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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65637-65638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27629]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Marine 
Recreational Information Program Social Network In-Person Survey

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 February 19, 
2019.

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 [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Adam Rettig, (301) 427-8216, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for new information collection. The title will be 
``Marine Recreational Information Program Social Network Analysis In-
Person Survey''.
    In its 2017 review of NOAA Fisheries' Marine Recreational 
Information Program (MRIP), the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine recommended the program enhance its 
communications and outreach activities, particularly among the 
recreational fishing community. To address this recommendation, MRIP 
will administer two voluntary surveys; (1) the MRIP Social Network 
Survey (a mail survey, see 60d FRN published February 2, 1918 (83 FR 
4909)) and (2) the MRIP Social Network Analysis In-Person Survey. This 
data collection will help identify relationships, networks, and 
channels through which information flows among the recreational fishing 
community. This survey will help MRIP more effectively engage with its 
audiences by identifying key influencers and information pathways, and 
the areas of greatest need and opportunity for relationship-building.
    The MRIP Social Network Analysis In-Person Survey will interview 
saltwater anglers in three communities that are particularly 
representative as revealed by the MRIP Social Network Survey (mail 
survey). The identification of these communities can be based on the 
distribution of licensed anglers, level of angler fishing avidity, 
level of awareness of state and Federal recreational fisheries 
management activities, or other parameters measured in the MRIP Social 
Network Survey (mail survey) or other NOAA Fisheries surveys. In each 
fishing community to be evaluated, between ten and fifteen initial 
respondents shall be interviewed for the survey. The initial 
respondents will not be selected from the sample of individuals used in 
the mail survey. Rather, active recreational anglers will be asked to 
participate in the survey during visits to relevant businesses and

[[Page 65638]]

entities (marinas, bait and tackle shops, fishing clubs, state natural 
resource agencies, etc.,) within the community. The interviews will 
gather qualitative information on each respondent's information sharing 
network, including how information sources are connected. Respondents 
will be asked to provide names of additional contacts from their 
network that could provide meaningful information for the study. These 
named contacts will then be contacted and interviewed in the same 
manner as the initial respondents. The in-person survey will conclude 
once interviews have been completed for 60 respondents within each 
community.
    Questions will explore demographics, fishing practices, specific 
names of individuals, key locations, media sources, and websites that 
anglers rely on for communication about fisheries data collection and 
management issues. The characteristics about the sources that make 
respondents perceive them as reliable or trustworthy sources will be 
determined by exploring attitudes toward Federal and state fishery 
management agencies (e.g., why agencies are/are not perceived as 
trustworthy; how agencies can improve communication, etc.). Questions 
will also explore the personal level of engagement in the fisheries 
data collection and management process as well as the level of 
engagement of information sharing partners. These data will be used to 
identify key information sources for recreational anglers, evaluate 
regional differences in information sources, and evaluate recreational 
angler confidence in management and data collection efforts. The 
information obtained will allow MRIP to more effectively communicate 
with recreational anglers on data collection issues by focusing 
communications efforts on important network channels.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected via in-person surveys.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 180.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 90.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: December 18, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-27629 Filed 12-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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