E6-6377. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce has submitted 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: International Billfish Angler Survey.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0020.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 125.

Number of Respondents: 1,500.

Average Hours Per Response: Five minutes.

Needs and Uses: This Angler Survey began in 1969 and is an integral part of the Billfish Research Program at the Southwest Fishery Science Center (SWFSC). The Angler Survey tracks recreational angler fishing catch and effort for billfish in the Pacific and Indian Oceans used by scientists and fishery managers. This survey is intended for anglers cooperating in the Billfish Program and is entirely voluntary. The National Marine Fisheries Service collects fishing catch and effort information for most domestic and foreign fisheries. The survey is specific to recreational anglers fishing for Istiophorid billfish in the Pacific and Indian Oceans; as such it provides the only estimates of catch per unit of effort (CPUE) for recreational billfish fishing in those areas.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Frequency: Annually.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, FAX number [phone], or [e-mail].

Dated: April 24, 2006.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.