Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast Fisheries Participation Survey, 6841-6842 [2016-02410]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6841-6842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02410]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast 
Fisheries Participation Survey

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 11, 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 JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Karma Norman, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, (206) 
302-2418 or Karma.Norman@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection.
    Fishing livelihoods are both centrally dependent on marine 
ecosystems and part of the set of forces acting on other components of 
these ecosystems, including the ecosystem's resident fish and marine 
species. Alongside social factors like economics and management 
actions, biophysical dynamics within the ecosystems, including 
fisheries

[[Page 6842]]

population fluctuations, shape fishing livelihoods. However, the 
decisions fishermen make regarding which fisheries to access and when 
to access them are not fully understood, particularly within the 
holistic food web frameworks offered up by ecosystem-based approaches 
to research and management. Moreover, a full understanding and 
predictive capacity for these movements of fishermen across fisheries 
in the context of ecological and social variability presents a 
significant gap in management-oriented knowledge. Managing fisheries in 
a way that enhances their social and economic value, mitigates risks to 
ecosystems and livelihoods, and facilitates sustainable adaptation, 
requires this fundamental knowledge.
    For this reason, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) 
seeks to conduct fisheries participation analyses which involve a 
survey of United States (U.S.) West Coast commercial fishing 
participants. A U.S. mail survey will be conducted. The survey will be 
voluntary, and contacted individuals may decline to participate. 
Respondents will be asked to answer questions about their motivations 
for fishing and other factors that affect participation in the suite of 
West Coast commercial fisheries. Demographic and employment information 
will be collected so that responses can be organized based on a 
respondent typology. This survey is essential because data on smaller 
scale fishing practices, values, participation decisions and beliefs 
about fishing livelihoods are sparse; yet, they are critical to the 
development of usable fishery ecosystem models that account for non-
pecuniary benefits of fishing, as well as the ways in which fishing 
practices shape individual and community well-being.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents will be contacted via mail for administration of the 
survey.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500.
    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: February 3, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-02410 Filed 2-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P