Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Large Pelagic Fishing Survey, 703-704 [2020-00004]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 4 / Tuesday, January 7, 2020 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Large Pelagic Fishing Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: 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 March 9, 2020. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or via the internet at PRAcomments@doc.gov). All comments received are part of the public record. Comments will generally be posted without change. All Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to John Foster, (301) 427–8130 or john.foster@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: I. Abstract This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for monitoring and managing United States (U.S.) marine fisheries resources. Collection of information regarding fishing for large pelagic species (tunas, billfishes, swordfish, and sharks) is necessary to fulfill the following statutory requirements: Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and to meet administrative requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Marine Recreational Fishery Policy implemented to comply with VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Jan 06, 2020 Jkt 250001 Executive Order 12962 on Recreational Fisheries. The Atlantic Tunas Convention Act at 16 U.S.C. 971d(c)(3)(I) provides the Secretary of Commerce the authority to ‘‘require any commercial or recreational fisherman to obtain a permit from the Secretary and report the quantity of catch of a regulated species’’. Section 303(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies data and analyses to be included in Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), as well as pertinent data, which shall be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce under the plan. Recommendation One of the NMFS Marine Recreational Fishery (MRF) Policy focuses on developing ‘‘a comprehensive data acquisition and analysis system (participation, catch, effort and socio-economic data) on a regular, continuing basis’’ in support of the Executive Order 12962 requirement to assess the implementation and evaluate achievements of the ‘‘Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation Plan.’’ Because highly migratory species are only sought on a relatively small proportion of the total marine recreational angler fishing trips made, the fishing effort directed at such species, and the resulting angler catches are generally not estimated very precisely or accurately by general (all species) recreational surveys. Therefore, the Large Pelagics Survey (LPS) was designed as a specialized survey that would focus specifically on the recreational fishery directed at large pelagic, also called highly migratory, species. This specialization has allowed higher levels of sampling needed to provide more precise and accurate estimates of pelagic fishing effort and catches of large pelagic species. The LPS consists of two complementary surveys: A directory frame telephone survey of tuna and/or HMS permit holders to obtain fishing effort information (Large Pelagic Telephone Survey or LPTS), and a dockside survey which collects catch information and also estimates the proportion of vessels fishing for large pelagics that are not on the telephone frame (Large Pelagic Intercept Survey or LPIS). Results from the two survey components are combined to estimate total landings of Highly Migratory Species. In addition, we are requesting approval to continue to implement the Large Pelagic Biological Survey (LPBS) to collect supplemental weight and length measurements of landed fish through independent dockside sampling, as well as LPIS Validation telephone calls to validate LPIS data. Implementation of certain components PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 703 will depend on fiscal year funding and NMFS priorities. NMFS, regional fishery management councils, interstate marine fisheries commissions, and state fishery agencies use the data in developing, implementing and monitoring fishery management programs. This collection has been the key source of data used to monitor recreational quotas for the harvest of bluefin tuna in the MidAtlantic and southern New England regions. Catch distributions, harvested size distributions, and other indices obtained in this data collection have formed the basis of fishery management plans and used in stock assessments for Atlantic highly migratory species such as tunas, billfish, swordfish and sharks. II. Method of Collection Dockside and telephone interviews are used. In lieu of telephone interviews, respondents may also provide information online via a web tool. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0380. Form Number(s): None. Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection). Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-profit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,024. Estimated Time per Response: 11 minutes for a telephone interview; 5 minutes for a dockside interview, 11⁄2 minutes to respond to a follow-up validation call for dockside interviews; 1 minute for biological sampling of catch. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,608. 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. E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1 704 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 4 / Tuesday, January 7, 2020 / Notices 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, Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Commerce Department. [FR Doc. 2020–00004 Filed 1–6–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XV170] Special Accommodations Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) and The Nature Conservancy are cosponsoring a two-day workshop: Developing Future Scenarios for Climate Change in the California Current Ecosystem, which is open to the public. DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 22 and Thursday, January 23, 2020, from 8 a.m. until the completion of business on each day. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, Pacific Room, 11999 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, CA 92840; telephone: (714) 750–1234. Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kit Dahl, Pacific Council; telephone: (503) 820–2422. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this workshop is to create several alternative narratives (called scenarios) about what west coast fishing communities might look like in 2040. The scenarios will be developed by invited scientific experts, fishery experts, and stakeholders. The workshop is part of a broader Council effort to respond strategically to nearterm climate shifts and long-term climate change, and identify strategies to increase the resiliency of west coast fisheries and fishing communities in line with an ongoing initiative of its Fishery Ecosystem Plan. Members of the khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Jan 06, 2020 public are asked to register in advance through the following link: https:// form.jotform.com/93296415530963. This will help the organizers plan workshop activities. Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda may be discussed, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any issues arising after publication of this document that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the intent to take final action to address the emergency. Jkt 250001 This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt, (503) 820–2412, at least 10 business days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 2, 2020. Diane M. DeJames-Daly, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–00013 Filed 1–6–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P on whether to approve the proposed hatchery program. Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. P.S.T. on February 6, 2020. Comments received after this date may not be considered. DATES: Written responses to the addendum should be addressed to the NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. Comments may be submitted by email. The mailbox address for providing email comments is: Hatcheries.Public.Comment@ noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the email comment the following identifier: Comments on Wells Summer Chinook Hatchery Program. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natasha Preston at (503) 231–2178 or by email at natasha.preston@noaa.gov SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice • Upper Columbia River Spring-run Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Endangered, naturally produced and artificially propagated • Upper Columbia River Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated Background DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XR085] Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; availability of a Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for public comment. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County (Douglas PUD) have provided a HGMP pursuant to the protective regulations promulgated for Pacific salmon and steelhead under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The HGMP describes the release of one million summer Chinook salmon at the Wells Hatchery. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the HGMP for comment prior to a decision by NMFS SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The HGMP submitted by WDFW and Douglas PUD describes the release of one million subyearling summer Chinook salmon at the Wells Hatchery. The HGMP was submitted to NMFS for review under ESA Limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule. Douglas PUD’s existing production of summer Chinook includes 320,000 yearlings and 484,000 subyearling Chinook. These two programs are implemented under the terms and conditions of ESA Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permit No. 23193. The HGMP describes broodstock collection, incubation, rearing, release, and monitoring and evaluation. This increase in summer Chinook salmon production is proposed to support Washington State’s Southern Resident Orca Task Force recommendation to increase the abundance of Chinook salmon in marine waters of Washington State. Prior to approving an HGMP under limit 5 of the 4(d) Rule, NMFS must publish notification announcing the availability of the HGMP for public review and comment. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 742a et seq. E:\FR\FM\07JAN1.SGM 07JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 703-704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00004]



[[Page 703]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Large Pelagic 
Fishing Survey

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 March 9, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or via the 
internet at [email protected]). All comments received are part of the 
public record. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to John Foster, (301) 427-8130 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for 
monitoring and managing United States (U.S.) marine fisheries 
resources. Collection of information regarding fishing for large 
pelagic species (tunas, billfishes, swordfish, and sharks) is necessary 
to fulfill the following statutory requirements: Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and to meet 
administrative requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) Marine Recreational Fishery Policy implemented to comply with 
Executive Order 12962 on Recreational Fisheries.
    The Atlantic Tunas Convention Act at 16 U.S.C. 971d(c)(3)(I) 
provides the Secretary of Commerce the authority to ``require any 
commercial or recreational fisherman to obtain a permit from the 
Secretary and report the quantity of catch of a regulated species''. 
Section 303(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies data and analyses 
to be included in Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), as well as pertinent 
data, which shall be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce under the 
plan. Recommendation One of the NMFS Marine Recreational Fishery (MRF) 
Policy focuses on developing ``a comprehensive data acquisition and 
analysis system (participation, catch, effort and socio-economic data) 
on a regular, continuing basis'' in support of the Executive Order 
12962 requirement to assess the implementation and evaluate 
achievements of the ``Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation 
Plan.''
    Because highly migratory species are only sought on a relatively 
small proportion of the total marine recreational angler fishing trips 
made, the fishing effort directed at such species, and the resulting 
angler catches are generally not estimated very precisely or accurately 
by general (all species) recreational surveys. Therefore, the Large 
Pelagics Survey (LPS) was designed as a specialized survey that would 
focus specifically on the recreational fishery directed at large 
pelagic, also called highly migratory, species. This specialization has 
allowed higher levels of sampling needed to provide more precise and 
accurate estimates of pelagic fishing effort and catches of large 
pelagic species.
    The LPS consists of two complementary surveys: A directory frame 
telephone survey of tuna and/or HMS permit holders to obtain fishing 
effort information (Large Pelagic Telephone Survey or LPTS), and a 
dockside survey which collects catch information and also estimates the 
proportion of vessels fishing for large pelagics that are not on the 
telephone frame (Large Pelagic Intercept Survey or LPIS). Results from 
the two survey components are combined to estimate total landings of 
Highly Migratory Species. In addition, we are requesting approval to 
continue to implement the Large Pelagic Biological Survey (LPBS) to 
collect supplemental weight and length measurements of landed fish 
through independent dockside sampling, as well as LPIS Validation 
telephone calls to validate LPIS data. Implementation of certain 
components will depend on fiscal year funding and NMFS priorities.
    NMFS, regional fishery management councils, interstate marine 
fisheries commissions, and state fishery agencies use the data in 
developing, implementing and monitoring fishery management programs. 
This collection has been the key source of data used to monitor 
recreational quotas for the harvest of bluefin tuna in the Mid-Atlantic 
and southern New England regions. Catch distributions, harvested size 
distributions, and other indices obtained in this data collection have 
formed the basis of fishery management plans and used in stock 
assessments for Atlantic highly migratory species such as tunas, 
billfish, swordfish and sharks.

II. Method of Collection

    Dockside and telephone interviews are used. In lieu of telephone 
interviews, respondents may also provide information online via a web 
tool.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0380.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,024.
    Estimated Time per Response: 11 minutes for a telephone interview; 
5 minutes for a dockside interview, 1\1/2\ minutes to respond to a 
follow-up validation call for dockside interviews; 1 minute for 
biological sampling of catch.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,608.
    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.

[[Page 704]]

    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,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-00004 Filed 1-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.