0360 Ss 081111

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION VESSEL AND
GEAR IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0360

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly on regulatory compliance.
The vessel identification requirement is essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link
fishing or other activity to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to enforcement of the
regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MSA) to govern domestic and foreign fishing in the western Pacific region
and under authority of laws implementing international treaties. Similarly, the regulations require
that certain fishing gear in federally regulated western Pacific pelagic longline fisheries and
western Pacific coral reef ecosystem fisheries be marked with the vessel’s official number. The
marking of gear is crucial to enforcement and valuable in actions concerning damage, loss, and
civil proceedings.
This request is for a revision (extension with program changes).
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.
Vessel Identification
In the domestic western Pacific region fisheries regulated under 50 CFR part 665, the
vessel's official number or international radio call sign (IRCS) is required to be displayed
on the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather
deck. It identifies each vessel and should be visible at distances at sea and in the air. The
requirements affect western Pacific pelagic longline vessels, pelagic troll and handline
vessels, pelagic squid jig vessels, crustacean (lobster and deepwater shrimp) fishing
vessels, bottomfish fishing vessels, precious coral fishing vessels, and coral reef ecosystem
fishing vessels. Hawaii and Northern Mariana Islands bottomfish vessels in compliance
with state/territory registration and marking requirements are exempt. Vessels with federal
Pacific Highly Migratory Species permits (albacore trollers and some longliners) are
currently exempt. Regulations in 50 CFR part 665.16 specify the requirements for the
vessel identification.
Domestic fishing vessels used to fish for highly migratory species on the high seas in the
Western and Central Pacific Convention (WCPFC) Area with a WCPFC Area
Endorsement, or required to have an Area Endorsement, must be marked with their IRCS
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number on both sides of the hull or superstructure and on a weather deck. Most of the
western Pacific pelagic longline and tuna purse seine vessels would be subject to this
requirement, per 50 CFR part 300, Subpart O. The identification numbers must meet size
and color requirements specified in regulations in 50 CFR part 300.
In the South Pacific tuna purse seine fishery regulated under 50 CFR part 300 Subpart D,
the IRCS number must be painted on both sides of the hull or superstructure and on the
deck as specified in 50 CFR part 300. The IRCS number also must be painted on the side
of any auxiliary equipment such as skiffs and helicopters.
The identification number provides law enforcement personnel with a means to monitor
fishing, at-sea processing, and other related activities, to ascertain whether the vessel's
observed activities are in accordance with those authorized for that vessel. The identifying
number is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG), and other marine agencies in issuing citations, prosecutions, and other
enforcement actions. Vessels that qualify for particular fisheries are readily identified, and
this allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use the
number to report suspicious activities that they observe. Regulation-compliant fishermen
ultimately benefit as unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome
regulations are avoided.
Gear Identification
Under 50 CFR part 665.804, the operator of each permitted pelagic longline vessel must
ensure that the official number of the vessel is affixed to every longline buoy and float,
including each buoy and float that is attached to a radar reflector, radio antenna, or flag
marker, whether attached to a deployed buoy or possessed on board the vessel. Under 50
CFR parts 665.128, 665.228, 665.246, 665.428, and 665.628, traps and floats on board the
vessel or deployed must be marked with the vessel’s official number.
The regulations further specify how the gear is to be marked (e.g., the location and
legibility of the marking). Gear that is not properly marked is considered unclaimed or
abandoned property that may be confiscated. The identifying number on fishing gear is
used by NMFS, the USCG and other enforcement agencies in issuing gear violations,
prosecutions, and determining that longlines/traps are not illegally placed. Marked gear
allows NMFS and the USCG to more readily enforce gear violations, thus allowing for
more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use the marking to report
placement of occurrence of gear in unauthorized areas. Regulation-compliant fishermen
ultimately benefit as unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome
regulations are avoided.
Although the information collected (vessel and gear identification numbers) is not
confidential it will not be disseminated to the public. There is no reason for doing so. The
information is strictly for enforcement purpose or use by NMFS internally in situations
involving damage, loss, and civil proceedings.

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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 requirement that each vessel display an identification number on its deckhouse or hull,
and its weather deck, does not lend itself to collection of information technology.
Transponders and vessel monitoring system units are comparatively expensive and their
signals cannot be accessed directly by the USCG in the air or by its vessels at this time.
Similarly, gear identification does not lend itself to collection of information technology.
No other technology appears to be less costly and still capable of providing the necessary
information to support enforcement.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
There is no duplication with other collections.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities,
describe the methods used to minimize burden.
Most of the vessels are categorized as small businesses. The collection of information will
not have a significant impact on these small businesses, and no special modifications of
the requirements were considered necessary to accommodate the needs of these small
businesses.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the
collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The NMFS and USCG could not enforce the fisheries management measures if the
collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
No special circumstances require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent
with the OMB guidelines.
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 soliciting comments was published on March 24, 2011 (76 FR
16610). No comments were received.
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9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are provided.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis
for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
There is no assurance of confidentiality provided. This is public information.
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.
There are no sensitive questions.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
The estimated total number of vessels requiring marking is 295 (228 western Pacific
pelagic longline vessels, 10 Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) pelagic troll & handline
vessels, 1 western Pacific pelagic squid jig vessel, 10 western Pacific bottomfishing
vessels, 2 western Pacific lobster vessels, 1 western Pacific deepwater shrimp vessel, 3
western Pacific precious coral fishing vessels, and 40 South Pacific tuna purse seine
fishing vessels). For all but the purse seine vessels, the burden is estimated at 45 minutes
each (15 minutes for each of three locations on the vessel). For the purse seine vessels, the
burden is estimated at 1 hour and 15 minutes (15 minutes for each of three locations on the
vessel plus 15 minutes each for one skiff and one helicopter).
Also, longline and western Pacific coral reef fishing gear are required to be marked:
Hawaii Longline vessels have 120 gear markings on average, American Samoa and
Western Pacific Longline have 100, and Western Pacific coral reef vessels have 20. Each
gear marking is estimated to take 2 minutes.
The total estimated burden per the table below is: respondents and responses: 295 vessels
plus 26,080 pieces of gear = 26,375 (a decrease of 806, down from 27,181); hours: 241
plus 869 = 1,110 (a decrease of 24, down from 1,134).

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Fishery
Hawaii Longline

Vessels

Unit Time
(min)

Total Time
(min)

Avg. # Gear
Per Vessel

Total
Gear

Unit
Time

Total Time

164

45

7,380

120

19,680

2

39,360

Am. Samoa Longline

60

45

2,700

100

6,000

2

12,000

WP General Longline

4

45

180

100

400

2

800

10

45

450

n/a

n/a

0

0

WP Pelagic Squid Jig

1

45

45

n/a

n/a

0

0

WP Lobster

2

45

90

n/a

n/a

0

0

WP Deep. Shrimp

1

45

45

n/a

n/a

0

0

WP Bottomfish

10

45

450

n/a

n/a

0

0

WP Prec. Coral

3

45

135

n/a

n/a

0

0

40

75

3,000

n/a

n/a

0

0

PRIA Troll & HL

SPTT Purse seine
RESPONSES
HOURS

295

26,080
14,475
(241 hours)

Totals

26,375
52,160
(869 hours)

1,110
hours

The WCPFC Area Endorsement vessel identification requirement is covered by
compliance with western Pacific and SPTT purse seine fishing vessel identification
requirements.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection, excluding the labor costs in Question 12 .
The only cost to respondents is the cost of the paint to apply the vessel’s official number
and gear markings. It is assumed the vessel has paint brushes. At an estimated $150 per
vessel annually, the cost would be $44,250 (an increase of 14,150, up from $30,100).
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
There is no cost to the Federal government.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
Program changes are due to addition of new Federally managed pelagic squid jig and
deepwater shrimp fisheries, deletion of the no-longer active NWHI bottomfish and lobster
fisheries, and adjustment of the fisheries affected by the WCPFC Area Endorsement
marking requirements.
In addition, estimated annualized costs were adjusted for higher costs of supplies,
offsetting a small decrease in costs related to decreased responses.

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16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation
and publication.
No results are 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.
Not Applicable.

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

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