0213 ss ren 090908rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ALASKA REGION LOGBOOK FAMILY OF FORMS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0213

INTRODUCTION

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act)

16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. authorizes the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any fishery in waters under its jurisdiction. 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages groundfish in the exclusive economic zone off the coast of Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Regulations implementing the groundfish FMP appear at

50 CFR part 679.

NMFS manages the crab fisheries in the waters off the coast of Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab. Regulations implementing the Crab FMP appear at 50 CFR part 680. Regulations at part 679 also pertain.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and NMFS manage fishing for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) through regulations established under the authority of the

Convention between the United States Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). The IPHC promulgates regulations pursuant to the Convention at 50 CFR 300.60 through 300.65. NMFS promulgates regulations for the Pacific halibut Individual Fishing Quota Program (IFQ) at 50 CFR 679.

This action is for the renewal of this collection.

This collection-of-information supports the collection of groundfish fishery data and supporting information from the fishing industry through the use of daily fishing logbooks (DFL) and daily cumulative production logbooks (DCPL). NMFS provides six different types of logbook for use by the fishing industry to record and report groundfish information. Catcher vessels under 60 ft length overall (LOA) are not required to maintain DFL.

♦ Catcher vessel trawl gear daily fishing logbook (DFL)

♦ Catcher vessel longline and pot gear DFL

♦ Mothership daily cumulative production logbook (DCPL)

♦ Shoreside processor DCPL

♦ Catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL

♦ Catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL.

The information collected is intended to enhance the effectiveness of analyses through data for which the industry is the best or only source, including: Fishing effort, retained groundfish catch, discard amounts, employment, and product information. To minimize the recordkeeping costs associated with fishery management requirements, NMFS designed the DFL and DCPL to provide a convenient method to enter information that serves both the business needs of the fishing industry and the data base requirements of NMFS.

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 0648-0213 groundfish recordkeeping and reporting system incorporates and integrates information from the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) groundfish fisheries, the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program (OMB Control No. 0648-0269), the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish (OMB Control No. 0648-0272), Alaska Cooperatives in the BSAI (OMB Control No. 0648-0401), the Prohibited Species Donation Program (OMB Control No. 0648-0316), the License Limitation Groundfish Program (OMB Control No.: 0648-0334), the Aleutian Islands Pollock Fishery Requirements (OMB Control No. 0648-0513), the Crab Rationalization Program (OMB Control No.: 0648-0514 through 0518), the Rockfish Pilot Program (OMB Control No. 0648-0545), and the Amendment 80 Program (OMB Control No. 0648-0565).

Groundfish is regulated under 50 CFR part 679. Groundfish is recorded in DFL by catcher vessels and in DCPL by catcher/processors, motherships, shoreside processors, and stationary floating processors target species, as incidental species, discarded species, and as prohibited species, depending on the circumstances (OMB Control No. 0648-0213). The information recorded in the DCPL is summarized for each weekly reporting period on a weekly production report (WPR) submitted to NMFS. Shoreside processors and Stationary Floating Processor (SFP) are required to use or have the option to use (depending on circumstances) an electronic version of the DCPL. If the electronic version of the DCPL is used, the WPR is not required, and the yellow pages of the DCPL are not sent quarterly to Office of Law Enforcement (OLE). Catcher vessels using trawl gear have the option to use a commercially available, electronic version of the DFL called the electronic logbook (ELB). If the ELB is used, the yellow pages of the DFL are not sent quarterly to OLE.

Sablefish is regulated under 50 CFR part 679 as a groundfish. Sablefish is recorded in trawl DFL and DCPL as a prohibited species or as an incidental catch, depending on the circumstances (OMB Control No.: 0648-0213). Catch is recorded in the longline and pot gear DFL (for catcher vessels 60 ft or greater LOA, voluntarily recorded in the Alaska Region Science Center Sablefish logbook for catcher vessels (for catcher vessels less than 60 ft LOA), and in the longline and pot gear DCPL for catcher/processors. Sablefish is managed separately as an IFQ target species under the IFQ Program (OMB Control No. 0648-0272) by NMFS. Sablefish IFQ information is sent to NMFS by Internet access (OMB Control No. 0648-0272).

Pacific halibut is regulated under 50 CFR part 300 by the IPHC and under 50 CFR part 679 by NMFS. Pacific halibut is recorded as a target species in the catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL, in the longline and pot gear DFL (for catcher vessels 60 ft or greater LOA), or in one of the IPHC’s three types of halibut catch logbook, and. Pacific halibut is recorded in the trawl gear DFL and DCPL as a prohibited species in the groundfish fisheries. Pacific halibut unintentionally caught as prohibited species may be retained and recorded in the DFL and DCPL using certain disposition codes. These Pacific halibut then are donated for distribution to needy persons when delivered to an authorized shoreside processor (OMB Control No. 0648-0316). Pacific halibut is managed separately as an IFQ target species under the IFQ Program (OMB Control No. 0648-0272) by NMFS. Pacific halibut IFQ information is sent to NMFS, IPHC, and State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) by Internet access (OMB Control No. 0648-0272).

Various species of crab are regulated by NMFS under 50 CFR part 680 and 50 CFR part 679 and under State regulations by ADF&G. Crab is recorded as a target species in the longline and pot gear DFL (for catcher vessels 60 ft or greater LOA) and in the longline and pot gear DCPL for catcher/processors. Crab IFQ information is sent to NMFS and ADF&G by Internet access (OMB Control No. 0648-0515).

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 data are used during boardings and site visits by NMFS Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) to ensure conservation of groundfish, compliance to regulations, and reporting accuracy by industry. The data are used by the Council and NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center for biological and economic evaluation of management measures and stock assessment. The NMFS Observer Program uses the data for vessel position coordinates and observer coverage information.

The NMFS Inseason Branch monitors and manages the fisheries for each calendar year (beginning January 1) through openings and closures, as well as reallocation of quotas. Quotas and allotments are designated by species, reporting area, gear type, season, inshore/offshore component, and by management program, such as the CDQ Program and IFQ Program. In addition, the NMFS Inseason Branch aggregates, analyzes, evaluates, and summarizes the groundfish data, and NMFS Restricted Access Program aggregates, analyzes, evaluates, and summarizes the IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish data in response to public inquiries, agency requests, media requests, and submittals to national data archives, including the NMFS Statistics Division, for preparation of the Fisheries of the United States.

a. Catcher Vessel trawl gear DFL

The operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft or greater LOA, using trawl gear, and required to have a Federal fisheries permit must maintain a DFL for trawl gear.

An alternative method of recordkeeping and reporting is provided to the fishing industry through software for a catcher vessel trawl ELB. This method uses data entry into a computer and daily paper copies are printed from the computer and used by the operator and observer. Currently, a pilot program version of the ELB is in operation; the information is submitted to NMFS on a disc at the end of each fishing trip. An estimated 10 catcher vessels are voluntarily using this electronic method; however, the company no longer supports the software. The operator is not required to submit quarterly logsheets to NMFS.

The estimated numbers for the operator to complete the trawl catcher vessel ELB are estimated to be the same as completion of the DFL. When the envisioned trawl catcher vessel ELB is available, the operator will electronically submit the information as a file to eLandings, and the DFL will remain onboard in case of Internet or computer breakdown. However, the operator will not be required to submit the yellow logsheets quarterly to NMFS.

Catcher Vessel trawl gear DFL

Identification

Page number

Date

Vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number

Federal fisheries permit number

Name and signature of operator

If inactive, enter start and end dates and reason for inactivity

Gear type

Federal reporting area of catch

Whether harvest occurred in C. Opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone (COBLZ) or Red King Crab Savings Area of

the BSAI (RKCSA)

Number of observers onboard

Name and cruise number of each observer aboard

Crew size

If in a separate management program, enter identification number

Catch-by-haul information

Haul number

Time and begin position of gear deployment

Date, time, and end position of gear retrieval

Average sea depth and average gear depth

Target species code

Hail weight (lb or mt)

Discard/disposition information

Whether deliveries are unsorted cod ends or presorted at sea

If presorted at sea, enter discard/disposition species information

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total, balance forward, and cumulative total since last delivery

Species and product codes

Delivery information

Delivery date

ADF&G fish ticket number

Recipient’s name and ADF&G processor code

The number of respondents of catcher vessels, 60 ft or greater LOA, using trawl gear is changed from 355 to 159 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

Catcher vessel trawl gear DFL, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses (34 x 159) Average 34 fishing days/catcher vessel/year Total Burden Hours (1621.8) Time per response (18 min = .30 hr) 77Total personnel cost Cost to maintain DFL ($25 x 1622 hr) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to submit DFL logsheets by mail ($2.50 x 4 qtr x 159)	159 5,406 1,622 hr $40,550 $1,590

Catcher Vessel trawl gear DFL, Federal Government

Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (111.3) Review, data entry, and filing quarterly (3 min = .05 hr) Handling all 4 quarters (159 x 4 x .05 = 31.8) Prepare and mail one DFL (30 min = .5 hr) Mailing all DFLs (159 x .5 = 79.50) Total Personnel cost (2782.5) Handling (25 x 31.8 = 795) Mailing (25 x 79.5 = 1987.50) Total Miscellaneous Cost ($12 x 159 for printing of DFLs = $1908) ($5 x 159 for postage to mail DFLs = $795)

5,406 111 hr $2,783 $2,703

b. Catcher vessel, longline or pot gear DFL

The operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft or greater LOA, using longline or pot gear, and required to have a Federal fishery permit must maintain a DFL for longline or pot gear.

Catcher vessel, longline or pot gear DFL

Identification

Page number

Name and ADF&G vessel registration number of vessel

Federal fisheries permit number or Federal crab vessel permit number of vessel

Name and signature of operator

If inactive, enter start date, end date, and reason for inactivity

Federal reporting area of catch

Number of observers onboard

Name and cruise number of observer(s)

Crew size

Indicate type of harvest gear.

If hook and line

Whether fixed hook (conventional or tub), autoline, or snap gear

Length of skate (ft)

Hook size, spacing (ft), and number of hooks per skate

Bird avoidance gear code

Operator IFQ permit number

Crew IFQ permit number(s)

CDQ group number

Halibut CDQ permit number

If harvest in a special Management program, mark box and enter identification number

Catch-by-set information

Set number

Date and time gear set

Date and time of gear hauled

Location of set

Buoy or bag number (optional)

Begin and end position in latitude and longitude (to the nearest minute)

Begin and end depth (fathoms)

Enter gear ID from top of page

Number of skates or pots set

Number of skates or pots lost (if applicable)

Target species code

Weight of IFQ or CDQ halibut (pounds)

Weight of IFQ sablefish in round weight, western cut or eastern cut

Number of IFQ sablefish (optional)

Weight of CR crab in pounds and number of CR crab (if fishing in CR Program)

Hail weight of catch (circle lb or mt)

Discard/disposition information

Date of discard/disposition

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total, balance forward, and cumulative total since last delivery

Species and product codes

Delivery information

Date of delivery

ADF&G fish ticket number

Recipient’s or IFQ registered buyer name

Unloading port

The number of respondents of catcher vessels, 60 ft or greater LOA, using longline or pot gear is changed from 360 to 252 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

Catcher vessel longline or pot gear DFL, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses (34 x 252) Average 34 fishing days/catcher vessel/year Total Burden Hours (4026.96) Time per response (28 min = .47 hr) Total personnel cost Cost to maintain DFL ($25 x 4027 hr) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to mail DFL logsheets ($2.50 x 4 qtr x 252)	252 8,568 4,027 hr $100,675 $2,520

Catcher Vessel longline or pot gear DFL, Federal Government

Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (176.40) Review, data entry, and filing quarterly (3 min = .05 hr) Handling all 4 quarters (252 x 4 x .05 = 50.4) Prepare and mail one DFL (30 min = .5 hr) Mailing all DFLs (252 x .5 = 126) Total Personnel cost Handling (25 x 50.4 = 1260) Mailing (25 x 126 = 3150) Total Miscellaneous Cost ($12 x 252 for printing of DFLs = $3024) ($5 x 252 for postage to mail DFLs = $1260)

8,568 176 hr $4,410 $4,284

c. Catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL

The operator of a catcher/processor using trawl gear and required to have a Federal fishery permit must daily maintain onboard a catcher/processor DCPL for trawl gear.

Certain catcher/processors must start a new logsheet in the DCPL while operating in the BSAI when they enter or leave a Steller sea lion (SSL) protection area that is closed to direct fishing for Atka mackerel in the Aleutian Islands, or Pacific cod in the BSAI. A new logsheet is necessary because the harvest data must be separated by location landed, whether inside or outside a SSL protection area. Information produced will provide additional data on how catch of some species change between offloads. This data will eventually be entered into eLandings when approvals of the PRA collections are all in place.

Information from this activity will aid OLE in monitoring maximum retainable amount (MRA) compliance in SSL protection areas. The officers of the U.S. Coast Guard and OLE may board a vessel anytime to inspect the DCPL, including audit of MRA accounting compliance. MRAs are the primary tool used by NMFS to regulate the incidental catch of species when directed fishing for that species is closed (for MRA percentages, see Tables 10 and 11 in 50 CFR part 679). The vessel operators must carefully track the points of entry and exit from SSL protection areas to conform to the instantaneous accounting requirement inside and outside of the SSL protection areas. Without this feature, and as currently exists, a catcher/processor could move in and out of a SSL protection area to accumulate the necessary basis species, thus evading the requirement to protect species inside the SSL protection areas.

Catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL

Identification

Page number

Date

Vessel name and ADF&G processor code

Federal fisheries permit number

Name and signature of operator

If inactive, enter start date, end date, and reason not active

Gear type

Federal reporting area and whether harvest occurred in COBLZ or RKCSA

Number of observers onboard

Name and cruise number of each observer aboard

Crew size

If in a separate management program, mark appropriate box and enter identification number

Catch-by-haul information

Haul number

Time and begin position of gear deployment

Date, time, and end position of gear retrieval

Average sea depth and average gear depth

Target species code

Hail weight of catch (lb or mt)

Species code and estimated round catch weight of Improved Retention/Improved Utilization (IR/IU) species

Discard/disposition species information

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total, balance forward, and weekly cumulative total by species and product codes

Production information

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total, balance forward; and weekly cumulative total by species and product codes

The number of respondents of catcher/processors using trawl gear is changed from 32 to 52 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

Catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses (52 x 200) Average 200 fishing or processing days/processor/year Total Burden Hours Time per response (30 min = .50 hr) Total personnel cost Cost to maintain DCPL ($25 x 5200) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to submit DCPL logsheets by mail ($2.50 x 4 qtr x 52)	52 10,400 5,200 130,000 520

Catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL, Federal Government

Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (52 + 10.4) Review, data entry, and filing quarterly (3 min = .05 hr) Handle all responses (52 x 4 x .05 = 10.4) Prepare and mail one DCPL (30 min = .5 hr) Mail all DCPLs twice/year (52 x .5 x 2/yr =52) Total Personnel cost ($25 x 10.4 hr for receipt and data handling = $260) ($25 x 52 x 2/yr for mailing = $2600) Total Miscellaneous Cost ($12 x 52 x 2/yr for printing of DCPLs = $1248) ($5 x 52 x 2/yr for postage to mail DCPLs = $520)

10,400 62 hr 2,860 1,768

d. Catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL

The operator of a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear to harvest groundfish and that retains any groundfish from the GOA or BSAI, must maintain a longline and pot gear DCPL.

The operator of a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish, IFQ halibut, or CDQ halibut from the GOA or BSAI, must maintain a longline and pot gear DCPL.

The operator of a catcher/processor using pot gear to harvest CR crab from the BSAI, must maintain a longline and pot gear DCPL.

Catcher/processor, longline, or pot gear DCPL

Identification

Page number

Date

Name and ADF&G processor code of catcher/processor

Federal crab vessel permit number or Federal fisheries permit number

Operator name and signature

If inactive, mark box and enter start date, end date, and reason not active

Federal reporting area of catch

Number of observers onboard

Name and cruise number of each observer aboard

Crew size

Operator IFQ permit number

Crew IFQ permit number(s)

CDQ group number

Halibut CDQ permit number

If in a separate management program, mark appropriate box and enter identifying number

Gear type

Catch by set

Set number

Date and time gear set

Date and time gear hauled

Location of set

Buoy or bag number (optional)

Begin position of set; end position of haul

Begin and end depth

If gear type is hook and line

Whether fixed hook (conventional or tub), autoline, or snap gear

Length of skate (ft)

Hook size, spacing (ft), and number of hooks per skate

Bird avoidance gear code

Gear ID (transfer alpha letter from gear type box)

Number of skates or pots set

Number of skates or pots lost (if applicable)

Species code and estimated round catch weight of IR/IU species

Target species code

Weight of CDQ or IFQ halibut (pounds)

Number and weight of IFQ sablefish in round weight, western cut, or eastern cut

Number and weight of CR crab

Hail weight of catch

Production information

Whether records in pounds or numbers

Daily total, balance forward, and weekly cumulative total of products by species and product codes

Discard/disposition information

Date of discard

Whether records in pounds or numbers

Daily total, balance forward and weekly cumulative total

Species and product codes

The number of respondents of catcher/processors using longline or pot gear is changed from 78 to 118 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

Catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses (200 x 118) Average 200 fishing or processing days/processor/year Total Burden Hours for all responses Time per response (41 min = .68 hr) Total personnel cost Cost to maintain DCPL ($25 x 16048) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to submit DCPL logsheets by mail ($2.50 x 4 qtr x 118)	118 23,600 16,048 hr 401,200 1,180

Catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (106.2) Review, data entry, and filing quarterly (6 min = .1 hr) Handling all responses (118 x 4 x .1 = 47.2) Prepare and mail one DCPL (30 min = .5 hr) Mailing all DCPLs (118 x .5 = 59) Total Personnel cost Total Miscellaneous Cost ($12 x 118 for printing of DCPLs = $1416) ($5 x 118 for postage to mail DCPLs = $590)	23,600 106 hr 2,650 2,006

e. Mothership DCPL

The operator of a mothership required to have a Federal fisheries permit or that receives groundfish from vessels issued a Federal fisheries permit must maintain a mothership DCPL.

Mothership DCPL

Identification

Page number

Date

Mothership name and ADF&G processor code

Name and signature of operator

Federal fisheries permit number

If inactive, enter start and end dates and reason for inactivity

Crew size

Gear type of harvester

Federal reporting area of catch

If harvest with trawl gear, enter whether in COBLZ or RKCSA

Number of observers onboard

Name and cruise number of each observer aboard

If in a separate management program, enter identification number

Delivery information

Whether records are in pounds or metric tons

Whether catcher vessel or buying station delivery

Whether received discard report

Catcher vessel or buying station name and ADF&G vessel registration number

Receipt time

Receipt position in latitude and longitude

Total hail weight of catch

Species code and round catch weight of IR/IU species

Fish ticket number issued to catcher vessel

Discard/disposition information

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total, balance forward, and weekly cumulative total

Species and product codes

Production information

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total, balance forward, and weekly cumulative total of products

Species and product codes

The number of motherships is changed from 37 to 34 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

Mothership DCPL, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses (34 x 200) Average 200 receiving or processing days/mothership/year Total Burden Hours for all responses (6800 x .52) Average recording time/mothership (31 min = .52 hr) Total personnel cost Cost for maintenance of DCPL ($25 x 3536) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to submit DCPL logsheets by mail ($2.50 x 4 qtr x 34)	34 6,800 3,536 88,400 340

Mothership DCPL, Federal Government

Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (47.6) Time requirement for review, data entry, and filing of each quarterly submittal (6 min = .1 hr) Time requirement for handling all responses (34 x 4 x .1=13.6) Time requirement to prepare and mail one DCPL (30 min = .5 hr) Time requirement for mailing all DCPLs (34 x .5 x 2=34) Total Personnel cost ($25 x 48) Total Miscellaneous Cost ($12 x 34 x 2/yr for printing of DCPLs = $816) ($5 x 34 x 2/yr for postage to mail DCPLs = $340)

6,800 48 1,200 1,156

f. Shoreside processor DCPL

The manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor (SFP) required to have a Federal processor permit or that receives groundfish from vessels issued a Federal fisheries permit must maintain a shoreside processor DCPL, except those processors required to use electronic version of the DCPL.

Shoreside processor DCPL

PART I

Identification

Page number

Week-ending date

Processor name

Name and signature of manager

Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) processor code

Federal processor permit number

If inactive, enter start and end dates and reason for inactivity

Number of observers present and dates present

Name and cruise number of each observer onsite

Federal reporting area of harvest

If harvested with trawl gear whether in COBLZ or

RKCSA

Gear type of harvester

If in a separate management program, enter identification number

Delivery information

Date of delivery

Whether catcher vessel or buying station delivery

Whether received discard report

Catcher vessel or buying station name and ADF&G vessel registration number

Receipt time when delivery completed

Estimated groundfish delivery weight (hail weight)

ADF&G fish ticket number issued to catcher vessel

If a shoreside processor located in a state other than Alaska and receiving unprocessed groundfish from

a catcher vessel, record in the DCPL and WPR the fish ticket numbers issued for that non-Alaska state

along with the two-character abbreviation for that state.

If a shoreside processor located in a state other than Alaska where no fish ticket system is available and

receiving unprocessed groundfish from a catcher vessel, record in the DCPL the catch receipt number

issued to the catcher vessel.

Landings information

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total and weekly cumulative total of landings by species and product codes

Discard/disposition information

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Daily total and weekly cumulative total by species and product codes

PART II--PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Processor name and ADF&G processor code

Federal processor permit number

Name and signature of manager

Whether records in pounds or metric tons

Week-ending date

Management area

Daily total and weekly cumulative total of products by species and product codes

Shoreside processor DCPL, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses Average 200 receiving and processing days/processor/year Total Burden Hours for all responses (2600 x .52) Average recording time/processor (31 min = .52 hr) Total personnel cost Cost for maintenance of DCPL ($25 x 1352) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to mail yellow logsheets ($2.50 x 4 qtr x 13)	13 2,600 1,352 33,800 130

Shoreside processor DCPL, Federal Government

Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (526.76) Time requirement for review, data entry, and filing of each quarterly submittal (6 min = .1 hr) Time requirement for handling all responses (2 x 2600 x .1=520) Time requirement to prepare and mail one DCPL (31 min = .52 hr) Time requirement for mailing all DCPLs (13 x .52 =6.76) Total Personnel cost ($25 x 527 hr) Total Miscellaneous Cost ($12 x 13 for printing of DCPL = $156) ($5 x 13 for postage to mail DCPL = $65)

2,600 527 13,175 221

g. Check-in/check-out report.

The operator of a catcher/processor or mothership and the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP are required to submit a check-in report (BEGIN message) prior to participation, when active, in a groundfish fishery and to submit a check-out report (CEASE message) upon completion of that participation. When inactive, these processors are not required to submit a check-in/check-out report.

Current regulations at 50 CFR part 679.5 require operators of motherships and trawl, longline, and pot gear catcher/processors to record the occurrence of active and inactive periods in the DFLs and DCPLs. The definitions for “active” status for catcher/processors, motherships, shoreside processors, and SFPs are revised by removing “checked-in” as a reason for being active. “Active” status currently means “when checked-in or processing” for all of those processors. “Active” status is changed for motherships, shoreside processors, and SFPs to mean “when receiving or processing groundfish.” The definition for “active” for a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear is revised to mean “when all or part of the longline or pot gear is in the water or when processing.” For a catcher/processor using trawl gear, the definition for "active" status is revised to mean “when all or part of the trawl net is in the water or when processing.”

In addition, an exception to the requirement for submittal of a check-in/check-out report is added when a catcher/processor using trawl gear has onboard an operating vessel monitoring system transmitter that meets the requirements of § 679.28(f).

A check-in report is used to determine participation in each fishery, to monitor fishing effort by species in a given reporting area, and to locate vessels for fisheries enforcement purposes. A check-out report is submitted by a processor upon completion of active status and triggers the fact that no more weekly production reports will be issued from this processor. Reasons to submit a check-in or check-out report are provided in the following table.

Submittal Requirements for a Check-in Report and a Check-out Report
For …	If you are a …	Submit a BEGIN message	Submit a CEASE message
(i) Each reporting area, except area 300, 400, 550, or 690	(A) C/P using trawl gear	Before gear deployment.	Within 24 hours after departing a reporting area but prior to checking-in to another reporting area.
	(B) C/P using longline or pot gear	Before gear deployment. May be checked in to more than one area simultaneously.	Upon completion of gear retrieval and within 24 hours after departing each reporting area.
	(C) MS	Before receiving groundfish, must check-in to reporting area(s) where groundfish were harvested. May be checked in to more than one area simultaneously.	Within 24 hours after receipt of fish is complete from that reporting area. If receipt of groundfish from a reporting area is expected to stop for at least one month during the fishing year and then start up again, may submit check-out report for that reporting area.
(ii) C. Opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone (COBLZ) or Red King Crab Savings Area of the BSAI (RKCSA)	(A) C/P using trawl gear	Prior to fishing. Submit one check-in for the COBLZ or RKCSA and another check-in for the area outside the COBLZ or RKCSA.	Upon completion of gear retrieval for groundfish, submit a separate check-out for the COBLZ or RKCSA and another check-out for the area outside the COBLZ or RKCSA.
	(B) MS	Before receiving groundfish harvested with trawl gear that were harvested in the COBLZ or RKCSA, submit one check-in for the COBLZ or RKCSA and another check-in for the area outside the COBLZ or RKCSA.	Upon completion of groundfish receipt, submit a separate check-out for the COBLZ or RKCSA and another check-out for the area outside the COBLZ or RKCSA.
(iii) Gear Type	(A) C/P	If in the same reporting area but using more than one gear type, prior to fishing submit a separate check-in for each gear type.	Upon completion of gear retrieval for groundfish, submit a separate check-out for each gear type for which a check-in was submitted.
	(B) MS	If harvested in the same reporting area but using more than one gear type, prior to receiving groundfish submit a separate check-in for each gear type.	Upon completion of receipt of groundfish, submit a separate check-out for each gear type for which a check-in was submitted.
(iv) CDQ	(A) MS	Prior to receiving groundfish CDQ, if receiving groundfish under more than one CDQ number, use a separate check-in for each CDQ number.	Within 24 hours after receipt of groundfish CDQ has ceased for each CDQ number.
	(B) C/P	Prior to fishing, submit a separate check-in for each CDQ number.	Within 24 hours after groundfish CDQ fishing for each CDQ number has ceased.
(v) Exempted or Research Fishery	(A) C/P	Prior to fishing, submit a separate check-in for each type.	Upon completion of receipt of groundfish submit a separate check-out for each type for which a check-in was submitted.
	(B) MS	Prior to receiving groundfish, submit a separate check-in for each type.	Upon completion of receipt of groundfish submit a separate check-out for each type for which a check-in was submitted.
(vi) Aleutian Islands Pollock (AIP)	(A) C/P	Prior to AIP fishing.	Within 24 hours after completion of gear retrieval for AIP.
	(B) MS	Before receiving AIP.	Within 24 hours after receipt of AIP has ceased.
(vii) Processor Type	C/P, MS	If a catcher/processor and functioning simultaneously as a mothership in the same reporting area, before functioning as either processor type.	Upon completion of simultaneous activity as both catcher/processor and mothership, a separate check-out, one for catcher/processor and one for mothership.
(viii) Change of fishing year	(A) C/P, MS	If continually active through the end of one fishing year and at the beginning of a second fishing year, submit a check-in for each reporting area to start the year on January 1.	If a check-out report was not previously submitted during a fishing year for a reporting area, submit a check-out report for each reporting area on December 31.
	(B) SS, SFP	If continually active through the end of one fishing year and at the beginning of a second fishing year, submit a check-in to start the year on January 1.	If a check-out report was not previously submitted during a fishing year, submit a check-out report on December 31.
(ix) Interruption of production	SS, SFP, MS	n/a	If receipt of groundfish is expected to stop for at least one month during the fishing year and then start up again, the manager or operator may choose to submit a check-out report.

NOTE: MS is mothership. SS is shoreside processor. SFP is stationary floating processor. C/P is catcher/processor

Mothership or Catcher/processor check-in/check-out report

Whether an original or revised report

Vessel name and ADF&G processor code

Federal fisheries permit number

If in a separate management program, enter identification number

Processor type

Gear type of harvester

Representative name, telephone number and FAX number

COMSAT number (if available)

BEGIN message

Date and time of check-in

Federal reporting area, latitude, and longitude of vessel position

If a catcher/processor, where gear is deployed

If a mothership, the position where harvest received

If caught with trawl gear, whether harvest was in COBLZ or RKCSA

Primary and secondary target species codes

CEASE message

Date and time of check-out

Federal reporting area, latitude, and longitude of vessel position

If a catcher/processor, where departed the reporting area

If a mothership, the position where the last harvest was received

If caught with trawl gear, whether harvest was in COBLZ or RKCSA

The number of mothership or catcher/processor check-in/check-out respondents is changed from 147 to 204 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

Mothership or Catcher/processor Check-in/out Report, Respondent
Total number of respondents 34 motherships 52 C/P trawl 118 C/P longline Total annual responses (204 x 30) No. responses per respondent = 30 Total Burden Hours Time per response (7 min = .12) Total personnel cost ($25 x 734) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to copy form (.05 x 6120=306) Submit by fax ($6 x 30 x 30 = 5400) Submit by e-mail ($1 x 174 x 30 = 5220)	204 6,120 734 18,350 10,926

Mothership or Catcher/processor Check-in/out Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (1040.4) Time per response (10 min = .17) Total personnel cost ($25 x 1040) Total miscellaneous cost	6,120 1,040 26,000 0

Shoreside processor check-in/check-out report

Whether an original or revised report

Processor name and ADF&G processor code

Federal processor permit number

If in special management program, enter identification number

Representative name, telephone number, and FAX number

If check-in report

Date when shoreside processor will begin to receive groundfish

Whether report is the first of a fishing year or a restart after plant check-out report

If check-out report

Date when shoreside processor will cease to receive or process groundfish.

If SFP, give latitude and longitude of position where receiving groundfish

Fish or fish product held at plant

Species codes, product codes, and product weight (lb or mt)

The combined number of shoreside processors and SFPs is changed from 58 to 127 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

Shoreside processor Check-in/out Report, Respondent

Total number of respondents Shoreside processors = 112 Stationary floating processors = 15 Total annual responses (127 x 30) No. responses per respondent = 30 Total Burden Hours (304.8) Time per response (8 min = .13) Total personnel cost ($25 x 305) Total miscellaneous cost (7866.35) Cost to copy form (.05 x 127 =6.35) Cost to submit by fax ($6 x 27 x 30 = 4860) Cost to submit by e-mail ($1 x 100 x 30 = 3000)

127 3,810 495 12,383 7,866

Shoreside processor Check-in/out Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Burden Hours (647.7) Time per response (10 min = .17) Total personnel cost ($25 x 648) Total miscellaneous cost	3,810 648 16,200 0

h. Weekly Production Report (WPR)

The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor and the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP (except for those shoreside processors and SFPs using the electronic DCPL), are required to submit to NMFS a WPR on a weekly basis. A WPR summarizes one weekly reporting period of fishing in the GOA or BSAI that was recorded in the DCPL. NMFS uses the WPR information to monitor species quotas and prohibited species caps and to project fishery closure dates.

Mothership or catcher/processor WPR

Whether an original or revised report

Week-ending date

Processor name and ADF&G processor code

Federal fisheries permit number

If in special management program, enter identification number

Gear type of harvester

Processor type

Representative name, e-mail address, telephone number, FAX number, and date signed

Federal reporting area where groundfish were harvested

If caught with trawl gear, whether harvest was in COBLZ or RKCSA

Product weight of fish product, described by species and product codes and product designations

Weight or prohibited species catch (PSC) number of discards/dispositions, described by

species and product codes

If a mothership, ADF&G fish ticket numbers issued to catcher vessels

Mothership or Catcher/processor WPR, Respondent
Total number of respondents (78 C/P longline/pot + 34 mothership + 32 C/P trawl) Total annual responses No. responses per respondent = 36 Total Burden Hours (1451.52) Time per response (17 min = .28) Total personnel cost ($25 x 1452) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to fax report ($6 x 24 x 36 = 5184) Cost to e-mail report ($1 x 120 x 36 = 4320)	144 5,184 1,452 36,300 9,504

Mothership or Catcher/processor WPR, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Burden Hours for FAX responses Hours per response (30 min = .5) Total personnel cost ($25 x 2592) Total miscellaneous cost	5,184 2,592 64,800 0

Shoreside processor WPR

Whether an original or revised report

Week-ending date

Processor name and ADF&G processor code

Federal processor permit number

If in special management program, enter identification number

Representative name, e-mail address, telephone number, FAX number, and date signed

Part I

Gear type of harvester

Landings information

Reporting area where groundfish were harvested

If caught with trawl gear, whether harvest was in COBLZ or RKCSA

Weight of landings, described by species and product codes

Discard/disposition information

Reporting area where discard occurred

If caught with trawl gear, whether harvest was in COBLZ or RKCSA

Weight or PSC number of discards/disposition, described by species and product codes

Part II -- product information

Management area

Weight of fish product, described by species and product codes and product designations

ADF&G fish ticket numbers issued to catcher vessels.

Shoreside processor WPR, Respondent
Total number of respondents (58 – 45 processors using electronic DCPL) Total annual responses (13 x 36) No. responses per respondent = 36 Total Burden Hours (468 x .28) Time per response (17 min = .28) Total personnel cost ($25 x 131) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to submit report By FAX ($6 x 3 x 36 = 648) By e-mail ($1 x 10 x 36 = 360)	13 468 131 3,275 1,008

Shoreside processor WPR, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Burden Hours for FAX responses (3 x 36 x .5) Time per response (30 min = .5) Total personnel cost ($25 x 54) Total miscellaneous cost	468 54 1,350 0

i. Vessel Activity Report (VAR).

A VAR is required only from a vessel if the vessel is 60 ft or greater LOA, has a Federal fisheries permit, crosses the seaward boundary of the EEZ or the boundary between Alaska and British Columbia, and has fish or fish product onboard the vessel.

When boarding a vessel, the OLE personnel or USCG boarding officers use VAR information to audit and separate product inventory. If a vessel does not file a VAR and has fish or fish product onboard when it enters the EEZ off Alaska, NMFS assumes the fish were harvested in U.S. waters. Without this requirement to submit a form prior to crossing, vessel operators may be more inclined to illegally fish in Federal waters and claim retained product was harvested from foreign or international waters.

Vessel Activity Report (VAR)

Whether an original or revised report

Vessel name and Federal fisheries permit number or Registered Crab Receiver permit number

Vessel type

Representative name, telephone number, FAX number, and COMSAT number (if available)

If a “return report”

Intended Alaska port of landing

Date and time (Greenwich Mean Time) vessel will cross boundary

Latitude and longitude where vessel will cross

If a “depart report”

Intended U.S. port of landing or country other than the United States

Date and time (Greenwich Mean Time) vessel will cross boundary

Latitude and longitude where vessel will cross

Russian Zone

Whether vessel is returning from or departing to fish in the Russian zone

Fish or fish product (including non-groundfish) onboard the vessel when crossing

Harvest zone code where groundfish were harvested

Species code

Product code

Total product weight of fish product onboard in pounds or to the nearest 0.001 mt

Vessel Activity Report, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses (715 x 2) No. responses per respondent = 2 Total Burden Hours (1430 x .23) Time per response (14 min = .23) Total personnel cost ($25 x 329) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to fax report ($6 x 1430)	715 1,430 329 8,225 8,580

Vessel Activity Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Burden Hours for FAX responses (1430 x .5) Time per response (30 min = .5) Total personnel cost ($25 x 715) Total miscellaneous cost	1,430 715 17,875 0

j. Buying station report (BSR)

A BSR is required whenever a shoreside processor, SFP, or mothership uses a tender vessel or shoreside buying station to take deliveries of groundfish on its behalf from catcher vessels. The buying station operator or manager receives the catch, records the catch information on a BSR, often issues ADF&G fish tickets, and sends or takes the fish, along with a copy of the BSR, to the associated processor. NMFS does not receive a copy of the BSR; however, a BSR must be available for inspection by authorized personnel.

Buying station report (BSR)

Original or revised BSR

Name of Buying Station

Operator or Manager Name and Signature

ADF&G No. if buying station is a vessel

License No. and state of registration, if buying station is a vehicle

If in special management program, enter identification number

Date and time groundfish receipt completed

Gear type of harvester

Federal Reporting Area of catch

If caught with trawl gear, indicate whether catch was harvested in the COBLZ or RKCSA.

Associated Processor

If a mothership, enter the name, ADF&G processor code, and Federal fisheries permit number

If a shoreside processor or SFP, enter the name, AD&FG processor code,

and Federal processor permit number

Catcher Vessel Delivery Information

Name and ADF&G vessel registration number

If did not receive Discard Report from catcher vessel, give code for reason not received

ADF&G fish ticket number

If using scales, optional:

Species code

Species weight (mt or lb)

Total Groundfish Delivery Weight

Discards and Disposition

Total discard amounts in whole fish weight for each groundfish species or species group and

PSC Pacific herring

Total PSC number of Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific halibut, king crab, and Tanner crab.

Buying Station Report, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses (268 x 10) No. responses per respondent = 10 Total Burden Hours (2680 x .38) Time per response (23 min = .38) Total personnel cost ($25 x 1018) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to copy form (.05 x 2680)	268 2,680 1,018 25,450 134

Buying Station Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total burden hours Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

k. Product Transfer Report (PTR).

The PTR information is used by OLE to verify the accuracy of reported shipments and to monitor movement of product in and out of the processor on a timely basis through physical inspections to verify proper accounting for fish landings.

♦ Groundfish. The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor or the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP must complete and submit a separate PTR for each shipment of groundfish and donated prohibited species caught in groundfish fisheries.

♦ IFQ Pacific halibut, IFQ sablefish, and CDQ Pacific halibut. A Registered Buyer must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of halibut or sablefish, other than those conducting dockside sales, for which the Registered Buyer submitted an IFQ landing report or was required to submit an IFQ landing report

♦ CR crab. A Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of crab for which the RCR submitted a CR crab landing report or was required to submit a CR crab landing report.

Exceptions to submittal requirements

♦ Bait sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). During one calendar day, the operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR the individual sales or shipments of non-IFQ groundfish to vessels for bait purposes during the day recording the amount of such bait product shipped from a vessel or facility that day.

♦ Retail sales

º IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish. During one calendar day, the operator, manager, or Registered Buyer may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish if each sale weighs less than 10 lb or 4.5 kg.

º CR crab. During one calendar day, the RCR may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of CR crab if each sale weighs less than

100 lb or 45 kg.

♦ Wholesale sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). The operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR, wholesale sales of non-IFQ groundfish by species when recording the amount of such wholesale species leaving a vessel or facility in one calendar day, if invoices detailing destinations for the entire product are available for inspection by an authorized officer.

Product Transfer Report (PTR)

Whether an original or revised PTR

If revised PTR, confirmation number

Shipper information

If shipping non-IFQ groundfish, processor’s name, Federal fisheries or Federal processor permit number.

If shipping IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish, Registered Buyer name and permit number.

If shipping CR crab, RCR name and permit number

If shipping non-IFQ groundfish, IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish, and CR crab on the same PTR

Processor name and Federal fisheries permit number or Federal processor permit number

Registered Buyer name and permit number

RCR name and permit number

Representative name, telephone number and fax number

Transfer information

Receiver name and Federal fisheries or Federal processor permit number.

Start date, start time and finish date, finish time of product transfer

Position of product transfer (mothership or catcher/processor only)

Port or location of transfer

Mode of transportation and intended route

Products shipping

Species and product code

Species weight (only if recording 2 or more species with 2 or more product types contained within

the same production unit)

Number of units

Unit weight

Total weight

Offload information (mothership or catcher/processor only)

Whether the transfer is a total or partial offload

If a partial offload, for the products remaining on board after the transfer, enter for each product

Species code

Product code

Total product weight to the nearest kilogram or pound (indicate which)

The number of PTR respondents for IFQ Registered Buyers is changed from 800 to 475 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

PTR Respondent (Registered Buyers for IFQ actions)
Total number of respondents Total annual responses (5937.5) No. responses per respondent = 12.5 Total Burden Hours (1959.34) Time per response (20 min = .33) Total personnel cost ($25 x 1960) Total miscellaneous cost (26234.9) Cost to copy form (.05 x 5938 = 296.9) Cost to send by fax ($6 x 4000=24000) Cost to send by email ($1 x 1938 = 1938)	475 5,938 1,960 49,000 26,235

The number of PTR respondents for non-IFQ groundfish is changed from 205 to 331 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

PTR Respondent (Operators or Managers for non-IFQ groundfish)
Total number of respondents (34 MS + 52 C/P trw + 118 C/P lngl + 127 SS) Total annual responses No. responses per respondent = 35 Total burden hours (3823.05) Time per response (20 min = .33) Total personnel cost ($25 x 3823) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to copy form (.05 x 11585 = 579.25) Cost to send by fax ($6 x 10000=60000) Cost to send by email ($1 x 1585 = 1585)	331 11,585 3,823 95,575 62,164

The number of PTR respondents for CR crab Registered Crab Receivers (RCRs) is changed from 43 to 72 to reflect 2008 permit counts.

PTR Respondent (Processors and RCRs for CR crab)
Total number of respondents Total annual responses (35 x 72) No. of responses per respondent = 35 Total burden hours (831.6) Time per response (20/60 min = .33) Total personnel cost (832 x $25) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to copy form (0.05 x 2505 = 126) Cost to submit by fax ($6 x 2000 = 12000) Cost to submit by email ($1 x 520 = 520)	72 2,520 832 20,800 12,646

Product Transfer Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses (5938 + 11585 + 2520) Total burden hours 3407.31) Hours per response (10 min = .17) Total personnel costs ($25 x 3407) Total miscellaneous cost	20,043 3,407 85,175 0

l. Cumulative Mothership ADF&G Fish Tickets

The operator of a mothership must ensure that any groundfish catch received from a catcher vessel is recorded for each weekly reporting period on a minimum of one ADF&G groundfish fish tickets and that the fish ticket is submitted to ADF&G in a timely manner. The cumulative fish tickets are used to establish a fishing history for catcher vessels that deliver offshore.

Cumulative Mothership ADF&G Fish Tickets

Mothership name and ADF&G processor code

Enter "FLD" for port of landing or vessel to which trans-shipped

Signature of the mothership operator

Week-ending date mothership received the groundfish

Species code for each species from Table 2 to Part 679, except species codes 120, 144, 168, 169, or 171

Product code from Table 1 to Part 679

ADF&G 6-digit statistical area where fish harvested

Landed weight of each species to the nearest pound

Weekly Cumulative Mothership ADF&G Fish Tickets, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per respondent = 36 Total burden hours (772.56) Hours per response (35 min = .58 hr) Total personnel cost ($25 x 772) Total miscellaneous cost Cost to mail each month ($1 x 12 x 37)	37 1,332 773 hr 19,300 444

Weekly Cumulative Mothership ADF&G Fish Tickets, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total burden hours Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

It is anticipated that the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support publicly disseminated information. 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 to Question 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 pre-dissemination 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.

Shoreside processors and SFPs are afforded the option of using the electronic DCPL in place of the paper DCPL. Ninety-seven percent of these processors currently use the electronic DCPL. In 2009, a new inter-agency electronic reporting system (IERS) and its data-entry component, eLandings (see OMB Control No.: 0648-0515), will be available on the Internet for use by shoreside processors, SFPs, catcher/processors, and motherships. Data will be entered directly into the database by participants through the Internet. In addition, when using eLandings, operators and managers will not be required to submit a WPR.

When eLandings becomes available, the shoreside processor DCPL would be removed as the primary data collection format for groundfish and IFQ fisheries. The mothership and catcher/processor DCPLs would be partially completed in conjunction with eLandings. Mothership cumulative fish tickets would be removed from this collection, because eLandings would create fish tickets as part of the procedure. The weekly production report would be removed, because eLandings also creates daily production reports as part of the normal procedure.

Catcher vessels using trawl gear are provided an option to use electronic software, available commercially, to produce and submit an electronic daily fishing logbook (DFL). Sixteen catcher vessels using trawl gear, representing five percent of the trawl catcher vessels, are currently using this method.

Some processors generate an electronic version of a check-in/check-out report and submit these reports to NMFS as an attachment to an e-mail. NMFS Sustainable Fisheries personnel enter this data into the database.

All forms and logsheets are available on the NMFS Alaska Region Home Page at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The forms are fillable for completion on screen, printing, and submitting to NMFS. The logsheets of the DFLs and DCPLs also may be downloaded and printed for informational purposes along with individual instructions for completion of each.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

None of the information collected as part of this information collection duplicates other collections.

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

This collection-of-information does not impose a significant impact on small entities.

6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.

Without this information collection, Federal management of the Alaskan groundfish fisheries would be severely hampered, resulting in adverse impacts on: (1) the long-term biological stability and economic yield of the groundfish resource; (2) the efficiency and economic viability of the domestic groundfish industry; and (3) the credibility of the fishery management process itself.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

This collection-of-information has various forms with different submittal time requirements that require recordkeeping and reporting more frequently than quarterly (see Question 2 for details).

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 April 7, 2008 (73FR18780) solicited public comments on the information collection. No comments were received.

9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift will be provided under this program.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

The information collected is confidential under section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); and also under NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-100, which sets forth procedures to protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.

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.

This information collection does not involve information of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.

Estimated total unique respondents: 899, down from 1,143. Estimated total responses: 98,441, up from 92,342. Estimated total burden: 43,332, up from 38,990. Estimated total personnel costs (average wage equivalent to a GS-7 employee in Alaska, including Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), at $25/hour): $1,083,300, up from $974,840.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in #12 above).

Total estimated miscellaneous costs (for copying, postage, faxing, emailing): $145,787, down from $187,458. Note: in ROCIS, the decrease is shown as $41,213, rather than $41,761, as the system had rounded down the previous cost from $187,458 to $187,000.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.

Total estimated burden: 8,928, up from 8,578 hours. Total estimated personnel cost: $224,528, up from $217,025. Total estimated miscellaneous cost (for copying, postage, faxing, emailing): $12,138, down from $29,410.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB 83-I.

Adjustments are made in this collection, due in part to differences in numbers of participants, based on current permit counts. Net decrease of respondents: 294. Net increase of responses: 6,099. Net increase of burden hours: 4,342. Net decrease of costs: $41,671 (this figure shows a net decrease – although responses increased - mainly because of increased emailing of responses, especially in the cases of the check-in/check-out reports).

Catcher vessel trawl gear daily fishing logbook (DFL)

a decrease of 196 respondents, 159 instead of 355

a decrease of 6,664 responses, 5,406 instead of 12,070

a decrease of 1,955 hr burden, 1,622 instead of 3,577 hr

a decrease of $1,860 miscellaneous costs, $1,590 instead of $3,450

Catcher vessel longline or pot gear DFL

a decrease of 108 respondents, 252 instead of 360

a decrease of 3,672 responses, 8,568 instead of 12,240

a decrease of 1,726 hr burden, 4,027 instead of 5,753 hr

a decrease of $1,080 miscellaneous costs, $2,520 instead of $3,600

Catcher/processor trawl gear daily cumulative fishing logbook (DCPL)

an increase of 20 respondents, 52 instead of 32

an increase of 4,000 responses, 10,400 instead of 6,400

an increase of 2,000 hr burden, 5,200 instead of 3,200 hr

an increase of $200 miscellaneous costs, $520 instead of $320

Catcher/processor longline or pot gear DCPL

an increase of 40 respondents, 118 instead of 78

an increase of 8,000 responses, 23,600 instead of 15,600

an increase of 5,440 hr burden, 16,048 instead of 10,608 hr

an increase of $400 miscellaneous costs, $1,180 instead of $780

Mothership DCPL

a decrease of 3 respondents, 34 instead of 37

a decrease of 600 responses, 6,800 instead of 7,400

a decrease of 312 hr burden, 3,536 instead of 3,848 hr

a decrease of $30 miscellaneous costs, $340 instead of $370

Mothership and catcher/processor check-in/check-out report

an increase of 57 respondents, 204 instead of 147

an increase of 1,710 responses, 6,120 instead of 4,410

an increase of 205 hr burden, 734 instead of 529 hr

a decrease of $10,655 miscellaneous costs, $10,926 instead of $21,581

Shoreside processor check-in/check-out report

an increase of 69 respondents, 127 instead of 58

an increase of 2,070 responses, 3,810 instead of 1,740

an increase of 269 hr burden, 495 instead of 226 hr

a decrease of $624 miscellaneous costs, $7,866 instead of $8,490

Mothership and catcher/processor WPR

a decrease of 3 respondents, 144 instead of 147

a decrease of 108 responses, 5,184 instead of 5,292

a decrease of 30 hr burden, 1,452 instead of 1,482 hr

a decrease of $16,128 miscellaneous costs, $9,504 instead of $25,632

PTR, IFQ

a decrease of 325 respondents, 475 instead of 800

a decrease of 4,062 responses, 5,938 instead of 10,000

a decrease of 1,340 hr burden, 1,960 instead of 3,300 hr

a decrease of $34,265 miscellaneous costs, $26,235 instead of $60,500

PTR, Groundfish

an increase of 126 respondents, 331 instead of 205

an increase of 4,410 responses, 11,585 instead of 7,175

an increase of 1,455 hr burden, 3,823 instead of 2,368 hr

an increase of $18,755 miscellaneous costs, $62,164 instead of $43,409

PTR, RCRs

an increase of 29 respondents, 72 instead of 43

an increase of 1,015 responses, 2,520 instead of 1,505

an increase of 335 hr burden, 832 instead of 497 hr

an increase of $3,616 miscellaneous costs, $12,646 instead of $9,030

16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.

The information collected will not be 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.

In accordance with OMB requirements, the control number and the expiration date of OMB approval are shown on the forms and logbooks.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the

OMB 83-I.

No exceptions to the certification statement are requested.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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