Justification for Change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE
ATLANTIC MACKEREL, SQUID, AND BUTTERFISH AMENDMENT 10 DATA
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0601
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to change the 72-hour pre-trip observer
notification requirement implemented through Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid,
and Butterfish (MSB) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Starting January 1, 2011, vessels
intending to land more than 2,500 lbs of Loligo have been required to notify NEFOP at least 72
hours prior to departing on a trip.
A larger number of Loligo vessels embark on multiple trips that last less than 24 hours during a
single week. In order to reduce the burden of this requirement for these vessels, this action
would require that vessels call in at least 72 hours, but no more than 10 days prior to beginning
any fishing trip. This change streamlines the notification requirement to accommodate vessels
that embark on both single and multi-day trips by allowing vessels to notify for several days of
upcoming trips at a single time. Similar requirements are already established for other day boat
fisheries, and would be expanded to Loligo through this action.
Previously, the time burden for this requirement was estimated at 255 hours per year. The
altered requirement is not expected to change this burden estimate.
Comments on this change were solicited in the proposed rule for MSB Specifications for the
2011 Fishing Year, Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 0648-BA03. There were no comments
on the proposed change.