[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2598-2599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00615]


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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; Cooperative Game Fish Tagging Report

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 March 18, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0247 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 Eric Orbesen, Research Fish Biologist, NOAA Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Dr., Miami, FL 33149, ((800) 437 
3936), [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection.
    The Cooperative Game Fish Tagging Program was initiated in 1971 as 
part of a comprehensive research program resulting from passage of 
Public Law 86-359, Study of Migratory Game Fish, and other legislative 
acts under which the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) operates. 
The Cooperative Tagging Center attempts to determine the migration 
patterns of, and other biological information for, billfish, tunas, and 
swordfish. The Fish Tag Issue Report card is a necessary part of the 
tagging program. Fishermen volunteer to tag and release their catch. 
When requested, NMFS provides the volunteers with fish tags for their 
use when they release their fish. Usually a group of five tags is sent 
at one time, each attached to a Report card, which is pre-printed with 
the first and last tag numbers received, and has spaces for the 
respondent's name, address, date, and club affiliation (if applicable). 
He/she fills out the card with information when a fish is tagged and 
mails it to NMFS.
    Information on each species is used by NMFS to determine migratory 
patterns, distance traveled, stock boundaries, age, and growth. These 
data are necessary input for developing

[[Page 2599]]

management criteria by regional fishery management councils, states, 
and NMFS. The tag report cards are necessary to provide tags to the 
volunteer angler, record when and where the fish was tagged, the 
species, its estimated length and weight, tag number, and information 
on the tagger for follow-ups if the tagged fish is recovered. Failure 
to obtain these data would make management decisions very difficult and 
would be contrary to the NMFS Marine Recreational Fishing policy 
objectives. Anglers are made aware of the tagging program through 
several forms of media: newspaper and magazine articles, through both 
The Billfish Foundation and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center 
websites, peer review papers, and by word of mouth.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is submitted by mail, and occasionally, international 
anglers scan the report cards and submit them via email to 
[email protected].

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0247.
    Form Number(s): NOAA form 88-162.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5.63 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 292 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: U.S. Code: 16 U.S.C. 760e; Name of Law: Study of 
Migratory Game Fish.

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. 2024-00615 Filed 1-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P