[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4592-4593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01280]


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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; Southeast Region Dealer and Interview Family of Forms

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 25, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0013 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 Dr. David Gloeckner, Supervisory Mathematical Statistician, 75 
Virginia Beach Drive, Bldg. 1, Miami, FL 33149-1003 (305) 361-4257 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for renewal of a current information collection. 
Fishery quotas are established for many species in the fishery 
management plans developed by the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery 
Management Council, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and 
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council. The Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center has been delegated the responsibility to monitor these 
quotas. To do so in a timely manner, seafood dealers that handle these 
species are required to report the purchases (landings) of these 
species. The frequency of these reporting requirements varies depending 
on the magnitude of the quota (e.g., lower quota usually require more 
frequent reporting) and the intensity of fishing effort. The most 
common reporting frequency is weekly. Daily reporting is only used for 
one fishery.
    In addition, information collection included in this family of 
forms includes interview with fishermen to gather information on the 
fishing effort, location and type of gear used on individual trips. 
This data collection is conducted for a subsample of the fishing trips 
and vessel/trips in selected commercial fisheries in the Southeast 
region and commercial fisheries of the US Caribbean. Fishing trips and 
individuals are selected at random to provide a viable statistical 
sample. These data are used for scientific analyses that support 
critical conservation and management decisions made by national and 
international fishery management organizations.

II. Method of Collection

    Dealer reports used for quota monitoring are reported 
electronically for all, but one fishery (mackerel gillnet) is reported 
via fax or email. Bio profile

[[Page 4593]]

data from Trip Interview programs is obtained by face-to-face 
interviews with fisherman or sea food dealers.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0013.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (renewal of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: Dealer reporting for monitoring 
Federal fishery annual catch limits (ACLs): coastal fisheries dealers 
reporting, 10 minutes; mackerel dealer reporting (gillnet), 10 minutes. 
Bio profile data from Trip Interview programs (TIP): Fin Fish 
interviews, 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: This data collection is authorized under 50 CFR 
part 622.5.

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. 2024-01280 Filed 1-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P