The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) manages the capacity reduction loans issued in accordance
with fishing capacity reduction programs to prevent or end
overfishing, rebuild stocks of fish, or achieve measurable or
significant improvements in the conservation and management of the
fishery. Under the authority of section 312(b) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Secretary may buy back vessels and/or
fishing permits in order to obtain the maximum sustained reduction
in fishing capacity at the least cost and in a minimum period of
time. Funding for such programs is authorized under Section 312(c)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and allows NMFS to obtain funding under
authorization of the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act, through specific
appropriations, from industry fee systems, and from public,
private, or non-profit sources.
PL:
Pub.L. 104 - 297 312 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act
Adjustments: Our figures from
the previous PRA approval have been adjusted to reflect our actual
experience based on averaged data from the programs listed in
Question 12 above. Our practical experience indicates that only one
implementation plan per year for industry-funded buybacks in a
federal or state fishery is likely rather than one in each a
federal and a state fishery as previously estimated. Consequently
the number of annual reports being provided has not increased as
previously estimated. Originally, fish tickets were going to be
submitted to the buyback program, but we have instead been able to
fully rely on the state fish ticket process and use the data
already being provided under their regulations, so no additional
burden has occurred as previously estimated. It is possible future
buyback programs will not be for fisheries having state fish
tickets, and will require an additional line item on fish tickets
and 10 minutes for that modification has been provided in the
current estimates, based on fish ticket submission being required
for half of the new programs. New estimate: 3,600 responses and 600
hours, down from 6,600 responses and 1,100 hours. Seller/buyer
reports are now estimated to average 10 per year, down from 112,
with an average of 49 hours, down from 224. This decrease was
partially offset by increasing the time per response to four hours,
up from the previous 2 hours estimated, as that was determined to
be too low an estimate. There was an increase in the number of
monthly buyer fee collection reports due to the large number of
fish buyers in the Pacific Coast Groundfish program in comparison
to the other three programs: 3,010, up from 1,296 and related
hours: 6,020, up from 2,592. The net decrease in responses is 2,668
(7,969, down from 10,637) and in hours, 9,005 (18,923, down from
27,928). Estimated average costs have increased by a net of $24,
due mainly to monthly buyer fee collection reports and a postage
increase.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Liz Ryan 301 427-8777
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.
Buyer (or seller) monthly reports
0376 Supporting Statement 021412 rev.doc
Fishing Capacity Reduction Program Implementation Plans