Economic data collections for catcher vessels, catcher-processors, motherships and first receivers

Economic Data Collection Program
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
FRAM Division
2725 Montlake Blvd E.
Seattle, WA 98112

Dear Mr. Charles Smith
Our records indicate that you may be required to complete an Economic Data Collection (EDC)
questionnaire. All owners, lessees, and charterers of a catcher processor vessel that harvested
whiting in 2010 as recorded in NMFS’ NORPAC database are required to file an EDC. If you
are required under the regulations (50CFR§ 660.114) to submit an EDC questionnaire, it must be
completed and submitted to the Northwest Fisheries Science Center no later than September 1,
2011.
The EDC program is collecting information on the costs incurred and earnings generated from
participants in the limited entry trawl fishery. Data collected will be used by NMFS to monitor
changes in the economic performance of the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery, and will be
used to meet the monitoring requirements for individual fishing quota (IFQ) managed fisheries.
The data and related analysis will also be used to provide information to the Pacific Fisheries
Management Council on changes in economic conditions within the fishery and the potential
need for changes in fishery regulations associated with the IFQ program.
We appreciate the confidential nature of the data being collected by this survey. When
publishing survey results, we will combine your responses with information provided by other
participants, and report it in summary form so that responses for any individual vessel cannot be
identified. Responses to this survey are confidential under section 402(b) of the MagnusonStevens Act. They are also confidential under NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, which sets
forth procedures to protect the confidentiality of fishery statistics. If a Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) request is received for the data collected by this survey, we will seek to protect the
confidentiality of the survey responses under Exemption 4 of the FOIA.
After completing the questionnaire, you should return it to the Northwest Fisheries Science
Center. The address is provided above. You will need to keep a copy of your completed
questionnaire for your own records.

Sincerely,

Carl Lian
National Marine Fisheries Service
[email protected]
(206)-302-2414