National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) At-Sea Hake Observer Program defines observer duties, trains
and debriefs observers, and manages data and release. The
observers, deployed aboard at-sea processing vessels in the US West
Coast hake (a.k.a. whiting) fishery, are hired by observer
providers who contract with the at-sea processors to provide the
required observer coverage (50 CFR part, 660). This data collection
relates to the response time for observer providers and observers
to register for training, debriefing or that have been issued
suspension or decertification.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
Program Changes On January 1,
2011, a portion of the west coast industry will transition to catch
shares management. Under this new management structure, the model
used to hire and pay for observers has changed. Historically, the
Limited Entry trawl fishery was observed through a cooperative
agreement with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC).
Under this agreement, PSMFC wrote a Request for Proposal and
observer providers bid on the proposal. Only one observer provider
was selected to employ all observers for the program. Under trawl
catch shares, up to five observer providers can employ observers.
In addition, NMFS has handled logistics for the Limited Entry trawl
observers but under trawl catch shares, the observer providers will
be handling all observer logistics. Due to these changes, the
observer program must obtain information from the multiple
providers on who they're hiring (so we can register them for
training), what the observers are doing (so we know which vessels
are covered) and how to contact the providers. These additional
reporting requirements from the observer providers to the NMFS will
ensure effective program management. In the 2007 supporting
statement, the weekly deployment/logistics reports were required
only for the At-Sea Hake fishery, which is seasonal and has a
consistent number of vessels and observers. The burden estimate of
90 responses was computed by estimating the number of observers it
would require for the entire year (30) and the estimated assignment
length of each contract (three weeks). In 2011, these reports will
also be required for the trawl catch shares fishery. We estimate
that this adds 170 responses. Adjustments: The details of observer
physicals and physical appointments do not need to be reported to
NMFS. They had previously been included in error. Also, debriefing
is now included in the registration and briefing IC. NOTE: removal
of these three ICs registers as a program change, because there is
not an option to label a removal as an adjustment.
Reporting/recordkeeping costs are removed, due to e-mailing of
virtually all response.
$6,840
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Janell Majewski 206
860-3293
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Observer provider contact information/change in ownership
0500 SS 111910rev.pdf
Observer provider contact information/change in ownership