[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11871-11872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6186]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Economic Performance Data for West Coast (California--Alaska)
Commercial Fisheries; Proposed Collection
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 11, 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 Dave Colpo, Pacific States Marine Fisheries
Commission, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE.,
Seattle, WA 98115, (206) 526-4251, dave__colpo@psmfc.org; Steve Freese,
Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA
98115 (206) 526-6113, Steve.Freese@noaa.gov; or Joe Terry, Alaska
Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115,
(206) 526-4253, Joe.Terry@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
Economic performance data for select West Coast (California-Alaska)
commercial fisheries will be collected for each of the following four
groups of operations: (1) On-shore processors; (2) motherships; (3)
catcher/processor vessels; and (4) catcher vessels. Companies
associated with these groups will be surveyed for expenditure, earnings
and employment data. In general, questions will be asked concerning ex-
vessel and wholesale prices and revenue, variable and fixed costs,
expenditures, dependence on the fisheries, and fishery employment. Data
will be collected for participants in the commercial groundfish and
salmon marine fisheries, including charter boats operations for
California, Oregon and Washington, and for participants in the
commercial groundfish and halibut fisheries off Alaska. The data
collection efforts will be coordinated to reduce the additional burden
for those who participate in multiple fisheries. Each year the
principal focus of this data collection program will be on a different
set of fisheries or on a different set of participants in these
fisheries. The data will be used for the following three purposes: (1)
To monitor the economic performance of these fisheries and various
components of these fisheries through primary processing; (2) to
analyze the economic performance effects of current management
measures; and (3) to analyze the economic performance effects of
alternative management measures. The measures of economic performance
to be supported by this data collection program include the following:
(1) Contribution to net National benefit; (2) contribution to income of
groups of participants in the fisheries (i.e., fishers, vessel owners,
processing plant employees, and processing plant owners); (3)
employment; (4) regional economic impacts (income and employment); and
(5) factor utilization rates. As required by law, the confidentiality
of the data will be protected.
In each year, the data collection effort will focus on a different
component of the West Coast fisheries and more limited data will be
collected for the previously surveyed components of these fisheries.
The latter will be done to update the models that will be used to track
economic performance and to evaluate the economic effects of
alternative management actions. This cycle of data collection will
result in economic performance data being available and updated for all
the components of the West Coast fisheries identified above.
The large scale of most of the processing operations involved in
these fisheries and of many of the harvesting operations, and the
concentration of ownership in many of these fisheries, particularly off
Alaska, means that improved economic data for the management of these
fisheries is a high priority for the individuals who will provide data
for these fisheries. This is demonstrated by the fact that associations
representing many of the Alaskan participants in these fisheries
support this data collection effort and have volunteered to assist in
proving the data.
II. Method of Collection
Data will be collected from a sample of the owners and operators of
catcher vessels, catcher/processors, on-shore processing plants, and
motherships that participate in these fisheries. The data are expected
to be collected principally by NMFS and Pacific States Marine Fisheries
Commission economists. Questionnaires will be mailed to the selected
members of each of the four survey groups, and in many cases those
individuals will be interviewed to ensure the clarity of their
responses. To the extent practicable, the data collected will consist
of data that the respondents maintain for their own business purposes.
Therefore, the collection burden will consist principally of
transcribing data from their internal records to the survey instrument
and participating in personal interviews. In addition, current data
reporting requirements will be evaluated to determine if they can be
modified to provide improved economic data at a lower cost to
respondents and the Agency. Similarly, it will be determined if some of
these data can be collected more effectively and efficiently from the
firms that provide bookkeeping and accounting services to participants
in West Coast commercial marine fisheries. This data collection method
would be used only after obtaining permission to do so from
participants in the fisheries.
Response to the surveys described in this Federal Register Notice
will be voluntary. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has
recommended the development of additional mandatory reporting
requirements for economic data. If such requirements are implemented,
the data collected with voluntary surveys in Alaska would be decreased.
III. Data
OMB Number: None.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit (selected
harvesters and processors who participate in select West Coast
commercial marine fisheries.
Estimated Number of Respondents: (3-year average): 1,471 in total
[[Page 11872]]
consisting of 600 small catcher vessel owners, 630 large catcher vessel
owners, 206 primary processor owners, including factory trawlers,
motherships and on-shore processing plants, 5 secondary processors and
130 charter boat operators.
Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour per small catcher vessel; 2
hours per large catcher vessel and charter boat; 5 hours per primary
and secondary processor.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,675 hours (3-year average).
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. Respondents will not be
required to purchase equipment or materials to respond to this survey.
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 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: March 5, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-6186 Filed 3-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
