The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is requesting comments from the public on its plan to extend an information collection about small-scale fishermen in the U.S. Caribbean, which includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The study aims to gather data on demographics, fishing practices, and economic conditions to help improve fishery management and comply with legal standards. Participation is voluntary, and the surveys will be conducted in person. They anticipate a total of 1,500 respondents, with each survey taking about 30 minutes, leading to an estimated 750 total hours of public engagement annually. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until April 26, 2021.
Simple Explanation
The NOAA wants to know what people think about a survey they plan to do with fishermen in the U.S. Caribbean to understand more about their lives and work. They want to make fishing rules better, and they're asking for feedback from everyone about it until April 26, 2021.