0361 ss ren 040908rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
SOUTHWEST REGION VESSEL IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
OMB CONTROL NO.: 0648-0361

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly on tracking catch and effort
of participants as well as their history of regulatory compliance. The vessel identification
requirement is essential to facilitate these objectives. The ability to link fishing or other activity
to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to enforcement of the regulations issued under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to govern
domestic and foreign fishing and under authority of laws implementing international treaties.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be
used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support
information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection
complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
In the domestic Southwest Region fisheries regulated under 50 CFR Part 660, the vessel's official
number is required to be displayed on the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and
on an appropriate weather deck. It identifies each vessel and should be visible at distances at sea
and in the air. The requirements affect West Coast coastal pelagic fishing vessels and U.S.
vessels participating in the West Coast Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fisheries, with the
exception of HMS Charter Recreational Vessels for which an exemption was granted and
became effective September 5, 2007 a . These vessels are no longer bound by the vessel marking
requirements under consideration.
The identification number provides law enforcement personnel with a means to monitor fishing,
at-sea processing, and other related activities, to ascertain whether the vessel's observed activities
are in accordance with those authorized for that vessel. The identifying number is used by the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Coast Guard, and other marine agencies in
issuing citations, prosecutions, and other enforcement actions. Vessels that qualify for particular
fisheries are readily identified, and this allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating
fishermen also use the number to report suspicious activities that they observe. Regulationcompliant fishermen ultimately benefit as unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more
burdensome regulations are avoided.
Although, the information collected (vessel identification number) is not confidential it will not
be disseminated to the public. There is no reason for doing so. The information is strictly for
enforcement purpose or use by NMFS internally in situations involving damage, loss, and civil
proceedings

a

Copy of the final rule for this exemption can be found at 72FR43563.

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3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
The requirement that each vessel display an identification number on its deckhouse or hull, and
its weather deck, does not lend itself to collection of information technology. Transponders and
vessel monitoring system units are comparatively expensive and their signals cannot be accessed
directly by the U.S. Coast Guard in the air or by its vessels at this time. No other technology
appears to be less costly and still capable of providing the necessary information to support
enforcement.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
There is no duplication with other collections. The U.S. Coast Guard requires that the name of
the vessel be marked on its hull.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
Most of the vessels are categorized as small businesses. The collection of information will not
have a significant impact on these small businesses, and no special modifications of the
requirements were considered necessary to accommodate the needs of these small businesses.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The NMFS and U.S. Coast Guard could not enforce the fisheries management measures if the
collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
No special circumstances require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the
OMB guidelines.
8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments
on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments
received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response
to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to
obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of
instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data
elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A notice published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2007 (72 FR 64046) solicited
comments. No comments were received.

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9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are provided.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
There is no assurance of confidentiality provided. This is public information.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
There are no sensitive questions.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
The estimated total number of vessels affected is 1,750 which includes approximately 70 purse
seine fishing vessels, 1,500 troll/baitboat vessels, 150 drift gillnet vessels, and 30 harpoon
vessels. For all but the purse seine vessels, the burden is estimated at 45 minutes each (15
minutes for each of three locations on the vessel). For the purse seine vessels, the burden is
estimated at 1 hour and 15 minutes (15 minutes for each of three locations on the vessel plus 15
minutes each for one skiff and one helicopter). The total estimate burden, therefore, is:
1,680 vessels x .75 hours (45 minutes) = 1,260 hours
70 vessels x 1.25 hours (1 hour, 15 minutes) = 88 hours
Total = 1,348 hours
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in #12
above).
The only cost to respondents is the cost of the paint to apply the vessel’s official number if
a new permit or to re-apply paint to the official number if part of routine maintenance. It
is assumed the vessel has paint brushes. At $9 per vessel, the cost would be $15,750 ($9 x
1,750).
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
There is no cost to the Federal government.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or
14 of the OMB 83-I.
There are several adjustments to burden and cost based on changes to numbers and categories of
vessels:
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a. Total decrease of 563 vessels from this collection:
1) Vessels fishing in the western Pacific region are now included in the Pacific
Islands Region collection, OMB Control No.: 0648-0360. This resulted in a
transfer of 311 vessels.
2) Due to the exemption of HMS Charter Recreational Vessels effective September 5,
2007, 250 vessels were removed from this collection.
3) There are two fewer harpoon vessels in this estimate.
b. There has been an increase of 832 in the number of West Coast Highly Migratory Species
permits, resulting in an additional 800 troll/baitboat vessels, an additional 29 drift gillnet vessels
and 3 additional purse seine vessels.
This results in a net increase of 269 vessels.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
No results are published.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
N/A.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the
OMB 83-I.
There are no exceptions.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection of information does not employ statistical methods.

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