2011-4933. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Non-Commercial Permit and Reporting Requirements in the Main Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Fishery

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 May 3, 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 Walter Ikehara, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for renewal of a currently approved information collection.

All non-commercial participants (including vessel owners, operators, and crew) in the boat-based bottomfish fishery in the main Hawaiian Islands are required to obtain a federal bottomfish permit, pursuant to 50 CFR 665. This collection of information is needed for permit issuance, to identify actual or potential participants in the fishery, determine qualifications for permits, and to help measure the impacts of management controls on the participants in the fishery. The permit program is also an effective tool in the enforcement of fishery regulations and serves as a link between the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and fishermen.

All vessel owners or operators in this fishery are required to submit a completed logbook form at the completion of each fishing trip. These logbook reporting sheets document the species and amount of species caught during the trip. The reporting requirements are crucial to ensure that NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will be able to monitor the fishery and have fishery-dependent information to develop an estimate of an Annual Catch Limit (annual Total Allowable Catch) for the fishery, evaluate the effectiveness of management measures, determine whether changes in fishery management programs are necessary, and estimate the impacts and implications of alternative management measures.

II. Method of Collection

Permit information is collected via permit applications. Permits are valid for one calendar year and may be renewed annually. Completed logbook forms are required to be submitted to NMFS by vessel owners or operators within 72 hours of the end of each fishing trip.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0577.

Form Number: None.

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

Affected Public: Vessel owners and non-commercial fishermen.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.

Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per permit application, 30 minutes per logsheet.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 375.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $400.

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 1, 2011.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.