0223 ss ren 050708 rev part a

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
PACIFIC ALBACORE LOGBOOK
OMB CONTROL NO.: 0648-0223

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The United States (U.S.) is a major consumer of white meat tuna (albacore). The U.S. North and
South Pacific fisheries contribute a major portion of the domestic supply of white meat tuna,
while the rest of the U.S. consumer demand is met by foreign imports. Therefore, assessments of
the status of Pacific albacore stocks and the monitoring of both the foreign and domestic
fisheries is vital to the U.S. fishermen, consumers and producers of white meat tuna. Data
collected through this sampling program are essential to assessing the status of the Pacific
albacore stocks by providing abundance indices and locations of catches. Albacore is one of the
species covered by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation Act, as amended in 2006, a Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) permit and a High Seas Fishing
Compliance Act (HSFCA) permit. Under the FMP and HSFCA (16 U.S.C. Chapter 75),
albacore fishing vessels are required to purchase a permit and provide logbook information on
daily fishing activity, including catches, effort and positions. The data and associated analyses
help the Center provide the needed management advice to the United States in its negotiations
with foreign fishing nations exploiting Pacific albacore. The data have been collected since the
early 1960's and future collections of these data will ensure a complete series of data for
monitoring and analysis purposes.
In the early 1970's the collection of the data was contracted through the Pacific States Marine
Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). The Commission decided to collect the data through a uniform
logbook system and developed a predecessor to the current logbook. The current logbook has
evolved through comments from the fishermen and changes in the fishery. The logbooks are
distributed by HMS FMP permit office and collected by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center
(SWFSC). An electronic version of this logbook has also been provided. Its use is voluntary.
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.
The logbook data will be collected throughout the year and submitted within 30 days of the end
of each fishing trip. The collected information will be used by National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) to assess the status of Pacific albacore stocks and monitor the fisheries. Data on catches
and catch locations are used to determine population size; abundance levels and data on vessel
characteristics are used to standardize fishing effort and for economic analyses. After data are
standardized, catch and effort information are used to determine year and class strength, fishing
mortality, maximum sustainable yields and descriptive information on where and how many fish
are caught. Environmental data are used to correlate catches with certain environmental
conditions in an effort to predict locations of favorable catches.
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The information is stored on computer databases and analyzed through standard population
dynamics models. Results of these analyses will show the condition of the stock and, if the
stocks are under-exploited, will indicate where increased catches can be made or, in the case
where the stocks are over-exploited, can be used to determine quotas, area closures or other
methods to enhance stock recovery. This information will be used by U.S. negotiators in
international and domestic forums to develop policy for the continued harvesting of Pacific
albacore. The data will also be summarized yearly and provided to the fishermen for their use.
As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the information gathered has utility. NMFS will retain
control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and
destruction, consistent with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response #10 of this
Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The information
collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior
to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a predissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.
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 logbook is made available in both paper and electronic form, on the Pacific Albacore
website, which can be submitted online. Fishermen are encouraged to use the electronic logbook;
however, its use is voluntary. Use of the form requires a computer that many vessels do not
carry. Every attempt has been made to keep the collection of data as simple as possible for the
respondent. The logbook is very close to the actual logs that the vessels would keep as standard
records. The current data collection system and forms are therefore the least burdensome
available.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
The data can only be collected through this sampling program. The collection has been offered
through contract and no vendors who can supply similar data have been identified. Also, since
the data collected is subcontracted through the various state agencies in whose states the catches
are landed, duplication of effort is not a factor. No similar data that can be used for these
purposes are available.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
Since the albacore fishermen were and still are an integral part of both the development and
modification of the forms and the sampling program, the burden to them has been minimized
through their own inputs.

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6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
Collection of these logbook data are required to obtain a HMS FMP or high-seas fishing
Compliance Act permit. Cancellation or decreases in coverage will hinder management of these
permit programs and allocation of quotas in the future.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
The data collection is consistent with Office of Management and Budget (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 Federal Register Notice published on December 3, 2007 (72 FR 67913) solicited public
comment on this renewal. No comments were received.
The SWFSC works closely with the Western Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA) and other
fishing organizations and receives constant feedback from fishermen on research and data
collection activities. The initial development of the data collection system and forms as well as
all changes to the system and forms were made only after review and approval of the WFOA and
its members. NMFS annually reviews the sampling for problems in procedures and forms.
Proposals for any changes are submitted for review and approval as needed. The annual reviews
also solicit input from vessel owners and state sampling coordinators in the Washington
Department of Fisheries, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Department of
Fish and Game. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is also consulted. NMFS
observers aboard vessels also solicit comments from vessel owners.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are made to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
As per NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, data are considered confidential and can only be
distributed in summary form so as not to reveal the operations of a unique vessel. This practice is
consistent with the Trade Secrets Protection Act. Assurance of confidentiality is stated on the
forms.
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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.
No information of a sexual, religious or other private nature is collected.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Approximately 1,000 logbooks will be distributed. Logbook completion is required in order to
maintain the applicable permits. Each respondent should make on average 4 trips a year for a
total of 4,000 responses. The burden is approximately one hour per response (it should be noted
that data supplied would be recorded by the captain for his/her own use and carbons are kept for
the vessels records).
4,000 responses x 1 hour/response = 4,000 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).
Mailing costs are estimated to be $0.64 per submission for a total of $2,560. There are no other
costs.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
Annualized cost for the Federal Government is a contract for $100,000, one GS-9 Information
Technology Specialist at $50,000; printing costs $25,000 and computer, $2,000, totaling
$177,000.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or
14 of the OMB 83-I.
The cost in ROCIS appears to have decreased by $440, due to rounding off to the nearest
thousand when the ICR was migrated to ROCIS.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
Results are published annually for distribution to the fishermen. The summaries are completed in
August and are published as a Center Administrative Report. The content varies but includes
annual landings, geographical locations of catches and effort and size distribution of the fish
caught.

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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.

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