[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 20639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06204]


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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; Pacific Islands Region Vessel and Gear Identification 
Requirements

    The Department of Commerce will submit the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite 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. Public comments were previously requested via the 
Federal Register on December 19, 2023 during a 60-day comment period. 
This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.
    Title: Pacific Islands Region Vessel and Gear Identification 
Requirement.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0360.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular submission, extension of a current 
information collection.
    Number of Respondents: 417.
    Average Hours per Response: Gear marking requirements approximately 
1 minute. Vessel ID requirements between 20 minutes and 75 hours, 
depending on requirement.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,117.
    Needs and Uses: Regulations at 50 CFR 665.16 require that all U.S. 
vessels with Federal permits fishing for western Pacific fishery 
management unit species display identification markings on the vessel. 
Each Vessel registered for use with a permit issued under Subparts B 
through E and Subparts G through I of 50 CFR 665, must have the 
vessel's official number displayed on both sides of the deckhouse or 
hull, and on an appropriate weather deck. Regulations at 50 CFR 300.35 
require that each vessel fishing under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty 
must display its international radio call sign on the hull, the deck, 
and on the sides of auxiliary equipment, such as skiffs and 
helicopters. Vessels fishing for highly migratory species in the 
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Convention 
Area and in international waters must comply with the regulations at 50 
CFR 300.217 requiring the display of the vessel's international radio 
call sign on both sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate 
weather deck, unless specifically exempted. In each case, the numbers 
must be a specific size and in specified locations. The display of the 
identifying numbers aids in fishery law enforcement.
    The regulations at 50 CFR 665.128, 665.228, 665.428, 665.628, and 
665.804 require that certain fishing gear must be marked. In the 
pelagic longline fisheries, the vessel operator must ensure that the 
official number of the vessel is affixed to every longline buoy and 
float. In the coral reef ecosystem fisheries, the vessel number must be 
affixed to all fish and crab traps. The marking of gear links fishing 
or other activity to the vessel, aids law enforcement, and is valuable 
in actions concerning the damage to or loss of gear, and civil 
proceedings.
    Affected Public: For-profit Businesses and Individuals.
    Frequency: As required.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR 300, 50 CFR 665.
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of 
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice on the following website https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain for the particular information collection by selecting 
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function and entering either the title of the collection or 
the OMB Control Number 0648-0360.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-06204 Filed 3-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P