[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22683-22684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06903]


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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; West Coast Region, Gear Identification 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 June 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0352 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 Christopher Biegel, Fishery Management Specialist, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, West Coast Regional Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., 
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 231-6291, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. The success of fisheries management programs 
depends significantly on regulatory compliance. The requirements that 
fishing gear be marked are essential to facilitate enforcement. The 
ability to link fishing gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial 
to enforcement of regulations issued under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The marking 
of fishing gear is also valuable in actions concerning damage, loss, 
and civil proceedings. The regulations specify that fishing gear must 
be marked with the vessel's official number, Federal permit or tag 
number, or some other specified form of identification. The regulations 
further specify how the gear is to be marked (e.g., location and 
color).
    Law enforcement personnel rely on gear marking information to 
assure compliance with fisheries management regulations. Gear that is 
not properly identified is confiscated. Gear violations are more 
readily prosecuted when the gear is marked, and this allows for more 
cost-effective enforcement. Gear marking helps ensure that a vessel 
harvests fish only from its own traps/pots/other gear and that fishing 
gear are not illegally placed. Cooperating fishermen also use the gear 
marking numbers to report suspicious or non-compliant activities that 
they observe, and to report placement or occurrence of gear in 
unauthorized areas. The

[[Page 22684]]

identifying number on fishing gear is used by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and 
other marine agencies in issuing regulations, prosecutions, and other 
enforcement actions necessary to support sustainable fisheries 
behaviors as intended in regulations. Regulation-compliant fishermen 
ultimately benefit from these requirements, as unauthorized and illegal 
fishing is deterred and more burdensome regulations are avoided.

II. Method of Collection

    The physical marking of fishing buoys is done by fishermen in the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery according to regulation.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0352.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,125.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 574 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $11,351.60 for materials.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: NMFS and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council 
(Council) manage the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zone seaward of California, Oregon, and Washington under the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council prepared 
the FMP under the authority of the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 
Regulations governing United States fisheries and implementing the FMP 
appear at 50 CFR parts 660.

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. 2024-06903 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P