[Federal Register: March 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 51)]
[Notices]
[Page 12674-12675]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17mr03-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[I.D. 031003D]
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species Recreational Landings Reports.
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 16, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW,
[[Page 12675]]
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Dianne Stephan, phone 978/281-9397; Highly Migratory
Species Division, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The purpose of BFT catch reporting is to provide real-time catch
information for monitoring the recreational BFT fishery. Under the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the United
States is required to abide by recommendations of the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including a
specified BFT quota. This program supports BFT management and
scientific research authorized under ATCA and the Magnuson Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFMCA,16 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.). Recreational anglers are required to report specific information
regarding their catch after they land a BFT. The reported information
is tallied and used to monitor recreational landings and incorporated
into scientific analysis of BFT stock status. For any State that
participates in tagging programs to monitor recreational landings, it
is expected that weekly and one annual report would be submitted to
summarize landings and results to date.
Atlantic swordfish and billfish are also managed internationally by
ICCAT and nationally under the ATCA and the MSFMCA. This collection
will provide information needed to monitor the recreational limit
established by ICCAT for Atlantic blue and white marlin, and the
recreational catch of swordfish, which is applied to the ICCAT
established U.S. quota. This collection will also provide information
on recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish which is unavailable
from established monitoring programs. Collection of sailfish
information is authorized under MSFCMA for purposes of stock
management.
II. Method of Collection
Once a recreational fisherman lands a bluefin tuna, he is required
to report his catch via one of three methods. If the fish is landed in
the states of North Carolina (NC) or Maryland (MD), the fisherman must
obtain a harvest tag from the state fisheries agency by submitting a
landing card at a state BFT reporting station. Under this tag method
participating States (MD and NC) also submit weekly written reports and
one annual report summarizing results and data for the prior time
period.
In all other Atlantic and Gulf coast states, fishermen report via
either a toll-free telephone call or an Internet Web site. A follow-up
call to the angler is made by NOAA Fisheries personnel when the landed
fish is a trophy BFT (greater than or equal to 73'' curved fork
length).
When a fisherman lands an Atlantic marlin, West Atlantic sailfish
and/or North Atlantic swordfish, they must report their catch by
calling a toll-free telephone number. Agency personnel then place a
follow-up call to the angler to verify the initially-reported
information.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648-0328.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations;
individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,131.
Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes for an initial call-in or
Internet report; 5 minutes for a confirmation call; 10 minutes for a
landing card; 1 hour for a weekly state report; and 4 hours for an
annual state report.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,096.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: None.
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 7, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-6198 Filed 3-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S