[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5782-5783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2743]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

TITLE: Albacore Fishing Operation Information.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Al Coan, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 
La Jolla Shores Drive, P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, California 92038-0271; 
(619) 546-7079.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The collected information will be used by NMFS to assess the status 
of Pacific albacore stocks and monitor the fisheries. Data on catches 
and catch locations are used to determine Albacore stock sizes and data 
on vessel characteristics are used to standardize fishing effort. After 
data are standardized, catch and effort information are used to 
determine year class strength, fishing mortality, maximum sustainable 
yields and descriptive information on where and how many fish are 
caught. Environmental data are used to correlate catches with certain 
environmental conditions in an effort to predict locations of favorable 
catches. The collection is also used to satisfy the license requirement 
under the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA).

II. Method of Collection

    Fishing vessel captains are supplied with a logbook which is 
distributed by the Western Fishboat Owners Association, NMFS personnel 
and contractors each year. Approximately 400 logbooks are sent annually 
to the fishermen or distributed at various ports in Oregon, Washington, 
California, Canada, and American Samoa and are filled out by hand 
during their fishing trip. The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission 
contracts each year with the states of California, Oregon and 
Washington to collect the logbooks and fish size information when the 
vessels come in.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0223.
    Form Number: NOAA 88-197.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (fishing vessel 
captains).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital expenditures 
are required).

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

[[Page 5783]]

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: January 29, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-2743 Filed 2-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P