Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast Region Vessel Identification Requirements, 57224 [2017-26024]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 57224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26024]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast 
Region Vessel Identification Requirements

AGENCY: National Ocean 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 February 2, 
2018.

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 pracomments@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Keeley Kent, (206) 526-4655 or keeley.kent@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly 
on regulatory compliance. The vessel identification requirement is 
essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link fishing (or 
other activity) to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to 
enforcement of regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. A vessel's official 
number is required to be displayed on the port and starboard sides of 
the deckhouse or hull, and on a weather deck. It identifies each vessel 
and should be visible at distances at sea and in the air. Law 
enforcement personnel rely on vessel marking information to assure 
compliance with fisheries management regulations. Vessels that qualify 
for particular fisheries are also readily identified, and this allows 
for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use the 
vessel numbers to report suspicious or non-compliant activities that 
they observe in unauthorized areas. The identifying number on fishing 
vessels is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the 
United States Coast Guard (USCG), and other marine agencies in issuing 
regulations, prosecutions, and other enforcement actions necessary to 
support sustainable fisheries behaviors as intended in regulations. 
Regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit from these 
requirements, as unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more 
burdensome regulations are avoided.

II. Method of Collection

    Fishing vessel owners physically mark vessels with identification 
numbers in three locations per vessel.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0355.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,125.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per marking.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 69 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $19,106 for materials.

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 and whether the information shall have 
practical utility) 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: November 29, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-26024 Filed 12-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P