2010-19755. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Tag Recapture Card

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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 October 12, 2010.

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 Eric Orbesen, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection.

The Cooperative Game Fish Tagging Program (CGFTP) was initiated in 1954 by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). In 1973 the CGFTP became a cooperative effort between WHOI and the NOAA National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) as part of a comprehensive research program resulting from passage of the Migratory Game Fish Study Act of 1959 (Pub. L. 86-359) and other legislative acts under which the NMFS operates, including 16 U.S.C. Section 760e. In 1980 sole control of the CGFTP was handed over to the NMFS. The CGFTP was later renamed the Cooperative Tagging Center (CTC). The CTC attempts to determine the migratory patterns and other biological information of billfish, tunas, and swordfish by having fishermen tag and release their catch, so that fish can be subsequently recaptured.

The primary objectives of a tagging program are to obtain scientific information on fish growth and movements necessary to assist in stock assessment and management. This is accomplished by the random recapture of tagged fish by fishermen and the subsequent voluntary submission of the appropriate data.

II. Method of Collection

The recapture cards will be sent out to the constituents who will fill in the cards with the pertinent information when and if they recapture a tagged fish and mail the cards back to NMFS offices.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0259.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection).

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 240.

Estimated Time per Response: 2 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8.

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: August 6, 2010.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.