Amendment 9 to the Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan for the Northeast Region of the U.S.
proposes to add halibut to the multispecies management unit. A
commercial vessel would be required to have an open access permit
in order to retain one halibut 36 or more inches long. Since
vessels with permits must submit Vessel Trip Reports (essentially a
logbook), some fisherman are expected to voluntarily surrender
their permits during the year in order to avoid the Vessel Trip
Report requirement for their non-halibut fishing trips. This
process would require the submission of an additional permit
application.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.