[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19813-19814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05845]


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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; Foreign Fishing Vessel Permits, Vessel, and Gear 
Identification, and Reporting Requirements

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, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0075 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 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Jasmine Prat, Fishery Policy Analyst, Office of 
International Affairs and Seafood Inspection (F/IS5), 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, 301-427-8364 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for the extension of an existing information 
collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issues permits, under 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.; MSA), to foreign fishing vessels fishing or operating in 
U.S. waters. MSA and associated regulations at 50 CFR part 600 require 
that vessels apply for fishing permits, that vessels and certain gear 
be marked for identification purposes, that observers be embarked on 
selected vessels, and that permit holders report their fishing effort 
and catch or, when processing fish under joint ventures, the amount and 
locations of fish received from U.S. vessels. These requirements apply 
to all foreign vessels fishing, transshipping, or processing fish in 
U.S. waters. Information is collected from persons who operate a 
foreign fishing vessel in U.S. waters to participate in a directed 
fishery or joint venture operation, transship fish harvested by a U.S. 
vessel to a location outside the U.S., or process fish in internal 
waters. Each person operating a foreign fishing vessel under MSA 
authority may be required to submit information for a permit, mark 
their vessels and gear, or submit information about their fishing 
activities.
    To facilitate observer coverage, foreign fishing vessel operators 
must provide a quarterly schedule of fishing effort and upon request 
must also provide observers with copies of any required records. For 
foreign fishing vessels that process fish in internal waters, the 
information collected varies somewhat from other foreign fishing 
vessels that participate in a directed fishery or a joint venture 
operation. In particular, these vessels may not be required to provide 
a permit application or mark their vessels. The information submitted 
in applications is used to determine whether permits should be used to 
authorize directed foreign fishing, participation in joint ventures 
with U.S. vessels, or transshipments of fish or fish products within 
U.S. waters. The display of identifying numbers on vessels and gear aid 
in fishery law enforcement and allows other fishermen to report 
suspicious activity. Reporting of fishing activities allows monitoring 
of fish received by foreign vessels.

II. Method of Collection

    Foreign fishing activity reports are made by radio when fishing 
begins or ceases, to report on transfers of fish, and to file weekly 
reports on the catch or receipt of fish. Weekly reports may be 
submitted by fax or email. Recordkeeping requirements for foreign 
vessels include a communications log, a transfer log, a daily fishing 
log, a consolidated fishing or joint venture log, and a daily joint 
venture log. These records must be maintained for three years. Paper 
forms are used for foreign fishing vessel permit applications. No 
information is submitted to NMFS for the vessel and gear marking 
requirements.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0075.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8.
    Estimated Time per Response: For permit applications: One and one 
half hours for an application for a directed fishery; two hours for a 
joint venture application, and 45 minutes for a transshipment permit. 
For fishing activity reporting: 6 minutes for a joint venture report; 
30 minutes per day for joint venture record-keeping; and 7.5 minutes 
per day for record-keeping by transport vessels. For weekly reports, 30 
minutes per response. For foreign vessel and gear identification 
marking: 15 minutes per marking.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 82.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,337 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

[[Page 19814]]

    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
issues permits, under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; MSA) MSA and associated 
regulations at 50 CFR part 600.

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. 2024-05845 Filed 3-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P