Notice2026-04441
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Vessel Logbooks and Cost-Earnings Data Reports
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
March 6, 2026
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 91 Issue 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11044-11045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04441]
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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; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Vessel Logbooks and Cost-
Earnings Data Reports
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comments.
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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 May 5, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e1afaea0a0cfb1b3a0a18f8e8080cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="622c2d23234c323023220c0d03034c050d14">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0371 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 Cliff Hutt, Fisheries Management Specialist, NOAA Fisheries, (301)
427-8503, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9eac5c0cfcf87e1dcdddde9c7c6c8c887cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ccfe0e5eaeaa2c4f9f8f8cce2e3ededa2ebe3fa">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for renewal and extension without revision of a
current information collection (ICR). This request is being submitted
early in anticipation of a final rulemaking that will modify the
reporting requirements but may not be finalized before the current ICR
expiration date. Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the NOAA's
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management
of the nation's marine fisheries. In addition, NMFS must comply with
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.),
under which the agency implements binding recommendations by the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
(ICCAT).
NMFS collects information via vessel logbooks to monitor the United
States (U.S.) catch of Atlantic swordfish, sharks, billfish, and tunas
in relation to the quotas, thereby ensuring that the U.S. complies with
its domestic and international obligations. The Highly Migratory
Species (HMS) logbook program, OMB Control No. 0648-0371, was
specifically designed to collect the vessel-level information needed
for the management of Atlantic HMS, and includes set forms, trip forms,
negative reports, and cost-earning requirements for both commercial and
recreational vessels. The information supplied through the HMS logbook
program provides the catch and effort data on a per-set or per-trip
level of resolution for both directed and incidental species. In
addition to HMS fisheries, the HMS logbook program is also used to
report catches of dolphin and wahoo by commercial permit holders that
do not hold any other federal permits. Additionally, the HMS logbook
collects data on incidental species, such as sea turtles, which is
necessary to evaluate the fisheries in terms of bycatch and encounters
with protected species. While most HMS fishermen use the HMS logbook
program, HMS can also be reported as part of several other logbook
collections including the Northeast Region Fishing Vessel Trip Reports
(0648-0212) and Southeast Region Coastal Logbook (0648-0016).
These data are necessary to assess the status of HMS, dolphins, and
wahoo in each fishery. International stock assessments for tunas,
swordfish, billfish, and some species of sharks are conducted through
ICCAT's Standing Committee on Research and Statistics periodically and
provide, in part, the basis for ICCAT management recommendations, which
become binding on member nations. Domestic stock assessments for most
species of sharks and for dolphin and wahoo are used as the basis of
managing these species.
Supplementary information on fishing costs and earnings has been
collected via the HMS logbook program. This economic information
enables NMFS to assess the economic impacts of regulatory programs on
small businesses and fishing communities, consistent with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, and other domestic laws.
II. Method of Collection
Paper logbooks have historically been the primary mode of
reporting, but electronic logbooks, including mobile applications, will
be offered on a voluntary basis for the HMS logbook in the near future.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0371.
Form Number(s): NOAA Form 88-191.
Type of Review: Regular submission (renewal of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (vessel owners).
Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,223.
Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes for cost/earnings summaries
attached to logbook reports, 30 minutes for annual expenditure forms,
12 minutes for logbook catch trip and set reports, 2 minutes for
negative logbook catch reports.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 22,906 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $89 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
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 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,
[[Page 11045]]
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 ICR. 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. 2026-04441 Filed 3-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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