The Groundfish Tagging Program
provides scientists with information necessary for effective
conservation, management, and scientific understanding of the
groundfish fishery off Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. The
program area includes the Pacific Ocean off Alaska (the Gulf of
Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, the Alexander
Archipelago of Southeast Alaska), California, Oregon, and
Washington. Distribution, movement rates and direction, growth,
recruitment and mortality estimated from tag recoveries are
important parameters used in groundfish population assessment
models and in developing allocation systems
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.