[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5782-5783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2743]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
TITLE: Albacore Fishing Operation Information.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Al Coan, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604
La Jolla Shores Drive, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, California 92038-0271;
(619) 546-7079.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The collected information will be used by NMFS to assess the status
of Pacific albacore stocks and monitor the fisheries. Data on catches
and catch locations are used to determine Albacore stock sizes and data
on vessel characteristics are used to standardize fishing effort. After
data are standardized, catch and effort information are used to
determine year class strength, fishing mortality, maximum sustainable
yields and descriptive information on where and how many fish are
caught. Environmental data are used to correlate catches with certain
environmental conditions in an effort to predict locations of favorable
catches. The collection is also used to satisfy the license requirement
under the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA).
II. Method of Collection
Fishing vessel captains are supplied with a logbook which is
distributed by the Western Fishboat Owners Association, NMFS personnel
and contractors each year. Approximately 400 logbooks are sent annually
to the fishermen or distributed at various ports in Oregon, Washington,
California, Canada, and American Samoa and are filled out by hand
during their fishing trip. The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission
contracts each year with the states of California, Oregon and
Washington to collect the logbooks and fish size information when the
vessels come in.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648-0223.
Form Number: NOAA 88-197.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (fishing vessel
captains).
Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
Estimated Time Per Response: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital expenditures
are required).
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques
[[Page 5783]]
or other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: January 29, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-2743 Filed 2-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
