This information collection consists of a mandatory catch reporting program in the recreational fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna, Atlantic swordfish, Atlantic blue marlin, Atlantic white marlin, and Atlantic sailfish and a new requirement for shark reporting in Maryland. Anglers harvesting these species must report through a toll-free telephone system or an Internet site, or through landing card programs administered by some states. Catch monitoring and collection of catch and effort statistics in these fisheries are required under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The information collected through this program is essential for the United States to meet its reporting obligations to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and to assure the harvest of these species remains within ICCAT required quotas and landings limits.
This request would add 190 responses and 32 hours for a pilot Puerto Rico reporting program.
Program changes:
An increase in number of respondents (267) and hours (45) is due to the expansion of the Maryland catch card program to include sharks.
The Puerto Rico Billfish Landing Card Pilot has been completed and the decision has not yet been made to implement it permanently or not. This removes 190 responses and 32 hours.
Adjustment:
A decrease in number of respondents has occurred in recent years for the approved information collection (1,310 fewer responses and 100 fewer hours).
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.