2015-26133. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Title: Annual Economic Survey of Federal Gulf and South Atlantic Shrimp Permit Holders.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0591.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently approved information collection).

Number of Respondents: 1,850.

Average Hours per Response: Vessel owner survey, 45 minutes; crew survey, 15 minutes

Burden Hours: 788.

Needs and Uses: his request is for revision and extension of a currently approved information collection.

NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, annually collects socioeconomic data from commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic shrimp fisheries who hold one or more permits for harvesting shrimp from federal waters (U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone). Information about revenues, variable and fixed costs, capital investment and other socioeconomic information is collected from a random sample of permit holders. Additionally, we will pilot a short demographic/socioeconomic survey of shrimp vessel crews. Next to nothing is known about the 4-5 thousand individuals crewing federally permitted shrimp vessels. These data are needed to conduct socioeconomic analyses in support of management of the shrimp fishery and to satisfy legal requirements. The data will be used to assess how fishermen will be impacted by and respond to federal regulation likely to be considered by fishery managers.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households.

Frequency: Annually.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to [e-mail] or fax to [phone].

Dated: October 8, 2015.

Sarah Brabson,

NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.