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###### Department of Commerce

###### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

                    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the                           ( print page 61269)                        Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).                

*Agency:*                     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).                

*Title:*                     Pacific Islands Region Vessel and Gear Identification Requirements.                

*OMB Control Number:*                     0648-0360.                

*Form Number(s):*                     None.                

*Type of Request:*                     Regular (extension of a currently approved information collection).                

*Number of Respondents:*                     339.                

*Average Hours per Response:*                     Vessel-marking for all but purse seine vessels: 45 minutes; purse seine vessels, 75 minutes; gear-marking, 5 minutes per piece of gear.                

*Burden Hours:*                     2,348.                

*Needs and Uses:*                     This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection.                

Regulations at 50 CFR 665.16 require that all U.S. vessels with Federal permits fishing for Western Pacific fishery management unit species display identification markings on the vessel and gear, as specified in 50 CFR 665 and 50 CFR 300. Vessels registered for use with a permit issued under Subparts B through E and Subparts G through I of 50 CFR 665, must display the vessel's official number on both sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather deck. Vessels fishing for highly migratory species in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Convention Area must comply with the regulations at 50 CFR 300.217. These regulations require that vessels must display their international radio call sign on both sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather deck, unless specifically exempted. Regulations at 50 CFR 300.35 require that vessels fishing under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty must display their international radio call sign on the hull, the deck, and on the sides of auxiliary equipment such as skiffs and helicopters. The numbers must be a specific size at specified locations. The display of the identifying numbers aids in fishery law enforcement.

Western Pacific fisheries regulations at 50 CFR 665.128, 665.228, 665.428, 665.628, and 665.804 require that certain fishing gear must be marked. In the pelagic longline fisheries, the vessel operator must ensure that the official number of the vessel is affixed to every longline buoy and float. In the coral reef ecosystem fisheries, the vessel number must be affixed to all fish and crab traps. The marking of gear links fishing or other activity to the vessel, aids law enforcement, and is valuable in actions concerning the damage, loss of gear, and civil proceedings.

*Affected Public:*                     Business or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households.                

*Frequency:*                     Annually or on occasion.                

*Respondent's Obligation:*                     Mandatory.                

                    This information collection request may be viewed at                     *reginfo.gov*. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.                

                    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to                     *OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov*                     or fax to (202) 395-5806.                

Dated: December 21, 2017.

Sarah Brabson,

NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 2017-27928 Filed 12-26-17; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P