80 FR 197 pgs. 61378-61379 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Groundfish Tagging Program
Type: NOTICEVolume: 80Number: 197Pages: 61378 - 61379
Pages: 61378, 61379FR document: [FR Doc. 2015-25848 Filed 10-9-15; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Groundfish Tagging Program
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 December 14, 2015.
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 John Clary, (206) 526-4039 or email john.c.clary@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
[top] This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. The groundfish tagging program provides scientists with information necessary for effective conservation, management, and scientific understanding of the groundfish fishery off Alaska and the Northwest Pacific. The program area includes the Pacific Ocean off Alaska (the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, and the Alexander Archipelago of Southeast Alaska), California, Oregon, and Washington. Fish movement information from recovered tags is used in population dynamics models for stock assessment. There are two general categories of tags. Simple plastic tags (spaghetti tags) are external tags approximately two inches long, printed with code numbers. When a tag is returned, the tag number is correlated with databases of released, tagged fish to determine the net movement and growth rate of the tagged fish. Archival tags are microchips with sensors
II. Method of Collection
This is a volunteer program requiring the actual tag from the fish to be returned, along with recovery information. Reporting forms with pre-addressed and postage-free envelopes are distributed to processors and catcher vessels.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0276.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection).
Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 265.
Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for returning a regular tag, and 20 minutes for returning an internal archival tag.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 59.
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: October 6, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-25848 Filed 10-9-15; 8:45 am]
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