0570 SS 102610rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
ALASKA CRAB REPORTS
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0570

INTRODUCTION
In January 2004, the United States (U.S.) Congress amended Section 313(j) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (Magnuson-Stevens
Act) to mandate the Secretary of Commerce to implement the Crab Rationalization (CR)
Program for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab fisheries. The CR Program
allocates BSAI crab resources among harvesters, processors, and coastal communities.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the U.S. crab fisheries under the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs. The FMP
was prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under the MagnusonStevens Act, as amended in 2006. The FMP establishes criteria for the management of certain
aspects of the BSAI crab fisheries by the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The
FMP is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 680.
This action requests renewal of an existing collection of CR Program reports. In addition, the
title of this collection is changed from “Alaska Crab Report Forms” to read “Alaska Crab
Reports.”
A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The CR Program is a limited access system that balances the interests of several groups who
depend on crab fisheries. The program addresses conservation and management issues associated
with the previous derby fishery, reduces bycatch and associated discard mortality, and increases
the safety of crab fishermen by ending the race for fish.
Share allocations to harvesters and processors, together with incentives to participate in fishery
cooperatives, increase efficiencies, provide economic stability, and facilitate compensated
reduction of excess capacities in the harvesting and processing sectors. Community interests are
protected by Community Development Quota (CDQ) allocations and regional landing and
processing requirements, as well as by several community protection measures.

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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.
a. Eligible Crab Community Organization Annual Report
Any non-CDQ community in which 3 percent or more of any crab fishery was historically
processed can form a nonprofit entity to receive quota share (QS), individual fishing quota (IFQ),
processor quota share (PQS), and individual processor quota (IPQ) transfers on behalf of the
community. The nonprofit entity is called “an eligible crab community organization (ECCO).”
The borough must agree to designate the same nonprofit organization to serve as the ECCO.
The ECCO must submit a complete annual report to the Regional Administrator on its crab QS
activity for the prior crab fishing year for each eligible crab community (ECC) represented by
the ECCO by June 30 of the crab fishing year. The ECCO also must submit a copy of the annual
report to the governing body of each community represented by the ECCO. The ECCO annual
report is intended to ensure that the ECCO maintains the intent of the purchase provisions: that
the QS and IFQ benefit residents of eligible communities. The annual report details the use of
the crab QS and IFQ held by the ECCO.
ECCO annual report (not a form)
Name, ADFandG vessel registration number, USCG documentation number, and Federal crab vessel
permit of each vessel from which the crab IFQ was harvested.
Name and business addresses of individuals employed as crew members when fishing the crab IFQ.
Criteria used by the ECCO to distribute IFQ leases among eligible community residents.
Description of efforts made to ensure that IFQ lessees employ crew members who are eligible community
residents of the ECC aboard vessels on which IFQ derived from QS held by an ECCO is being fished.
Description of the process used to solicit lease applications from eligible community residents of the ECC
on whose behalf the ECCO is holding QS.
Names and business addresses and amount of IFQ requested by each individual applying to receive IFQ
from the ECCO.
Any changes in the bylaws of the ECCO, board of directors, or other key management personnel.
Attachments
Copies of minutes, bylaw changes, motions, and other relevant decision-making documents from ECCO
Board meetings.

Current records show only one ECCO exists; therefore, the number of respondents is changed
from 8 to 1.
ECCO annual report, Respondent
Number of respondents
Total annual responses
Frequency of response = 1
Total burden hours
Time per response = 40 hr
Total personnel cost ($25 x 40)
Total miscellaneous costs
Postage (0.88 x 1 = 0.88)

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1
40 hr
$1,000
$1

ECCO annual report for an ECC, Federal Government
Number of responses
1
Total burden hours
2 hr
Time requirement = 2 hr
Total personnel cost (2 x 25)
$50
Total miscellaneous cost
$0

b. Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report
This form was formerly entitled “Crab Buyer Report”. The purpose of this form is to collect
information from RCRs so that NMFS, Restricted Access Management can establish a standard
ex-vessel price for CR Crab. NMFS uses the standard price to estimate the cost recovery fees
due from processors and harvesters.
An RCR that also operates as a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor and receives
and purchases landings of CR crab must submit annually to NMFS online a complete RCR Exvessel Volume and Value Report, for each reporting period in which the RCR receives CR crab.
The reporting period shall extend from August 15 through April 30 of the following year,
inclusive. A complete RCR Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report must be received by the
Regional Administrator no later than May 15 of the reporting period in which the RCR received
the CR crab.
The RCR Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report is available at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
The RCR must log into http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov using the RCR's password and NMFS
person ID to submit a CR RCR Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report. The NMFS software
autofills the RCR name. The user must review the autofilled cells to ensure that they are
accurate. The RCR must enter the following information for a complete RCR Ex-vessel Volume
and Value Report for priced crab delivered raw.
RCR Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report
RCR identification
RCR permit number
Landing month.
Port (location of facility or vessel).
CR crab program (e.g., IFQ, CDQ, ADAK).
CR crab pounds purchased and ex-vessel value. Enter for each program, fishery, species, and month.
Pounds purchased. The total CR crab pounds purchased by fishery and species for each month.
Ex-vessel value paid.
The total gross ex-vessel value paid for raw CR crab pounds before any deductions are made for goods and
services provided to the CR crab harvesters. The gross value includes all value paid in any form (e.g.,
dollars, goods, services, bait, ice, fuel, repairs, machinery replacement, etc.), and any retro payments paid
for crab .
Certification. By using the RCR NMFS ID and password and submitting the report, the RCR certifies that all
information is true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

Based on actual operation, the time-to-complete this report is changed from 1 hr to 2 hr. The
number of respondents was previously shown as 30; there actually are 15 RCRs, each of whom
have two RCR permits. One report must be submitted for each RCR permit.

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Registered Crab Receiver Ex-vessel Volume and Value
Report, Respondent
Number of respondents
15
Total annual responses
30
Frequency of response = 2 (each respondent has 2
RCR permits)
60 hr
Total burden hours
Time per response = 2 hr
Total personnel cost ($25/hr)
$1,500
Total miscellaneous cost (1.50)
$2
Online = 0.05 x 30 = 1.50
Registered Crab Receiver Ex-vessel Volume and Value
Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses
30
Total burden hours (7.5)
8 hr
Time per response (15/60 = 0.25)
Total personnel cost ($25/hr)
$200
Total miscellaneous cost
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. NOAA Fisheries will retain control over the information and
safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA
standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See 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 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 Registered Crab Receiver Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report is submitted online at
at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
None of the information collected as part of this information collection duplicates other
collections. This information collection is part of a specialized and technical program that is not
like any other.

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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.
The intent of this action is to monitor crab landings in the BSAI crab fisheries. Without the
specified reporting scheme described in this Supporting Statement, the program would be
jeopardized. The consequences of not collecting this information would be that NMFS could not
fulfill the intent of the law created under Public. Law. No. 108-199 (P.L. 108-199) and would be
unable to provide data to the Council and the State of Alaska to evaluate the CR Program for
each of the required review periods. P. L. 108-199 also requires that each component of the CR
Program enacted by Congress must be implemented or the whole program must be withdrawn.
Thus, disapproval of this data collection program would threaten all components of P.L. 108199.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
No inconsistencies occur in this collection.
8. Provide a copy of 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 June 8, 2010 (75 FR 32360) 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.
As stated on the Ex-Vessel Volume and Value form and in the regulations, 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 (AO) 216-100, which sets forth procedures to
protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.

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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.
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: 16, a decrease from 38. Estimated total responses: 31, a
decrease from 38. Estimated total burden: 100 hr, a decrease from 350 hr. Estimated total
personnel cost: $2,500, a decrease from $8,750.
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 Question
12 above).
Estimated total miscellaneous costs: $3, a decrease from $81.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
Estimated total annual burden: 10 hr, a decrease from 24 hr. Estimated total personnel cost:
$250, a decrease from $600.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
NMFS makes adjustments in this collection to number of participants and therefore to burden
hours and personnel costs. In addition, the time-to-complete for the RCR Ex-vessel Volume and
Value Report is revised from 1 hr to 2 hr.
Program Change: The recordkeeping reporting cost for the RCR Ex-vessel Volume and Value
Report has significantly decreased due to the implementation of a secure online submission
process.
Adjustments:
Eligible Crab Community Organization (ECCO) Annual Report
a decrease of 7, respondents and responses, 1 instead of 8
a decrease of 280 burden hours, 40 hr instead of 320 hr
a decrease of $7,000 personnel cost, $1,000 instead of $8,000
a decrease of $5 miscellaneous cost, $1 instead of $6
RCR Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report
a decrease of 15 respondents; clarification that each respondent has two RCR permits and
must submit a report for each one;
an increase of 30 burden hours, 60 hr instead of 30 hr

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an increase of $750 personnel cost, $1,500 instead of $750
Program Change: a decrease of $73 miscellaneous cost, $2 instead of $75 for the RCR Ex-vessel
Volume and Value Report.
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.
Not applicable.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
Not applicable.

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

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