Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

ATLANTIC MACKEREL, SQUID AND BUTTERFISH AMENDMENT 14

FAMILY OF FORMS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0679

This request is to merge OMB Control No. 0648-0601, Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Amendment 10 into OMB Control No. 0648-0679, Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Amendment 14 Family of Forms.

OMB Control No. 0648-0679 was developed in 2013, in conjunction with Final Rule 0648-AY26, Amendment 14 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) FMP (Amendment 14). Amendment 14 was developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to improve catch monitoring for MSB fisheries and to address incidental catch of river herring and shad through responsible management. Respondents include all those associated with OMB Control No. 0648-0601.

OMB Control No. 0648-0601 was developed in 2009, in conjunction with Amendment 10, implemented by Final Rule 0648-AY00: 1) implementing a rebuilding program that allows the butterfish stock to rebuild, and permanently protects the long-term health and stability of the stock; and 2) minimizing bycatch, and the fishing mortality of unavoidable bycatch, to the extent practicable, in the MSB fisheries. Amendment 10 also established a 72-hour trip notification requirement for the longfin squid fishery to facilitate the placement of observers on longfin squid trips. This collection was revised by Amendment 11, implemented by Final Rule 0648-AX05. The purpose of the revision was to implement a limited access program for the Atlantic mackerel (mackerel) fishery. Information collection requirements now include the mackerel limited access permit application and related processes.

The information collection requirements for OMB Control No. 0648-0679 already apply to all respondents originally under OMB Control No. 0648-0601; however, requirements developed under OMB Control No. 0648-0601 will continue to apply only to its original subset of respondents. Thus, the total number of respondents for OMB Control No. 0648-0679 will not change, but all responses, hours and costs from OMB Control No. 0648-0601 will be added, with the exception of the mackerel limited access initial permit and the permit appeal, both no longer applicable.

This request will add 10,567 responses, 527 hours and $258,927, resulting in new totals of 52,271 responses, 4,006 hours, and $642,311.

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