Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast Region U.S. Pacific Highly Migratory Species Logbook Family of Forms, 8311 [2019-04102]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 45 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 8311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04102]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast 
Region U.S. Pacific Highly Migratory Species Logbook Family of Forms

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 6, 2019.

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 Shannon Penna, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 
West Coast Region (WCR) Long Beach Office, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 980-4238 or shannon.penna@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the Fishery Management Plan for United States (U.S.) West 
Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS) U.S. fishermen, 
participating in the Pacific hook-and-line (also known as the albacore 
troll and poll-and-line), coastal purse seine (vessels less than 400 st 
carrying capacity), large-mesh drift gillnet, and swordfish harpoon 
fisheries, are required to obtain an HMS permit. Permit holders are 
also required to complete and submit logbooks documenting their daily 
fishing activities, including catch and effort for each fishing trip. 
Logbook forms must be completed within 24 hours of the completion of 
each fishing day and submitted to the Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center (SWFSC) within 30 days of the end of each trip. Federal 
regulations allow the use of state logbooks to fulfill this 
requirement, for example, California has fulfilled this requirement to 
date for HMS fisheries. These data and associated analyses help the 
SWFSC provide critical HMS fisheries information to researchers, 
fisheries managers, and the needed management advice to the U.S. in its 
negotiations with foreign fishing nations that fish for HMS.
    At the November 2018 Pacific Fisheries Management Council meeting, 
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife submitted an 
informational report outlining proposed regulations to repeal the state 
logbook requirements for swordfish harpoon and large-mesh drift 
gillnet. In December 2018, the California Fish and Wildlife Commission 
adopted an amendment to the California Code of Regulations (CCR) to 
eliminate the use of California logbooks for these gear types. These 
regulations are expected to become effective on April 1, 2019.
    As a result, NMFS has developed Federal logbooks to replace the 
California logbooks. In addition, the SWFSC developed a purse seine 
logbook for vessels under 400 st (362.8 mt) carrying capacity. This 
will replace their use of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission 
(IATTC) Seiner Record and Bridge Log designed for purse seine vessels 
over 400 st (362.8 mt) carrying capacity.
    The SWFSC and representatives from each of the fisheries have 
reviewed the Federal logbooks. Representatives were chosen based on 
their experience with State logbooks and specific gear-types. The 
information collected from the public will remain consistent with 
information currently collected from California Fish and Wildlife 
logbooks. There will be no additional burden to the public.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic data submission or 
paper forms for hook-and-line logbooks. Currently, purse seine, drift 
gillnet, and harpoon are only collected in paper form; fillable pdf 
forms are expected to be available for the 2020 fishing year. Methods 
of submittal include secure electronic transmission and mailing of 
paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0223.
    Form Number(s): NOAA Form 88-197.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,700.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,266.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,110 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-04102 Filed 3-6-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P