 2023-24440 Filed 11-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P