0205 SS 070241 rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
SOUTHEAST REGION PERMIT FAMILY OF FORMS
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0205

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
This request is for a revision (extension with some program changes).
The Southeast Region covers the eight coastal states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, the inland states of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Tennessee, as well as the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States (U.S.) Virgin Islands. The Sustainable
Fisheries Division, Southeast Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), is
entrusted with the conservation, management, and protection of marine fishery resources
inhabiting federal waters off the southeastern United States from North Carolina through Texas
and Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Division is the Region’s focal point for
implementing NMFS' primary legislative authority for fisheries management and research, the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act/MSA),
as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA).
The Division works directly with the Region’s three fishery management councils established by
Congress to perform the mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. These mandates are
accomplished through fishery management plans for marine finfish and crustaceans that support
important commercial and recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic Ocean,
and Caribbean Sea and consider conservation and management issues, sociological and
economic issues, and regulatory issues. Functions and activities required to fulfill this and other
responsibilities as specified in the Magnuson-Stevens Act include: providing guidance on
fisheries management; providing technical assistance and advise in preparing fishery
management plans (FMPs) in accordance with national standard guidelines and other applicable
laws; coordinating public review and compilation of comments; initiating Secretarial review of
FMPs and amendments; drafting regulations and Federal Register notices, as well as reviewing
and responding to comments received during rulemaking; FMP implementation; and monitoring.
A major component of fisheries management in the Region is the permit system and the
information collected by these permits. The permit/endorsement system has the following uses:
a. Registration of actual and/or potential fishing vessels/dealers.
b. Collection of data relevant to the characteristics of both vessels and (potential) fishermen.
c. Secure compliance (e.g., do not issue permits until unpaid penalties have been collected and
reporting requirements are fulfilled).
d. Provide a mailing list for the dissemination of regulatory information.
e. Register participants for fisheries with special restrictions/limited access.

1

f. Provide sample frames for data collection.
g. Permit purchase information for fleet economic analyses.
Accordingly, numerous FMPs and Amendments have been developed by the Region which
requires the collection of information for purposes of proper implementation of these rules.
Regulations implementing the FMPs and their collection of information appear at 50 CFR 300,
50 CFR 635, 50 CFR 640, and 50 CFR 622.
Activity
Commercial Vessel
Monitoring System
Installation
Commercial Vessel
Monitoring System
Maintenance
Notification of Lost or
Stolen Traps

Fishery

Form

Regulation Citation

South Atlantic Rock
Shrimp

Checklist

50 CFR 622.4

South Atlantic Rock
Shrimp

No Form

50 CFR 622.4

South Atlantic Golden
Crab; Caribbean
Spiny Lobster

No Form –
Notification

50 CFR 622.17
50 CFR 622.6

No Form – Written
Notification of
Authorization

50 CFR 622.4

Zone Transit
Notification

Gulf Reef Fish, South
Atlantic
Snapper/Grouper;
South Atlantic Golden
Crab
South Atlantic Golden
Crab

Annual Landings
Report

Gulf of Mexico
shrimp

Annual Dealer Permit

South Atlantic
Dolphin Wahoo,
Shark, Domestic
Swordfish, S. Atlantic
Snapper Grouper, S.
Atlantic Wreckfish, S.
Atlantic Rock Shrimp,
S. Atlantic Golden
Crab, GOM Reef fish
Wreckfish off the
South Atlantic

Notification of
Authorization
Trap Retrieval

Permit for Vessel
Fishing for Wreckfish
off the S. Atlantic

2

No Form –
Notification
Gulf of Mexico
shrimp federal permit
reporting form
Federal Permit
Application For An
Annual Dealer Permit

Federal Permit
Application for
Vessels Fishing For
Wreckfish off the
South Atlantic States

50 CFR 622.17
50 CFR 622.4
50 CFR 622.4
50 CFR 635.4

50 CFR 622.4
50 CFR 622.15

Activity
Permits for Operators
of vessels fishing for
Dolphin/Wahoo or
Rock shrimp
Permits for Fishing in
the EEZ

Fishery
Form
Atlantic
Federal Permit
Dolphin/Wahoo,
Application for
South Atlantic Rock
Southeast Region
Shrimp
Issued Operator Cards
Commercial: Atlantic
Federal Permit
Dolphin Wahoo,
Application for
Spiny Lobster,
Vessels Fishing in the
Spanish Mackerel,
Exclusive Economic
South Atlantic Rock
Zone
Shrimp (Carolina
zone), Gulf of Mexico
Shrimp, King
Mackerel, Gillnet for
King Mackerel, GOM
Reef Fish, Eastern
GOM reef fish long
line, South Atlantic
Rock shrimp (SA
EEZ), S.A. Snapper
Grouper (225 and
unlimted), Swordfish
(directed, incidental
and handgear), Shark
(directed and
incidental), Atlantic
Tuna (longline), S.
Atlantic Golden Crab;
Charter/Headboat for:
S.A Coastal
Migratory Pelagics,
Snapper Grouper,
Dolphin/Wahoo,
GOM Coastal
Migratory Pelagics,
Reef Fish
Reef Fish Permit
Gulf of Mexico
Form to Consolidate
Consolidation
Commercial Reef Fish Commercial Reef Fish
Permits
All fisheries with
Applicable permit,
Transfer notarization
allowable transfer of
license, or
permits
endorsement
Change of
All Fisheries
Change of
Information for permit
Information Form for
holders
Federal Fisheries
Permits

3

Regulation Citation
50 CFR 622.4

50 CFR 622.4
50 CFR 622.15
50 CFR 622.17
50 CFR 635.4
50 CFR 640.4

50 CFR 622.4

50 CFR 622.4
50 CFR 622.4
50 CFR 635.4
50 CFR 640.4

Activity
Colombian Treaty
Water

Fishery
Fishing in Colombian
Treaty Waters

Aquacultured Live
Rock

Live Rock

Aquacultured Live
Rock

Live Rock

Aquacultured Live
Rock

Live Rock

Aquacultured Live
Rock

Live Rock

Form
Federal
Permit/Certificate
Application to Fish in
Columbian Treaty
Waters

Federal Permit
Application for the
Harvest of
Aquacultured Live
Rock
Aquaculture Site
Evaluation Report

Report for the Deposit
or Harvest of
Aquacultured Live
Rock
Notice of Intent to
Harvest Aquacultured
Live Rock

Regulation Citation
50 CFR 300.120
(Subpart H)

50 CFR 622.4, COE
GP SAJ-71, MOA
between NMFS and
COE
50 CFR 622.4, COE
GP SAJ-71, MOA
between NMFS and
COE
50 CFR 622.4, COE
GP SAJ-71, MOA
between NMFS and
COE
50 CFR 622.4, COE
GP SAJ-71, MOA
between NMFS and
COE

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 information requested is used by various offices of NMFS, Regional Fishery Management
Council staff, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and state fishery agencies
under contract to NMFS to develop, implement and monitor fishery management strategies.
Analyzes and summarizations of data are used by NMFS, the Regional Councils, the
Departments of State and Commerce, OMB, the fishing industry, Congressional staff and the
public to answer questions about the nature of the Nation’s fishery resources.
Commercial Vessel Monitoring System Installation Checklist:
The South Atlantic Rock Shrimp fishery is required to install and maintain Vessel Monitoring
Systems (VMS) on commercially permitted vessels. The Checklist is required to ensure proper
installation and operation of the VMS system. Rock Shrimp Vessels must complete a form
supplied by NMFS verifying that a VMS unit has been installed on the vessel and is operational.
The form requests information regarding vessel name, Federal permit number, vessel
documentation or state registration number, information (name, address, and telephone number)

4

on the installing dealer, date of installation, serial number of unit, and e-mail address of vessel.
The form also requests responses to questions regarding whether or not the unit is operational, if
operating instructions have been provided to the vessel owner, and if the vessel owner has been
trained on use of the VMS unit by the vendor. Once the form has been completed, the vessel
owner or authorized representative signs and dates the form, and returns it to the address listed
on the form. In addition, in order to ensure VMS unit connectivity, all vessel owners required, or
choosing to use, VMS units would be required to call NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE)
for the Northeast Region (NER) to confirm connectivity of new and replacement VMS units
(currently, there are no estimated new VMS or replacement units).
Notification of Lost or Stolen Traps and /or Notification of Authorization for Trap
Retrieval: Vessel and permit holders are required to notify NMFS when a trap is lost, stolen, or
being retrieved for inventory purposes.
Zone Transit Notification:
For a person aboard a fishing vessel to fish for Golden Crab in either the Northern Zone, the
Middle Zone or the Southern Zone, a Golden Crab (South Atlantic EEZ) permit is required. In
order to transit a non-permitted zone a Zone Transit Notification Form must be completed.
Coupons for Tracking Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ):
A dealer may receive a wreckfish only from a vessel for which a commercial permit for
wreckfish has been issued, as required under § 622.4(a)(2)(vii). A dealer must receive the
"Fish House" part of ITQ coupons in amounts totaling the eviscerated weight of the wreckfish
received; enter the permit number of the vessel from which the wreckfish were received,
enter the date the wreckfish were received, enter the dealer's permit number, and sign each such
"Fish House" part; and submit all such parts with the dealer reports required by §
622.5(c)(5)(i). An owner or operator of a vessel and a dealer must make available to an
authorized officer all ITQ coupons in his or her possession upon request.
Annual landings report:
The owner or operator of a vessel for which a Federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf shrimp
has been issued must annually report the permitted vessel’s total annual landings of shrimp and
value, by species, on a form provided by the Southeast Region Division (SRD). Compliance with
this reporting requirement is required for permit renewal.
Annual Dealer Permit:
Identification of dealer/processors is needed to obtain first purchase information on landings to
evaluate the biological, economic, and social implications of management measures. The
Magnuson-Stevens Act, UHRegulatory Flexibility ActUH, and HUExecutive Orders 12866UH and HU12131
UHrequire the determination of these facts. For this revision/extension, we are asking for, and may
require, provision of the email address on the application. Assuming that 20% of current
dealers, or 85, of current dealers, do not have email accounts, we are adding a one-time
(annualized) burden of 5 minutes for each, with the total annualized burden equaling 2 hours.
Vessel Fishing for Wreckfish off the S. Atlantic:
Annually, on or about March 1, the Regional Administrator (RA) will provide each Wreckfish
shareholder with a list of all wreckfish shareholders and their percentage shares, reflecting share

5

transactions on forms received through February 15. Annually by April 15, the RA will provide
each dealer who holds a dealer permit for wreckfish, as required under § 622.4(a)(4), with a list
of vessels for which wreckfish permits have been issued, as required under §622.4(a)(2)(vii).
Annually, by April 15, the RA will provide each wreckfish shareholder with a list of dealers who
have been issued dealer permits for wreckfish. From April 16 through January 14, updated lists
will be provided when required. Updated lists may be obtained at other times or by a person who
is not a wreckfish shareholder or wreckfish dealer permit holder by written request to the RA.
Operators of vessels fishing for Dolphin/Wahoo or Rock shrimp:
For a person aboard a fishing vessel to fish for rock shrimp in Federal waters from the
Virginia/North Carolina border to the East Coast of Florida, either a Rock Shrimp (South
Atlantic EEZ) permit or a South Atlantic Rock Shrimp (Carolinas EEZ) permit is required. A
vessel may not be issued both a Rock Shrimp (South Atlantic EEZ) permit and a Rock Shrimp
(Carolinas Zone) permit simultaneously. If a vessel has a Rock Shrimp (South Atlantic EEZ)
permit, which is valid (not expired) as of the date of this application, and the vessel owner is
applying for a Rock Shrimp (Carolinas Zone) permit on the same vessel, the Rock Shrimp (South
Atlantic EEZ) permit must first be transferred from the vessel or surrendered to NMFS for a
person aboard a fishing vessel to fish for rock shrimp in Federal waters from the Virginia/North
Carolina border to the East Coast of Florida, either a Rock Shrimp (South Atlantic EEZ) permit
or a South Atlantic Rock Shrimp (Carolinas EEZ) permit is required.
A vessel must be issued an Atlantic dolphin-wahoo commercial permit to be eligible for
exemption from the bag and possession limits for dolphin-wahoo in the Atlantic EEZ or to sell
dolphin-wahoo harvested in the Atlantic EEZ. . The permit will only be valid if there is someone
on the vessel that has a valid Vessel Operator Permit Card issued by the Southeast Regional
Office of NMFS or by the Northeast Regional Office of NMFS.
Fishing in the EEZ:
The vessel permit application form is used to collect vessel information. Permits are issued
annually or more frequently at the request of the applicant if changes are necessary. There are
two vessel permit application forms—an initial form for new vessels and a renewal form for
previously permitted vessels.
In section 1 of the permit application, information such as name and address of the owner is used
to identify the applicant and legal ownership of the vessel. This requirement is essential in the
use of permits as a fisheries enforcement tool. For example, violations of catch regulations may
result in the suspension of a vessel’s permit. Since a corporation may own several vessels,
identification of ownership on the application form allows NMFS to sanction the company as
well as the individual vessel or vessel operator for repeated violations of regulations. This
information is also used to provide a mailing list, as mentioned above. The regulations specify
that mailing address is required. Because some forms of delivery require street addresses, the
RA has also determined that a street address is required. The regulations authorize such
requirements to be added as found necessary.
A USCG documentation number, or state registration number when appropriate, serves to further
identify an individual vessel. This number is especially useful in tracking permit histories to past

6

owners, assuring that qualified vessels obtain proper moratorium permits. That history becomes
more and more important as additional fisheries undergo moratoriums limiting the access of
participants.
Telephone numbers are required to assist NMFS in processing the application. Possessing a
telephone number for an applicant enables questions to be resolved more efficiently and
inexpensively than via correspondence, thus facilitating timely issuance of the permits. Home
and principal port information provides managers with information on the distribution of fishing
effort and fishing communities--vital components in evaluation of socio-economic impacts of
fishing regulations.
The vessel information requested in section 2 of the initial application is required for evaluation
of fishing power and capacity and is used by fishery economists and researchers to estimate the
impacts of the fishing fleet on a resource and perform other studies as appropriate. Information
from this database is used frequently throughout the year as studies are needed. The fishery
information requested in section 3 is used by NMFS, the Councils, and other fishery research and
management organizations to evaluate the placement, qualifications, and fishing methods of
participants in the various fisheries. This information defines the type of permit issued to an
applicant and which restrictions apply to that type of permit.
Section 4 of the initial permit application, and section 5 of the renewal application, requires that
the permit holder sign and date the application. A signature is required on all application forms
for legal accountability and protection of the applicant.
Reef Fish Permit Consolidation:
A person who has been issued multiple commercial vessel permits for Gulf reef fish and wants to
consolidate some or all of those permits, and the landings histories associated with those permits,
into one permit must submit a completed permit consolidation application to the RA. The
permits consolidated must be valid, non-expired permits and must be issued to the same entity.
After consolidation, such a person would have a single permit, and the permits that were
consolidated into that permit will be permanently terminated.
Transfer notarization:
Transfer notification application must be accompanied by the original permit and a copy of a
signed bill of sale or equivalent acquisition papers. In those cases where a permit, license, or
endorsement is transferable, the seller must sign the back of the permit, license, or endorsement
and have the signed transfer document notarized.
Change of Information for permit holders:
The owner or operator of a vessel with a permit, a person with a coral permit, a person with an
operator permit, or a dealer with a permit must notify the RA within 30 days after any change in
the application information specified. This information includes: Name, address, telephone
number, date the business was formed, and other identifying information of the business. The
permit is void if any change in the information is not reported within 30 days.

7

Colombian Treaty Waters:
This Federal permitting requirement is part of the negotiated treaty with Columbia that permits
U.S. vessels to fish in Columbia waters.
Aquacultured Live Rock:
The purpose of this data collection is to collect information on types and quantities of live rock
that are harvested. Although these data are collected by some state fishery agencies (notably
Florida), it is important to collect this information from harvesters with a Federal permit that are
not from a state that requires regular permitting.
These data serve as input for a variety of uses, such as: biological analyzes and stock
assessments; E.O. 12291 regulatory impact analyzes; quota and allocation selections and
monitoring; economic profitability profiles; trade and import tariff decisions; allocations of grant
funds among states; identify ecological interactions among species. NMFS would be
significantly hindered in its ability to fulfill the majority of its scientific research and fishery
management missions without these data. 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 retains control over the
information and safeguards it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent
with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. 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 measure and a predissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of the 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.
Regarding the permitting data collection, the Southeast Region's Web site
(http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/permits/permits.htm): allows the public to obtain a copy of the permit
application, which can be downloaded and completed electronically, and then printed.
Otherwise, the Southeast Region currently has no resource or technological capability for
electronic (i.e., Web site) permit application and issuance. This capability cannot be
accomplished in the Southeast Region without significant changes to the permit issuance criteria
and our permit issuance processes. These changes have been initiated, in that the Southeast
Region Permits Team may be switching from a non-Web database (Rbase) to a Web-based
database (Oracle) in the future.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act's operational guidelines require each FMP to evaluate existing state
and federal laws that govern the fisheries in question, and the findings are made part of each
FMP. Each Fishery Management Council membership is comprised of state and federal officials
responsible for resource management in their area. These two circumstances identify other
collections that may be gathering the same or similar information. In addition, each FMP
undergoes extensive public comment periods where potential applicants review the proposed

8

permit application requirements. Therefore, NMFS is confident it is aware of similar collections
if they exist. The other information proposed to be collected is not being collected elsewhere;
therefore, this data collection would not cause duplication.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
Because all applicants are considered small businesses or small entities, separate requirements
based on size of business have not been developed. Only the minimum data to meet the current
and future needs of NMFS's fisheries management are requested from the vessel owners.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The Region’s three fishery management councils established by Congress are expected to fulfill
the mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. These mandates are accomplished through fishery
management plans for marine finfish and crustaceans that support important commercial and
recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea and
consider conservation and management issues, sociological and economic issues, and regulatory
issues. Functions and activities required to fulfill this and other responsibilities as specified in the
Magnuson-Stevens Act include: providing guidance on fisheries management; providing
technical assistance and advise in preparing FMPs in accordance with national standard
guidelines and other applicable laws; coordinating public review and compilation of comments;
initiating Secretarial review of FMPs and amendments; drafting regulations and Federal Register
Notices, as well as reviewing and responding to comments received during rulemaking; FMP
implementation; and monitoring.
A major component of fisheries management in the Region is the permit system and the
information collected by these permits. Without the collection of this information, mandates
developed through fishery management plans cannot be fulfilled.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
There are no special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner
inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

9

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 March 31, 2011 (76 FR 17839) solicited comments on
this renewal request; none were received.
These data collection programs are all part of FMPs or amendments to these FMPs. As such
public comments were solicited for all parts of the rule, including the collection of information
requests. As part of the FMP development process, public hearings are held throughout the
region soliciting comments from constituents about any part of the proposed FMP and associated
rule. Additionally, upon publication of the Notice of Availability of the Amendment in the
Federal Register, the public has 60 days to comment on the Amendment. Likewise, upon
publication of the proposed rule, which includes any reporting requirements, the public has 45
days to comment on the rule and its associated collections. Also, notices were published
regarding all aspects of the collection discussed earlier in this supporting statement.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
There are no payments or other remunerations to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
As stated on the forms, all data submitted under the proposed collection will be handled as
confidential material in accordance with the MSA, Section 402b, and NOAA Administrative
Order 216-100, Protection of Confidential Fishery Statistics.
This information collection is included in a comprehensive NMFS Permits and Registrations
System of Records Notice, COMMERCE/NOAA #19, Permits and Registrations for United
States Federally Regulated Fisheries, published 04/17/2008 and effective 06/11/2008.
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.
No questions of a sensitive nature are asked.

10

12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Current estimated burden hours for this collection of information are 3,596 hours, reduced from
the most recently approved 16,013.
Form/Notification
/Endorsement
Rockfish Commercial
Vessel Monitoring System
Installation
Rockfish Commercial
Vessel Monitoring System
Maintenance
Notification of Lost or
Stolen Traps
Notification of
Authorization
Trap Retrieval
Zone Transit Notification
Annual Landings Report
Gulf of Mexico
Shrimp
Annual Dealer Permit
Permit for Vessel Fishing
for Wreckfish off the S.
Atlantic
Three-Year Permits for
Operators of vessels
fishing for
Dolphin/Wahoo or Rock
shrimp (annualized)
Permits for Fishing in the
EEZ
Reef Fish Permit
Consolidation
Transfer notarization
Change of Information for
permit holders
Colombian Treaty Water
Aquacultured Live Rock
Harvest Application
Aquacultured Live Rock
Site Evaluation

Total Number
of
Respondents

Annual Number
of Responses

Time per
Response

Total Time
Hours

0

0

10 minutes

0

168

168

2 hours

336

2

2

5 minutes

10 minutes

7

7

15 minutes

1.5 hours

5

5

5 minutes

25 minutes (0
in ROCIS)

2500

2500

5 minutes

208 hours

426

426

20.3 minutes*

144 hours

10

10

20 minutes

3 hours

421

421

20 minutes

140 hours

7899

7899

20 minutes

0

0

5 minutes

1506
0

1506
0

5 minutes
5 minutes

126 hours

5

5

20 minutes

2 hours

18
1

18
1

5 minutes
45 minutes

11

2,633 hours
0

0

2 hours
0

Form/Notification
/Endorsement
Aquacultured Live Rock
Deposit
Notice of Intent to Harvest
Aquacultured Live Rock

Royal Red Shrimp
Application

Total Number
of
Respondents
1

Annual Number
of Responses

Time per
Response

Total Time
Hours

1

5 minutes

1

1

5 minutes

0

0

0

22 minutes

0

0

12,970**
12,970
3,596 hours
Total
*Spreading burden for new email accounts over all respondents.
**9,606 unduplicated: respondents for vessel permits, dealer permits, operator permits and
aquaculture.
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).
The total annual cost burden for this collection of information is $688,899, increased from
$650,679.
1. EEZ fishery vessel permit fees: 7,899 x ($25 + $40*) (*$10
for each additional permit/endorsement: estimate 4
additional fisheries)
2. Operator card permit fees (421 x $50)
3. Aquacultured live rock permit fees (18 x $31)
4. Wreckfish permit fees (10 x $75)
5. Dealer permit fees 426 x ($50 + $36.50) ($12.50 for each
additional fishery: estimate 3 additional fisheries)
6. VMS Manufacturer Monthly Fee x 12
7. VMS Transmission Costs
8. Transfer notarization (1,506 x $10)
9. Mail Costs
TOTAL
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
There are currently no costs to the government beyond regular staff hours.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
Hours
There is a net decrease in burden hours of 12,417.

12

$513,435
$21,050
$558
$750
$37,275
$61,545
$33,600
$15,060
$5,571
$688,899

Program changes: Net total decrease of 677 (2 – 679).
New requirements for email address on the annual dealer application; assuming that 20% of
current dealers, or 85 of current dealers, do not have email accounts, we are adding a one-time
(annualized) burden of 5 minutes for each with the total annualized burden increase equaling 2
hours.
These information collections are no longer required/were one-time only, resulting in a 675-hour
decrease:
Rock Shrimp Vessel Non-Renewed Endorsement Requests (-20 hours)
Endorsement Placement – Gulf red snapper (-5 hours)
Endorsement – Gulf Reef Fish Trap (-10 hours)
Endorsement – Mackerel Gillnet (-9 hours)
Reef fish fishery bottom longline endorsement appeals (-4 hours)
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp permit applications (-589 hours)
Gulf of Mexico moratorium shrimp eligibility form (-42 hours)
Adjustments: Net total decrease: increases (119 + 1,321) = 1,440 – decreases ((479 + 7,840 +
4,100 + 324 + 437) = 13,180) = - 11,740.
Increases
The burden for dealer applications has been increased from 5 minutes to 20 minutes to reflect a
more realistic time estimate to complete the application. In addition, the current estimate for
number of applications is increased from 274 to 426, an increase of 152 responses and the total
burden, based on response time adjustment and increased responses, has increased by 119
hours.
The Federal EEZ Vessel Permit Application burden now includes the Gulf of Mexico shrimp
limited entry permit renewals burden, as well as increased responses for other EEZ vessel
permits, resulting in an increase of 1,321 hours.
Decreases
Information collections transferred to OMB Control No. 0648-0593, resulting in a transfer
(decrease) of 479 hours: Notification – Reef Fish, Golden Crab, Rock Shrimp, Royal Red
Shrimp Observer Coverage
Rock Shrimp Vessel Position Report hours are no longer included as burden hours (-7,840); only
the costs are counted.
Three-year permits for operators of vessels fishing for Dolphin/Wahoo or Rock shrimp have
been annualized, a correction from the previous estimate and the response time reduced from 30
minutes to 20 minutes. In addition, there are 7,216 fewer permit applications than previously
(-4,100).

13

There are 156 fewer zone transit notifications (-324).
There is an additional decrease of 437 hours due to minor adjustments in burden estimates for a
number of information collections.
Costs
There is a total net increase of $38,220, with new estimate of 688,899; the currently
approved amount is $650,679.
Adjustments:
There is an increase of $15,836 for postage costs.
There is an increase of $95,145, left off in error in a previous submission, for monthly VMS
manufacturer charges and hourly transmission charges.
There is an increase in EEZ permit costs, due to an increase in numbers, of $676,576.
What would have been cost increases based on increases in some fishery permit numbers, are
almost completely balanced by reduced fees for two of the permits, which are program changes
(decreases in fees from the last iteration).
There is an increase in dealer permit costs, due to increased numbers, of $58,478.
decrease of $70,338, due to the adjustments including the reduction in number of
operator permits and the correction of the annual number based on their being a 3-year permit.

There is a

There is a decrease of $499,340 due to a previous error in documentation of annual landings
report costs to include a $10.36 permit cost.
Net increase due to adjustments: $276,357.
Program Changes:
Fees for two types of permits decreased since the last complete iteration:
Dealer permit fees are now $50 plus $12.50 for each fishery, half the initial and per-fishery cost
documented in the 2006 renewal. The total decrease in costs due to reduced fees is $23,975.
EEZ permit fees are now $25 plus $10 for each fishery, or an estimated $65 - also half of the fee
costs documented in the 2006 renewal. There is a total decrease in EEZ permit costs, due to
reduced fees, of $214,110.
Total decrease from program changes: $238,137.

14

16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
The results from this collection are not planned for statistical publication, although NOAA
Fisheries may distribute the results of the observations for general information.
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.

15