2011-10814. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Highly Migratory Species Vessel Logbooks and Coast-Earnings Data Reports

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

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.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Steve Durkee [phone] ([e-mail]), Jennifer Cudney [phone] ([e-mail]), or Margo Schulze-Haugen [phone] ([e-mail]), Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for renewal of a current information collection. Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the nation's marine fisheries. In addition, NMFS must comply with the United States' obligations under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.), which implements the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommendations. NMFS collects information via vessel logbooks to monitor the U.S. catch of Atlantic swordfish, sharks, billfish, and tunas in relation to the quotas, thereby ensuring that the United States complies with its domestic and international obligations. HMS logbooks are verified using observer data that is collected under OMB Control No. 0648-0593 (Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions). In addition to HMS fisheries, the HMS logbook is also used to report catches of dolphin and wahoo by commercial and charter/headboat fisheries. The HMS logbooks collect data on incidental species, including sea turtles, which is necessary to evaluate the fisheries in terms of bycatch and encounters with protected species. For both directed and incidentally caught species, the information supplied through vessel logbooks also provides the catch and effort data on a per set or per trip level of resolution. These data are necessary to assess the status of highly migratory species, dolphin, and wahoo in each fishery. International stock assessments for tunas, swordfish, billfish, and some species of sharks are conducted and presented to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) periodically and provide, in part, the basis for ICCAT management recommendations which become binding on member nations. Domestic stock assessments for most species of sharks and for dolphin and wahoo are used as the basis of managing these species. The supplementary information on fishing costs and earnings has been collected via this vessel logbook program. This economic information enables NMFS to assess the economic impacts of regulatory programs on small businesses and fishing communities, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and other domestic laws.

II. Method of Collection

Logbook entries are mailed.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0371.

Form Number: NOAA Form 88-191.

Type of Review: Regular submission (renewal of a current information collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (vessel owners).

Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,496.

Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes for cost/earnings summaries attached to logbook reports, 30 minutes for annual expenditure forms, 12 minutes for logbook catch reports, 2 minutes for negative logbook catch reports.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 31,360.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: April 29, 2011.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.