Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Fishery Observer Retention Survey, 12472 [2016-05228]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 12472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05228]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Fishery 
Observer Retention 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 May 9, 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 Jane DiCosimo, NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and 
Technology, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Room 12551, Silver Spring, 
MD, 20910, (301) 427-8109 or Jane.DiCosimo@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection.
    NOAA Fisheries utilizes observers to collect information on catch, 
bycatch, fishing efforts, biological characteristics, interactions with 
protected species, and socioeconomic information from United States 
(U.S.) commercial fishing and processing vessels. More information on 
the observer population is needed to support the Agency's conservation 
and management goals, to strengthen and improve fishery management 
decision-making, and to satisfy legal mandates under the 
Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (MSA), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the 
Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), Executive Order 12866 (EO 12866), and other pertinent statutes.
    The National Observer Program (NOP) is conducting a survey of 
fishery observers in order to investigate incentives and disincentives 
for remaining an observer and to identify their subsequent career 
choices. The data will be used by the NOP and regional observer 
programs to improve observer recruitment and retention rates. The 
survey results will be used by regional program managers to evaluate 
current observer provider contract requirements to increase observer 
retention. With a greater understanding of these data observer 
retention may increase as a result of improved recruitment for 
observers. Improved retention of qualified and experienced observers is 
expected to reduce training efforts and costs, and improve data 
quality. Observers are often the only independent data collection 
source for federal agency and scientists to collect at-sea data and are 
crucial in fishery management.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected via an electronic voluntary survey. We plan 
to distribute approximately 2000 surveys to the universe of active and 
former observers. The data will be collected anonymously and will not 
be released for public use, except in aggregate without identification 
as to its source.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (request for a new information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    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: March 3, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-05228 Filed 3-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P