Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northwest Region Gear Identification Requirements, 6483 [E8-1884]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 6483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1884]


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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), 
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 April 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Jamie Goen, (206) 526-4646 or jamie.goen@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. 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, 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 NMFS, the U.S. Coast 
Guard, 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. The 
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: 548.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours (15 minutes per marking).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,782.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,000.

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: January 29, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-1884 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P