[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50180-50181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20491]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northwest
Region Gear Identification Requirements
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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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.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 11,
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 [email protected]).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Becky Renko, (206) 526-6110 or becky.renko @noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly
on regulatory compliance. The requirements that fishing gear be marked
are essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link fishing
gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to the enforcement of
regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The marking of fishing gear is
also valuable in actions concerning damage, loss, and civil
proceedings. The regulations specify fishing gear must be marked with
the vessel's official number,
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Federal permit or tag number, or some other specified form of
identification. The regulations further specify how the gear is to be
marked (e.g., location and color). Law enforcement personnel rely on
this information to assure compliance with fisheries management
regulations. Gear that is not properly identified is confiscated. The
identifying number on fishing gear is used by the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and
other marine agencies in issuing violations, prosecutions, and other
enforcement actions. Gear marking helps ensure that a vessel harvests
fish only from its own traps/pots/other gear and that traps/pots/other
gear are not illegally placed. Gear violations are more readily
prosecuted when the gear is marked, allowing for more cost effective
enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use the number to report
placement or occurrence of gear in unauthorized areas. Regulation-
compliant fishermen ultimately benefit from this requirement, because
unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome
regulations are avoided.
II. Method of Collection
The physical marking of fishing buoys is done by the affected
public (fishermen in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery) according to
regulation. No information is collected.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648-0352.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 946.
Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per marking.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,798.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,798.
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.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-20491 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P