Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Non-Commercial Permit and Reporting Requirements in the Main Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Fishery, 12069 [2011-4933]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 12069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4933]



[[Page 12069]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Non-Commercial 
Permit and Reporting Requirements in the Main Hawaiian Islands 
Bottomfish Fishery

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 May 3, 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 dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Walter Ikehara, (808) 944-2275 or 
Walter.Ikehara@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for renewal of a currently approved information 
collection.
    All non-commercial participants (including vessel owners, 
operators, and crew) in the boat-based bottomfish fishery in the main 
Hawaiian Islands are required to obtain a federal bottomfish permit, 
pursuant to 50 CFR 665. This collection of information is needed for 
permit issuance, to identify actual or potential participants in the 
fishery, determine qualifications for permits, and to help measure the 
impacts of management controls on the participants in the fishery. The 
permit program is also an effective tool in the enforcement of fishery 
regulations and serves as a link between the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) and fishermen.
    All vessel owners or operators in this fishery are required to 
submit a completed logbook form at the completion of each fishing trip. 
These logbook reporting sheets document the species and amount of 
species caught during the trip. The reporting requirements are crucial 
to ensure that NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) will be able to monitor the fishery and have fishery-
dependent information to develop an estimate of an Annual Catch Limit 
(annual Total Allowable Catch) for the fishery, evaluate the 
effectiveness of management measures, determine whether changes in 
fishery management programs are necessary, and estimate the impacts and 
implications of alternative management measures.

II. Method of Collection

    Permit information is collected via permit applications. Permits 
are valid for one calendar year and may be renewed annually. Completed 
logbook forms are required to be submitted to NMFS by vessel owners or 
operators within 72 hours of the end of each fishing trip.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0577.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (renewal of a currently approved 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Vessel owners and non-commercial fishermen.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per permit application, 30 
minutes per logsheet.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 375.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $400.

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: March 1, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-4933 Filed 3-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P