Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Groundfish Tagging Program, 51761 [2012-20948]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 51761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20948]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Groundfish 
Tagging Program

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 October 26, 
2012.

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 JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to John Clary at (206) 526-4039 or email 
john.c.clary@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The groundfish tagging program provides scientists with information 
necessary for effective conservation, management, and scientific 
understanding of the groundfish fishery off Alaska and the Northwest 
Pacific. The program area includes the Pacific Ocean off Alaska (the 
Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, and the 
Alexander Archipelago of Southeast Alaska), California, Oregon, and 
Washington. Fish movement information from recovered tags is used in 
population dynamics models for stock assessment. There are two general 
categories of tags. Simple plastic tags (spaghetti tags) are external 
tags approximately two inches long printed with code numbers. When a 
tag is returned the tag number is correlated with databases of 
released, tagged fish to determine the net movement and growth rate of 
the tagged fish. Archival tags are microchips with sensors encased in 
plastic cylinders that record the depth, temperature or other data, 
which can be downloaded electronically from the recovered tags. The 
groundfish tagging and tag recovery program is part of the fishery 
resource assessment and data collection that NMFS conducts under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act authority as codified in 16 U.S.C. 1801(a)(8).

II. Method of Collection

    This is a volunteer program requiring the actual tag from the fish 
to be returned, along with recovery information. Reporting forms with 
pre-addressed and postage-free envelopes are distributed to processors 
and catcher vessels.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0276.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 350.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for returning a regular tag, 
and 20 minutes for returning an internal archival tag.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 65.
    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 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: August 21, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-20948 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am]
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