This information collection consists of a mandatory annual vessel permit program for commercial, recreational, and charter/headboat Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries, and mandatory dealer permits for the purchase of HMS from vessels and international trade of several HMS. These permits provide the basis for catch monitoring and collection of catch and effort statistics in these fisheries as required under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Such information is essential for the United States (U.S.) to meet its reporting obligations to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). This collection is revised by removing two HMS vessel permits and by adding the collection of an International Maritime Organization/Lloyd's Registry (IMO/LR) number to the permit application for commercial HMS vessels ⥠20 meters (65' 7") in length.
NMFS does not currently provide public access to HMS ITP permit holder information and the statement above has not been included in previous versions of the application. Under this change request, NMFS proposes to add the statement identified above to the HMS ITP permit application. In the near future, NMFS plans make name and address information for HMS ITP permit holders publicly available. There would not be any increase in respondents or reporting burden as a result of this change.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
US Code:
16 USC 971
Name of Law: Atlantic Tuna Conventions Act
Program changes:
Since the last action under this OMB Control No., NMFS has removed two vessel permits (Smoothhound Shark permit and Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit) from this collection. These permits were removed because they will be, or are currently, covered under OMB Control No. 0648-0205, Southeast Region Permit Family of Forms (Smoothhound Shark permit) and OMB Control No. 0648-0202, Greater Atlantic (Northeast) Region Permit Family of Forms (Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit). The total number of responses, hours, and recordkeeping/reporting costs removed due to these program changes are 4,079 responses; 2,020 hours; and $2,040.00 recordkeeping/reporting costs.
Also, since the last action under OMB Control No. 0648-0327, NMFS has added a requirement for the owners of vessels ⥠20 meters to obtain an IMO/LR number. The total number of responses, hours, and recordkeeping/reporting costs added due to this program change are 50 responses; 25 hours; and $0.00 recordkeeping/reporting costs.
TOTAL PROGRAM CHANGES: (-) 4,029 Responses; (-) 1,995 Hours; (-) $2,040 Recordkeeping/reporting costs.
Adjustments:
For permits now in this collection, several adjustments are being requested. These adjustments are based primarily upon the actual number of initial permit applications and renewals received by NMFS in 2014, and/or anticipated to be received by NMFS in the future.
TOTAL ADJUSTMENT CHANGES: (+) 863 Responses; (-) 1,541 Hours; (+) $17,306 Recordkeeping/reporting costs.
In summary, the overall number of respondents/responses and burden hours associated with this information collection has decreased due to the removal of the Smoothhound Shark permit and the Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit. Those two permits were previously determined to be free of charge, so their costs were minimal ($2,040). The primary reason that recordkeeping/reporting costs increase is because the number of Atlantic Tunas, HMS Charter/headboat, HMS Angling, Purse Seine limited access, and Swordfish General Commercial initial permit applications and renewals are expected to increase modestly by 863 permits. Based upon data from recent years, NMFS has decreased the number of initial permit applications and increased the number of permit renewals. Because these permits cost $20 each, recordkeeping/reporting costs for this collection also increase ((863 * $20.00) - $2,040 = $15,220).
CURRENTLY APPROVED: 41,261 Responses; 11,843 Hours; $738,918 Recordkeeping/reporting costs.
REQUESTED: 38,095 Responses; 8,307 Hours; and $754,184 Recordkeeping/reporting costs.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Margo Schulz-Haugen 301 713-0234
Reginfo record details
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.
Initial vessel permit application - Atlantic tunas, HMS charter/headboat