80 FR 75977 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 234 (December 7, 2015)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75977-75978]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30692]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
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 February 5, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, 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 Margo Schulze-Haugen, (301) 427-8503 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Catch reporting from recreational and commercial hand-gear 
fisheries provides important data used to monitor catches of Atlantic 
highly migratory species (HMS) and supplements other existing data 
collection programs. Data collected through this program are used for 
both domestic and international fisheries management and stock 
assessment purposes.
    Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) catch reporting provides real-time 
catch information used to monitor the BFT fishery. Under the Atlantic 
Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the United States 
is required to adopt regulations, as necessary and appropriate, to 
implement recommendations of the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including recommendations on a 
specified BFT quota. BFT catch reporting helps the U.S. monitor this 
quota and supports scientific research consistent with ATCA and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Recreational anglers and 
commercial hand-gear fishermen are required to report specific 
information regarding their catch of BFT.
    Atlantic billfish and swordfish are managed internationally by 
ICCAT and nationally under ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This 
collection provides information needed to monitor the recreational 
catch of Atlantic blue and white marlin, which is applied to the 
recreational limit established by ICCAT, and the recreational catch of 
North Atlantic swordfish, which is applied to the U.S. quota 
established by ICCAT. This collection also provides information on 
recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish which is unavailable 
from other established monitoring programs. Collection of sailfish 
catch information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for 
purposes of stock management.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents reporting BFT catch in states (and the United States 
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) other than Maryland and North Carolina 
may use either an internet Web site or a toll-free telephone number. 
Respondents reporting Atlantic marlin, West Atlantic sailfish, or North 
Atlantic swordfish in states (and the United States Virgin Islands and 
Puerto Rico) other than Maryland or North Carolina may use either an 
internet Web site or a toll-free telephone number to report landings 
information. In Maryland and North Carolina, a paper reporting system 
is used for all of the aforementioned species. Under state law, 
respondents in Maryland and North Carolina must submit a landing card 
at a state-operated reporting station. States that participate in a 
landing card program must submit weekly reports and one annual report 
to NOAA to summarize landings and results to date.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0328.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,527.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for an initial call-in or 
internet report; 5 minutes for a confirmation call; 10 minutes for a 
landing card; 1 hour for a weekly state report; and 4 hours for an 
annual state report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,190.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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

[[Page 75978]]

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: December 1, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-30692 Filed 12-4-15; 8:45 am]
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