The rule would modify the existing
information required on the catch report form to include specific
information in the event that a whale shark is encircled in a purse
seine net in the area of application of the Convention on the
Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the
Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention Area). The additional
required information would be detailed in an instruction sheet
provided by the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Administrator to
owners and operators of U.S. purse seine vessels licensed under the
South Pacific Tuna Treaty and would consist of the following: (1)
the number of whale sharks encircled in a given set; (2) a brief
description of any conditions or circumstances that might have led
to the encirclement; (3) a brief description of the steps taken to
ensure safe release of the whale shark(s); and (4) whether each of
the animals was alive or dead upon release. The existing catch
report form would remain unchanged and the instruction sheet would
specify the format in which the new information must be recorded on
the existing catch report form. In the event that a whale shark
encirclement occurs, the rule would require respondents to add the
above information to the existing catch report form.
For catch reports that include
whale shark encirclement reports, an additional 10 minutes will be
added. This makes an average of 2 minutes more per response, and
adds a total of 7 hours to this collection.
$14,858
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Thomas Graham
8089442219
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.