Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; High Seas Fishing Permit Application, Logbook Reporting and Vessel Marking
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants to keep track of big boats that go fishing far out in the ocean. They ask for information about these boats and the people who use them, to make sure they fish safely and fairly.
Summary AI
The Department of Commerce is set to submit an information collection request related to U.S. vessels fishing on the high seas to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This request, which extends a currently approved collection, involves gathering details such as vessel identification, owner and operator information, as well as intended fishing areas and gear. This data helps process fishing permits and maintain a register of vessels authorized under the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act. The public and federal agencies are invited to comment on this collection to help reduce reporting burdens.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The recent notice from the Department of Commerce, under consideration by the Office of Management and Budget, highlights an ongoing information collection related to the high-seas fishing activities of U.S. vessels. This notice is pertinent to businesses or entities involved in high-seas fishing as it directly deals with the application process, reporting requirements, and vessel identification for those who operate beyond U.S. territorial waters.
General Overview
This document outlines the proposal to extend the current framework for collecting information necessary to issue high-seas fishing permits. Such data include details about the fishing vessels, their ownership, operational crew, intended fishing locales, and the gear utilized. These inputs play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act. The aim is to streamline and update this process in a way that addresses administrative needs while considering the potential burden on the respondents.
Significant Issues
While the document outlines the process and requirements for applying or renewing a high-seas fishing permit, it lacks clarity and thoroughness in a few key areas. The specified time commitments for various tasks, such as requiring 40 hours to authorize a fishery on the high seas, raise concerns without clear justification. A detailed breakdown of how these time commitments contribute to the annual burden hours calculation could improve understanding. Additionally, jargon such as "transshipment notices and reports" might be confusing without further explanation, especially for those not well-versed in maritime or fishing terms. Furthermore, no concise explanation of the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act is provided, which would be beneficial for context.
Impact on the Public
This regulatory notice is primarily relevant to businesses and individuals involved in high-seas fishing activities. For the general public, the primary impact lies in the assurance that U.S. high-seas fishing practices are regulated and monitored to some extent, aligning with international maritime laws and standards. Ensuring that these businesses operate correctly can foster responsible fishing practices, which are crucial for marine conservation.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders directly involved, namely businesses or entities that perform high-seas fishing, these requirements and the associated paperwork could represent significant administrative and operational efforts. While designed to ensure compliance and monitoring, the process must balance these objectives with the practicalities for applicants. If stakeholders feel that the time and effort required are disproportionate, it could lead to increased stress and potentially discourage compliance.
Efforts to streamline and clearly communicate the process for commenting or participating in this regulatory discussion are vital. However, the current instructions on how to interact via the reginfo.gov site could benefit from clearer guidance to enhance stakeholder engagement in shaping these policies.
Overall, this notice is a step towards maintaining regulated and sustainable fishing environments. Addressing areas of concern might optimize both the compliance process and the experience for those impacted by these regulatory practices.
Issues
• The document mentions specific time commitments for various tasks (e.g., 40 hours for requests to authorize a fishery on the high seas) without justification for the time required, which could be seen as potentially burdensome without detailed explanation.
• The document does not provide a detailed breakdown of how the total annual burden hours (121 hours) were calculated from the various response types, which may lead to confusion.
• The use of jargon such as 'transshipment notices and reports' without further clarification or definition could make the document difficult to understand for individuals not familiar with the terminology.
• The document references legal authority, specifically the 'High Seas Fishing Compliance Act,' without providing a brief explanation of this act, which might be helpful for understanding the context.
• The instruction for how to find and comment on the information collection request using 'www.reginfo.gov' could be seen as lacking clarity and user-friendly guidance.