Notice2025-22386
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; West Coast Fisheries Participation Survey
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 10, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 235 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57182-57183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22386]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; West Coast Fisheries Participation Survey
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before February 9, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f01000e0e611f1d0e0f21202e2e61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fd1d0dedeb1cfcddedff1f0fefeb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0749 in the subject line of your
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will
generally be posted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. Do
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Dan Holland, Research Economist, 2725 Montlake Blvd.
East, Seattle, WA 98112-2097, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#492d2827672126252528272d0927262828672e263f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2145404f0f494e4d4d404f45614f4e40400f464e57">[email protected]</span></a>, (206) 302-1752.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for a revision and extension of an existing
information collection. This survey updates the 2023 survey to remove a
question regarding identity in underserved groups and provide multiple
choice answer options for two questions that were previously open-ended
in order to reduce response time.
This collection is sponsored by the Northwest Fisheries Science
Center (NWFSC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The
overall purpose of collecting these data is to develop stakeholder-
based societal inputs relative to fisheries participation, but these
survey data will also increase the capacity of NOAA to respond
effectively to relevant mandates and executive orders that guide social
science activities within the National Marine Fisheries Service (NEPA,
MFCMA and its National Standard 8, and Executive Order (E.O.) 12898).
Fishing livelihoods are both centrally dependent on ecosystems and
part of the forces acting on these ecosystems, including resident
marine species. Alongside social factors like economics and management,
fisheries population fluctuations shape fishing livelihoods. However,
the decisions fishermen make regarding which fisheries to access and
when to access them are not fully understood, particularly within the
food web frameworks offered up by ecosystem-based approaches to
research and management. An understanding and predictive capacity for
these movements of fishermen across fisheries in the context of
ecological and social variability presents a significant gap in
management-oriented knowledge. Managing fisheries in a way that
enhances their socioeconomic value, mitigates risks to ecosystems and
livelihoods, and facilitates sustainable adaptation, requires this
fundamental knowledge.
For this reason, the NWFSC seeks to conduct a follow-up U.S. mail
survey, replicating the surveys administered during 2017, 2020, and
2023. This survey updates the 2023 survey to remove a question
regarding identity in underserved groups and provide multiple choice
answer options for two questions that were previously open-ended in
order to reduce response time. The survey will be voluntary, and
contacted individuals may decline to participate. Respondents will be
asked to answer questions about their motivations for fishing and
factors that affect participation in the suite of West Coast commercial
fisheries. Fishing and non-fishing employment information will also be
collected. This survey is essential because data on smaller scale
fishing practices, values, participation decisions and fishing
livelihoods are sparse; yet they are critical to the development of
fishery ecosystem models that account for non-pecuniary fishing
benefits, as well as the ways in which fishing practices shape
individual and community well-being.
II. Method of Collection
The information described in the survey will be collected primarily
through the use of completed paper surveys sent via U.S. mail, with an
option for web-based input available to mail survey recipients. NWFSC
staff will contract a private research survey firm to mail out the
survey via U.S. mail, and NWFSC scientists will be responsible for
analyzing the data and disseminating the findings generated by the
survey. This approach has demonstrated effective response and minimal
burden in 2017, 2020, and 2023.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0749.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission [revision and extension of a
current information collection].
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 908.
Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 227.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: National Marine Fisheries Service (NEPA, MFCMA and
its National Standard 8, and Executive Order (E.O.) 12898.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
[[Page 57183]]
accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this information collection request. Before including
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-22386 Filed 12-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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