83 FR 17426 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Horseshoe Crab and Cooperative Fish Tagging Programs

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 76 (April 19, 2018)

Page Range		17426-17428
FR Document		2018-08186

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17426-17428]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08186]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R5-FR-2018-N053; FF05F24400-167-FXFR13350500000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0127]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Horseshoe Crab 
and Cooperative Fish Tagging Programs

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to renew an 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please reference OMB 
Control Number 1018-0127 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    On September 7, 2017, we published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
42359) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew approval for 
this information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 
60 days, ending on

[[Page 17427]]

November 6, 2017. We received one comment in response to that notice 
which did not address the information collection requirements. No 
changes were made to this collection of information in response to that 
comment.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of the Service; (2) will this information be processed 
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 
(4) how might the Service enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Service minimize 
the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the 
use of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. Before including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you 
should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal 
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The Maryland Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (MDFWCO) 
will collect information on fishes captured by the public. Tag 
information provided by the public will be used to estimate 
recreational and commercial harvest rates, estimate natural mortality 
rates, and evaluate migratory patterns, length and age frequencies, and 
effectiveness of current regulations.
    Horseshoe crabs play a vital role commercially, biomedically, and 
ecologically along the Atlantic coast. Horseshoe crabs are commercially 
harvested and used as bait in eel and conch fisheries. Biomedical 
companies along the coast also collect and bleed horseshoe crabs at 
their facilities. Limulus amebocyte lysate, derived from crab blood, is 
used by pharmaceutical companies to test sterility of products. 
Finally, migratory shorebirds also depend on the eggs of horseshoe 
crabs to refuel on their migrations from South America to the Arctic. 
One bird in particular, the rufa red knot (Calidris canutus rufa), 
feeds primarily on horseshoe crab eggs during its stopover. Effective 
January 12, 2015, the rufa red knot was listed as threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act (79 FR 73706; December 11, 2014).
    In 1998, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), a 
management organization with representatives from each State on the 
Atlantic coast, developed a horseshoe crab management plan. The ASMFC 
plan and its subsequent addenda established mandatory State-by-State 
harvest quotas, and created the 1,500-square-mile Carl N. Shuster, Jr., 
Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary off the mouth of Delaware Bay.
    Restrictive measures have been taken in recent years, but 
populations are increasing slowly. Because horseshoe crabs do not breed 
until they are 9 years or older, it may take some time before the 
population measurably increases. Federal and State agencies, 
universities, and biomedical companies participate in a Horseshoe Crab 
Cooperative Tagging Program. The Service's MDFWCO maintains the 
information collected under this program and uses it to evaluate 
migratory patterns, survival, and abundance of horseshoe crabs.
    Agencies that tag and release the crabs complete FWS Form 3-2311 
(Horseshoe Crab Tagging) and provide the Service with:
     Organization name.
     Contact person name.
     Tag number.
     Sex of crab.
     Prosomal width.
     Capture site, latitude, longitude, waterbody, State, and 
date.
    Members of the public who recover tagged crabs provide the 
following information using FWS Form 3-2310 (Horseshoe Crab Recapture 
Report):
     Tag number.
     Whether or not tag was removed.
     Whether the tag was circular or square.
     Condition of crab.
     Date captured/found.
     Crab fate.
     Finder type.
     Capture method.
     Capture location.
     Reporter information.
     Comments.
    At the request of the public participant reporting the tagged crab, 
we send data pertaining to the tagging program and tag and release 
information on the horseshoe crab that was found or captured.
    We propose a revision to this existing collection of information to 
include four forms currently in use which are used by the Service:
     Form 3-2493, ``American Shad Recapture Report'';
     Form 3-2494, ``Snakehead Recapture Report'';
     Form 3-2495, ``Striped Bass Recapture Report''; and
     Form 3-2496, ``Sturgeon Recapture Report.''
    Fish will be tagged with an external tag containing a toll-free 
number for MDFWCO. Members of the public reporting a tag will be asked 
a series of questions pertaining to the fish that they are referencing. 
This data will be used by fisheries managers throughout the east coast 
and mid-Atlantic region, depending on species.
    Currently the species that are tagged are striped bass (Morone 
saxatilis), Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and shortnose sturgeon 
(Acipenser brevirostrum), northern snakehead (Channa argus), and 
American shad (Alosa sapidissima). Striped bass are cooperatively 
managed by Federal and State agencies through the Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The ASMFC uses fish tag return 
data to conduct stock assessments for striped bass. The database and 
collection are housed within MDFWCO, while the tagging is conducted by 
State agencies participating in Striped Bass management. Without this 
data collection, striped bass management would likely suffer from a 
lack of quality data.
    Sturgeon are tagged by Federal, State, and university biologists 
and nongovernmental organizations along the U.S. east coast and into 
Canada, and throughout the United States and Canada. Local populations 
of Atlantic sturgeon have been listed as either threatened or 
endangered since 2012, and shortnose populations have been listed since 
1973. The information collected provides data on tag retention and 
sturgeon movement along the east coast. The data are also used to 
address some of the management and research needs identified by 
amendment 1 to the ASMFC's Atlantic Sturgeon Fishery Management Plan.
    Northern snakehead is an invasive species found in many watersheds 
throughout the mid-Atlantic region. It has been firmly established in 
the Potomac River since at least 2004. Federal and State biologists 
within the Potomac River watershed have been tasked with managing the 
impacts of northern snakehead. Tagging of northern snakehead is used to 
learn more about the species so that control efforts can be better 
informed. Tagging is also used to estimate population sizes to monitor 
fluctuations in population size. Recreational and commercial fishers 
reporting tags provide information on catch rates and migration 
patterns as well.

[[Page 17428]]

    American shad are tagged by the New York Department of 
Environmental Conservation (NYDEC), which retains all fish tagging 
information. The public reports tags to MDFWCO, who provides 
information on tag returns to NYDEC. Tag return data are used to 
monitor migration and abundance of shad along the Atlantic coast.
    Data collected across these tagging programs are similar in nature, 
including: Tag number, date of capture, waterbody of capture, capture 
method, fish length, fish weight, fish fate (whether released or 
killed), fisher type (i.e., commercial, recreational, etc.). In 
addition, if the tag reporter desires more information on their tagged 
fish or wants the modest reward that comes with reporting a tag, we ask 
their address so that we can mail them the information.
    Title of Collection: Horseshoe Crab and Cooperative Fish Tagging 
Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0127.
    Form Number: FWS Forms 3-2310, 3-2311, and 3-2493 through 3-2496.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Respondents include Federal and State 
agencies, universities, and biomedical companies who conduct tagging 
and members of the general public who provide recapture information.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 2,026.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 3,648.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 5 minutes to 95 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,241.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Respondents will provide information on 
occasion, upon tagging or upon encounter with a tagged crab or fish.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: April 16, 2018.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-08186 Filed 4-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 76 / Thursday, April 19, 2018 / Notices 17427

November 6, 2017. We received one Endangered Species Act (79 FR 73706; • Form 3–2495, ‘‘Striped Bass
comment in response to that notice December 11, 2014). Recapture Report’’; and
which did not address the information In 1998, the Atlantic States Marine • Form 3–2496, ‘‘Sturgeon Recapture
collection requirements. No changes Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), a Report.’’
were made to this collection of management organization with Fish will be tagged with an external
information in response to that representatives from each State on the tag containing a toll-free number for
comment. Atlantic coast, developed a horseshoe MDFWCO. Members of the public
We are again soliciting comments on crab management plan. The ASMFC reporting a tag will be asked a series of
the proposed ICR that is described plan and its subsequent addenda questions pertaining to the fish that they
below. We are especially interested in established mandatory State-by-State are referencing. This data will be used
public comment addressing the harvest quotas, and created the 1,500- by fisheries managers throughout the
following issues: (1) Is the collection square-mile Carl N. Shuster, Jr., east coast and mid-Atlantic region,
necessary to the proper functions of the Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary off the mouth depending on species.
Service; (2) will this information be of Delaware Bay. Currently the species that are tagged
processed and used in a timely manner; Restrictive measures have been taken are striped bass (Morone saxatilis),
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; in recent years, but populations are Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus) and
(4) how might the Service enhance the increasing slowly. Because horseshoe shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser
quality, utility, and clarity of the crabs do not breed until they are 9 years brevirostrum), northern snakehead
information to be collected; and (5) how or older, it may take some time before (Channa argus), and American shad
might the Service minimize the burden the population measurably increases. (Alosa sapidissima). Striped bass are
of this collection on the respondents, Federal and State agencies, universities, cooperatively managed by Federal and
including through the use of and biomedical companies participate State agencies through the Atlantic
information technology. in a Horseshoe Crab Cooperative States Marine Fisheries Commission
Comments that you submit in Tagging Program. The Service’s (ASMFC). The ASMFC uses fish tag
response to this notice are a matter of MDFWCO maintains the information return data to conduct stock
public record. Before including your collected under this program and uses it assessments for striped bass. The
address, phone number, email address, to evaluate migratory patterns, survival, database and collection are housed
or other personal identifying and abundance of horseshoe crabs. within MDFWCO, while the tagging is
information in your comment, you Agencies that tag and release the crabs conducted by State agencies
should be aware that your entire complete FWS Form 3–2311 (Horseshoe participating in Striped Bass
comment—including your personal Crab Tagging) and provide the Service management. Without this data
identifying information—may be made with: collection, striped bass management
publicly available at any time. While • Organization name. would likely suffer from a lack of
you can ask us in your comment to • Contact person name. quality data.
withhold your personal identifying • Tag number. Sturgeon are tagged by Federal, State,
information from public review, we • Sex of crab. and university biologists and
cannot guarantee that we will be able to • Prosomal width. nongovernmental organizations along
do so. • Capture site, latitude, longitude, the U.S. east coast and into Canada, and
Abstract: The Maryland Fish & waterbody, State, and date. throughout the United States and
Wildlife Conservation Office Members of the public who recover Canada. Local populations of Atlantic
(MDFWCO) will collect information on tagged crabs provide the following sturgeon have been listed as either
fishes captured by the public. Tag information using FWS Form 3–2310 threatened or endangered since 2012,
information provided by the public will (Horseshoe Crab Recapture Report): and shortnose populations have been
be used to estimate recreational and • Tag number. listed since 1973. The information
commercial harvest rates, estimate • Whether or not tag was removed. collected provides data on tag retention
natural mortality rates, and evaluate • Whether the tag was circular or and sturgeon movement along the east
migratory patterns, length and age square. coast. The data are also used to address
frequencies, and effectiveness of current • Condition of crab. some of the management and research
regulations. • Date captured/found. needs identified by amendment 1 to the
Horseshoe crabs play a vital role • Crab fate. ASMFC’s Atlantic Sturgeon Fishery
commercially, biomedically, and • Finder type. Management Plan.
ecologically along the Atlantic coast. • Capture method. Northern snakehead is an invasive
Horseshoe crabs are commercially • Capture location. species found in many watersheds
harvested and used as bait in eel and • Reporter information. throughout the mid-Atlantic region. It
conch fisheries. Biomedical companies • Comments. has been firmly established in the
along the coast also collect and bleed At the request of the public Potomac River since at least 2004.
horseshoe crabs at their facilities. participant reporting the tagged crab, we Federal and State biologists within the
Limulus amebocyte lysate, derived from send data pertaining to the tagging Potomac River watershed have been
crab blood, is used by pharmaceutical program and tag and release information tasked with managing the impacts of
companies to test sterility of products. on the horseshoe crab that was found or northern snakehead. Tagging of
Finally, migratory shorebirds also captured. northern snakehead is used to learn
depend on the eggs of horseshoe crabs We propose a revision to this existing more about the species so that control
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

to refuel on their migrations from South collection of information to include four efforts can be better informed. Tagging
America to the Arctic. One bird in forms currently in use which are used is also used to estimate population sizes
particular, the rufa red knot (Calidris by the Service: to monitor fluctuations in population
canutus rufa), feeds primarily on • Form 3–2493, ‘‘American Shad size. Recreational and commercial
horseshoe crab eggs during its stopover. Recapture Report’’; fishers reporting tags provide
Effective January 12, 2015, the rufa red • Form 3–2494, ‘‘Snakehead information on catch rates and
knot was listed as threatened under the Recapture Report’’; migration patterns as well.

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17428 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 76 / Thursday, April 19, 2018 / Notices

American shad are tagged by the New DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR comments on this collection of
York Department of Environmental information was published on August
Conservation (NYDEC), which retains Fish and Wildlife Service 31, 2017 (82 FR 41421). We received no
all fish tagging information. The public [FWS–HQ–R–2018–N027; comments in response to that notice.
reports tags to MDFWCO, who provides FXRS12630900000–167–FF09R81000; OMB We are again soliciting comments on
information on tag returns to NYDEC. Control Number 1018–0140] the proposed ICR that is described
Tag return data are used to monitor below. We are especially interested in
migration and abundance of shad along Agency Information Collection public comment addressing the
the Atlantic coast. Activities; Submission to the Office of following issues: (1) Is the collection
Data collected across these tagging Management and Budget for Review necessary to the proper functions of the
programs are similar in nature, and Approval; Hunting and Fishing Service; (2) will this information be
including: Tag number, date of capture, Application Forms and Activity processed and used in a timely manner;
waterbody of capture, capture method, Reports for National Wildlife Refuges (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
fish length, fish weight, fish fate AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, (4) how might the Service enhance the
(whether released or killed), fisher type Interior. quality, utility, and clarity of the
(i.e., commercial, recreational, etc.). In information to be collected; and (5) how
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
addition, if the tag reporter desires more might the Service minimize the burden
request for comment. of this collection on the respondents,
information on their tagged fish or
wants the modest reward that comes SUMMARY: In accordance with the including through the use of
with reporting a tag, we ask their Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, information technology.
address so that we can mail them the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are Comments that you submit in
information. proposing to renew an information response to this notice are a matter of
Title of Collection: Horseshoe Crab collection. public record. Before including your
and Cooperative Fish Tagging Programs. address, phone number, email address,
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
or other personal identifying
OMB Control Number: 1018–0127. submit comments on or before May 21, information in your comment, you
Form Number: FWS Forms 3–2310, 3– 2018. should be aware that your entire
2311, and 3–2493 through 3–2496. ADDRESSES: Send written comments on comment—including your personal
Type of Review: Revision of a this information collection request (ICR) identifying information—may be made
currently approved collection. to the Office of Management and publicly available at any time. While
Respondents/Affected Public: Budget’s Desk Officer for the you can ask us in your comment to
Respondents include Federal and State Department of the Interior by email at withhold your personal identifying
agencies, universities, and biomedical OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or via information from public review, we
companies who conduct tagging and facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Please cannot guarantee that we will be able to
members of the general public who provide a copy of your comments to the do so.
provide recapture information. Service Information Collection Abstract: The National Wildlife
Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Refuge System Administration Act of
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee), as
Respondents: 2,026.
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– amended (Administration Act), and the
Total Estimated Number of Annual 3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@
Responses: 3,648. Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16
fws.gov. Please reference OMB Control U.S.C. 460k–460k–4) (Recreation Act)
Estimated Completion Time per Number 1018–0140 in the subject line of govern the administration and uses of
Response: Varies from 5 minutes to 95 your comments. national wildlife refuges and wetland
hours, depending on activity. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To management districts. The
Total Estimated Number of Annual request additional information about Administration Act consolidated all the
Burden Hours: 2,241. this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, different refuge areas into a single
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Service Information Collection Refuge System. It also authorizes us to
Frequency of Collection: Respondents Clearance Officer, by email at Info_ permit public uses, including hunting
will provide information on occasion, Coll@fws.gov, or by telephone at (703) and fishing, on lands of the Refuge
upon tagging or upon encounter with a 358–2503. You may also view the ICR System when we find that the activity
tagged crab or fish. at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ is compatible and appropriate with the
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour PRAMain. purpose for which the refuge was
Burden Cost: None. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In established. The Recreation Act allows
An agency may not conduct or accordance with the Paperwork the use of refuges for public recreation
sponsor and a person is not required to Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the when the use is not inconsistent or does
respond to a collection of information general public and other Federal not interfere with the primary
unless it displays a currently valid OMB agencies with an opportunity to purpose(s) of the refuge.
control number. comment on new, proposed, revised, We administer 373 hunting programs
and continuing collections of and 310 fishing programs on 411 refuges
The authority for this action is the
information. This helps us assess the and wetland management districts. We
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
impact of our information collection only collect user information at about 20
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

requirements and minimize the public’s percent of these refuges. Information
Dated: April 16, 2018. reporting burden. It also helps the that we plan to collect will help us:
Madonna Baucum, public understand our information • Administer and monitor hunting
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. collection requirements and provide the and fishing programs on refuges.
Fish and Wildlife Service. requested data in the desired format. • Distribute hunting and fishing
[FR Doc. 2018–08186 Filed 4–18–18; 8:45 am] A Federal Register notice with a 60- permits in a fair and equitable manner
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P day public comment period soliciting to eligible participants.

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Document Created: 2018-04-19 00:40:41
Document Modified: 2018-04-19 00:40:41

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of information collection; request for comment.
Dates		Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 21, 2018.
Contact		To request additional information about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [email protected], or by telephone at (703) 358-2503. You may also view the ICR at http:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
FR Citation		83 FR 17426

83 FR 17426 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Horseshoe Crab and Cooperative Fish Tagging Programs

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 76 (April 19, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service