0272 Ss (bf42) 032316

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ALASKA PACIFIC HALIBUT AND SABLEFISH FISHERIES

INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTAS (IFQs)

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0272

This action requests revision of this existing information collection due to an associated rule [RIN 0648-BF42].

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Region manage fishing for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) through regulations established under the authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982. The IPHC promulgates regulations governing the halibut fishery under the Convention between the United States and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.

The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (Council), under the authority of the Halibut Act (with respect to Pacific halibut) and the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as amended in 2006 (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (with respect to sablefish), manages the fixed gear Pacific halibut and sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program. The IFQ Program provides a limited access system for Pacific halibut in Convention waters in and off Alaska and sablefish fisheries in waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska. Regulations implementing the IFQ Program are set forth at 50 CFR part 679.

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) is managed as a groundfish species under Fishery Management Plans, as well as under the IFQ Program for the Fixed-Gear Commercial Fisheries for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in Waters in and off Alaska (IFQ Program) that allocates sablefish and Pacific halibut harvesting privileges among U.S. fishermen. Pacific halibut is not an FMP species.

This analysis of management measures applies exclusively to the sablefish IFQ fishery in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The measures include: (1) redefine legal gear to include pot longline gear, subject to a pot limit enforced by pot-identification tags, (2) require that pot longline gear be moved or tended within a certain amount of time after being set, or removed from the fishing grounds when making a sablefish delivery, (3) require marking of pot longline gear, and (4) require retention of Pacific halibut if sufficient IFQ is held by fishermen to cover the halibut IFQ caught using pot longline gear.

The action could minimize whale and seabird interactions with fishing gear, and adverse impacts on the sablefish IFQ fleet from depredation by sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and killer whales (Orcinus orca). Depredation negatively impacts the sablefish IFQ fleet through reduced catch rates and increased operating costs. Depredation also has negative consequences for the whales through increased risk of vessel strike, gear entanglement, and altered foraging strategies. An additional management concern stems from the impact that whale depredation may have on the accuracy of fish stock abundance indices.

Whales are able to strip hooked fish from fishing gear (whale depredation), reducing the amount of sablefish caught by fishermen using hook-and-line gear. Attempts to deter whales from preying on fish caught on hook-and-line gear by various non-lethal means have proven unsuccessful. Depredation negatively impacts the sablefish IFQ fleet through reduced catch rates and increased operating costs. Depredation negatively impacts whales through increased risk of vessel strike, gear entanglement, and altered foraging strategies. Depredation also increases sablefish mortality and the uncertainty of sablefish abundance indices. The use of longline pot gear for sablefish could reduce sperm whale and killer whale interactions with fishing gear in the GOA.

Also, this action could minimize potential IFQ sablefish fishery interactions with seabirds in the GOA by allowing fishermen to choose to use longline pot gear instead of hook-and-line gear. Many seabird species are attracted to fishing vessels using hook-and-line gear in order to forage on bait, offal, discards, and other prey made available by fishing operations. These interactions can result in direct mortality for seabirds. The use of pot gear will also reduce the incidental take of seabirds. Reducing fishery interactions with whales and seabirds would reduce the unaccounted mortality of sablefish, and improve catch rates and efficiency of the IFQ sablefish fleet.

Measures specific to management areas would limit the number of longline pots that may be used on a vessel and the amount of time longline pot gear may be left on the fishing grounds before it must be moved by the vessel. Vessel operators would be required to specifically mark longline pot gear, use a vessel monitoring system, complete logbooks, and declare the fishing status of the gear prior to landing their catch. In addition, to minimize the mortality of halibut, fishermen would be required to retain legal-size halibut caught incidentally in longline pot gear provided they hold sufficient halibut IFQ.

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

This action would allow fishermen to use longline pot gear to harvest sablefish and incidentally caught halibut in the GOA. Fishermen proposed using longline pot gear in the GOA because it is less prone to whale depredation than the currently used hook-and-line gear. Whale depredation damages hook-and-line gear, reduces sablefish catch rates, and as a result a fishing operation’s efficiency decreases while costs increase. This action is necessary to minimize fishery interactions with whales and seabirds, reduce the negative impacts of whale depredation on the sablefish IFQ fleet, and improve estimates of sablefish mortality used in stock assessment.

2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.

a. Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL) (REVISED)

The operator of any vessel making an IFQ landing must submit a PNOL to NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), Data Clerk, no fewer than 3 hours before landing IFQ halibut, Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) halibut, or IFQ sablefish,

unless permission to commence an IFQ landing within 3 hours of notification is granted by a clearing officer.

Vessel operators use the telephone to submit a PNOL to the OLE Data Clerks who type the data directly into the system. The system generates a PNOL confirmation number which the Data Clerk provides to the fisher.

The PNOL alerts OLE personnel and IPHC monitoring personnel to a legal landing. In addition, the submittal of a PNOL allows OLE:

♦ to query the IFQ data center to determine if the permit holder has enough IFQ pounds

available in the account to cover the amount being landed;

♦ to observe the offload; and

♦ to monitor longline pot gear retrieval in the GOA.

Data on gear type are necessary to ensure compliance with the PNOL requirement, because some reporting exemptions are gear-based.

♦ Halibut. An IFQ halibut landing of 500 lb or less of IFQ weight and concurrent with a legal landing of salmon harvested using hand troll gear or power troll gear is exempt from the PNOL

♦ Lingcod. An IFQ halibut landing of 500 lb or less of IFQ weight and concurrent with a legal landing of lingcod harvested using dinglebar gear is exempt from the PNOL.

IPHC uses gear type data to assist with harvest monitoring. NMFS and the Council use gear information to project bycatch rates for non-IFQ fish in the IFQ fishery and support analyses for seasonal apportionments and other allocation proposals.

Deadlines:

Submit a PNOL no fewer than 3 hours before landing IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish, unless permission to commence an IFQ landing within 3 hours of notification is granted by a clearing officer.

If making an IFQ landing before the date and time (Alaska local time) reported in an original PNOL or later than 2 hours after the date and time (A.l.t.) reported in the PNOL must submit a new PNOL.

Prior notice of landing (PNOL)

Toll-free telephone call to OLE

Vessel information

Vessel name

ADF&G vessel registration number

Landing information

Date and time (24 hr) that the landing will take place

Port of landing and port code

Exact location of landing within the port

(dock name, harbor name, facility name, or geographical coordinates)

Species (halibut or sablefish)

Estimated weight (lb)

IPHC regulatory area(s) of harvest

Permit numbers (CDQ or IFQ)

If vessel is using longline pot gear,

number of pots fished

number of pots lost

number of pots remaining on the fishing grounds and fishing

Comments

Changed number of respondents from 100 to 315. Changed responses from 4 per year to 5 per year. Changed time to complete from 12 minutes to 15 minutes.

Prior notice of landing, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 5 Total Time burden (393.75) Time per response = 15 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 394) Total miscellaneous cost Submit by toll-free telephone	315 1,575 394 hr $14,578 0

Prior notice of landing, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Time per response = 15 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x394) Total miscellaneous cost	1,575 394 hr $14.578 0

b. Application for Eligibility to Receive QS/IFQ by Transfer [UNCHANGED]

Quota share (QS) represents a harvesting privilege for a person. Annually, NMFS issues IFQ quota to QS holders to harvest specified poundage. The specific amount of IFQ held by a person is determined by the number of QS units held, the total number of QS units issued in a specific regulatory area, and the total pounds of sablefish or halibut allocated for the IFQ fisheries in a particular year.

An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. corporation, partnership, or other non-individual business entity to receive QS/IFQ by transfer. Those persons applying to receive QS or IFQ by transfer must submit this application to obtain a Transfer Eligibility Certificate (TEC).

To be eligible, persons must have 150 or more days of experience working as part of a harvesting crew in any U.S. commercial fishery. Work in support of harvesting but not directly related to it is not considered harvesting crew work. A person applies for eligibility only once.

An application for eligibility may be submitted to NMFS

by mail to: NMFS Alaska Region

Restricted Access Management (RAM)

P.O. Box 21668

Juneau, AK 99802-1668

by delivery to: NMFS (RAM)

Room 713, Federal Building

709 West 9th Street

Juneau, AK

Fax submittal of the application is not acceptable due to the Notary requirements.

Application for Eligibility to Receive QS/IFQ

Block A – Applicant Information

Name and NMFS Person ID

Taxpayer ID No. (Employer ID No. or SSN)

Business mailing address (indicate whether permanent or temporary)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

If applicant is a U.S. citizen, enter date of birth

If applicant is a U.S. corporation, partnership, association, or other non-individual business entity,

enter date of incorporation\

If a resident of Adak, Alaska, enter date residency began

Block B – Freezer Shares

If this TEC is for an entity that intends to buy or lease only category A QS

and participant is a corporation, partnership, association, or other non-individual entity,

attach QS holder: Identification of Ownership Interest form.

Block C – Commercial Fishing Experience

Species

Gear type

Location

Begin date and end date of fishing experience

Number of actual days spent harvesting fish

Duties performed while directly involved in the harvesting of fish

Vessel name

Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) vessel registration number or

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) documentation number of vessel

Name of vessel owner and name of operator

Reference

Name

Relationship to applicant

Business mailing address and business telephone number

Block D – Notary Certification

Printed name and signature of applicant and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization

Notary Public signature, commission expiration date, and notary stamp or seal

Application for Eligibility to Receive QS/IFQ, Respondent
Total number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time per response = 2 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 44) Total miscellaneous cost (123.20) Postage (0.45 x 22 = 9.90) Photocopy (0.05 x 3pp x 22 = 3.30) Notary (5 x 22 = 110)	22 22 44 hr $1,628 $123

Application for Eligibility to Receive QS/IFQ, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 11) Total miscellaneous costs	22 11 hr $407 0

c. Quota Share (QS) Holder: Identification of Ownership Interest [UNCHANGED]

This form must be submitted annually to NMFS by corporations, partnerships, associations, and other non-individual entities that hold QS.

The information requested herein is needed by NMFS to determine compliance with IFQ program requirements, including:

♦ Limitations on Use of QS and IFQ.

This information is needed to determine if persons who hold QS have exceeded their allowable use limits under the “individually and collectively” language set out in the IFQ regulations at 50 CFR 679.42(e) and (f); and,

♦ Changes in corporations or partnerships.

This information is also needed to determine if a corporation or partnership that holds catcher vessel QS has changed (i.e., the addition of a new member).

♦ Identify first-time applicants.

♦ Affirm an entity’s continuing existence.

♦ Ensure corporations and partnerships are not erroneously issued annual IFQ resulting from the collectively held QS.

♦ Indirect ownership of vessels for purposes of the hired master provisions of the IFQ Program.

An entity must notify NMFS of any change within 15 days of its effective date and must then transfer its QS to a qualified individual.

Proof of vessel ownership must be submitted by non-individual respondents each year. Federal regulations at 50 CFR 679.42(i) and (j) define acceptable proof of ownership as:

♦ For a documented vessel, owns a minimum 20–percent interest in the vessel as shown by the U.S. Abstract of Title issued by the USCG that lists the permit holder as an

owner and, if necessary to prove the required percentage ownership, other written documentation;

♦ For an undocumented vessel, owns a minimum 20–percent interest in the vessel as shown by a State of Alaska vessel license or registration that lists the permit holder as an owner and, if necessary to show the required percentage ownership interest,

An ownership interest application may be submitted to NMFS

by mail to: NMFS Alaska Region

Restricted Access Management (RAM)

P.O. Box 21668

Juneau, AK 99802-1668

by delivery to: NMFS (RAM)

Room 713, Federal Building

709 West 9th Street

Juneau, AK

by fax to: (907) 586-7354

Applications submitted via fax will be accepted only if the faxed copy is legible

QS Holder form: Identification of Ownership Interest

Block A – Identification of QS holder

Name of QS holder

Indicate whether this business is a publicly held corporation

If a corporation, association, partnership, or other non-individual entity

indicate whether still active

If an estate that has been probated, provide date probate was finalized

Block B – Identification of Members, Shareholders, Partners, Joint Ventures, Successors-In-Interest

If ownership consists of separate or additional corporations or partnerships, the individual owners of those entities and the percentage of interest those individuals hold in their respective corporations/partnerships must be listed

Name of owner(s)

Percent of interest held

Indicate whether ownership percentages represent the addition of any new owners since QS was initially issued

Block C – Certification

Printed name and signature of applicant and date signed

Former change request removed notary public certification and added fax submittal.

QS Holder Form: Identification of Ownership Interest, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time per response = 2 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 320) Total miscellaneous cost (504.25) Postage (0.45 x 85 = 38.25) Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 160 = 16) Fax ($6 x 75 = 450)	160 160 320 hr $11,840 $504

QS Holder Form: Identification of Ownership Interest, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Time per response = 1 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 160) Total miscellaneous costs	160 160 hr $5,920 0

d. Application for IFQ/CDQ hired master permit [UNCHANGED]

A hired master permit is required for harvest of IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut on behalf of a permit holder. Non-individual IFQ permit holders (corporations, partnerships, associations, and other non-individuals) must designate a hired master to fish their IFQ or obtain a permit to access their account.

To obtain a hired master, non-individual permit holders must own (either directly or indirectly) at least 20 percent of the vessel upon which their hired master will fish the IFQ. The applicant must complete a separate application for each vessel, each IFQ permit number, and each CDQ permit number.

To demonstrate percent of vessel ownership by IFQ permit holder -- documentation of ownership must be included with this application, except for Category A IFQ permit holders and CDQ permit holders.

♦ Proof of vessel ownership by the IFQ permit holder:

▪ For USCG documented vessels, a complete copy of the USCG Abstract of Title

▪ For an undocumented vessel, a copy of the State of Alaska vessel license or registration

♦ If the IFQ permit holder is not the person named on the USCG Abstract of Title or State of Alaska vessel license or registration, documentation establishing indirect ownership such as corporate annual reports, meeting minutes, stock certificates, etc.

The application for a hired master permit may be submitted by mail, fax, or delivery.

Application for IFQ/CDQ Hired Master Permit

Block A – Purpose of application

Indicate if adding or removing hired master

Indicate whether the hired master permit should be mailed directly to the hired master

Indicate permit number(s) and categories to which this action applies

Block B – IFQ/CDQ Permit Holder Information

Name and NMFS person ID

Business mailing address (indicate whether temporary or permanent)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block C – Identification of Vessel upon which IFQ/CDQ Halibut or Sablefish Will be Fished

Vessel name, length overall, ADF&G vessel registration number, and USCG documentation number of vessel

If IFQ permit holder holds an ownership interest of at least 20% in the named vessel, attachments are required

Block D – Hired Master Information

Name and NMFS person ID

Business mailing address (indicate whether temporary or permanent)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block E – Certification of Permit Holder

Signature and printed name of applicant, and date signed

If representative, attach authorization

Application for IFQ/CDQ Hired Master Permit, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden (663.50) Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 664) Total miscellaneous cost (879.70) Postage (0.45 x 1300 = 585) Fax ($6 x 27 = 162) Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 1327 = 132.70)	1,327 1,327 664 hr $13,875 $880

Application for IFQ/CDQ Hired Master, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 664) Total miscellaneous cost	1,327 664 hr $13,875 0

d. Application for IFQ/CDQ Registered Buyer Permit [UNCHANGED}

A Registered Buyer permit authorizes the person identified on the permit to receive and make an IFQ landing by an IFQ permit holder or IFQ hired master permit holder and a CDQ halibut landing by a CDQ permit holder or CDQ hired master permit holder.

A Registered Buyer permit is non-transferable, issued annually, on request, and at no cost. Many Registered Buyers hold more than one permit.

A Registered Buyer permit is required of:

♦ Any person who receives IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish from the person(s) who harvested the fish.

♦ Any person who harvests IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish and transfers such fish in a dockside sale, outside of an IFQ regulatory area, or outside the State of Alaska.

♦ A vessel operator who submits a Departure Report (see § 679.5(l)(4)).

NOTE: NMFS does not issue a Registered Buyer permit to entities receiving IFQ Pacific halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ Pacific halibut at locations outside Alaska. In such cases, the vessel operator must be a Registered Buyer.

A Registered Buyer permit is issued on a 3 year cycle and is in effect from the first day of the year for which it is issued or from the date of issuance, whichever is later, through the end of the current NMFS 3-year cycle, unless it is revoked, suspended, surrendered, or modified.

An application may be submitted to NMFS by mail, fax, delivery, or online.

If the application is submitted online using an electronic application available on the NMFS Alaska Region website at

https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login

The NMFS Person ID, password, and transfer key take the place of a signature and certify that all information is true, correct, and complete.

Application for Registered Buyer Permit

If requesting a permit renewal, enter Registered Buyer permit number

Block A -- Applicant Identification

Name and NMFS Person ID of Registered Buyer

Name of contact person

Business mailing address (indicate whether permanent or temporary)

Physical location of facility

Business telephone number, business fax number, and e-mail address

Block B – Type of Activity

Check all activities that apply

Block C – Signature

Signature and printed name of applicant or authorized representative and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization

Changed online cost from 0.05 to 0. Changed by previous change request from once-every-three years to annual cycle defined as March 1 through the end of February of the next calendar year.

Application for Registered Buyer Permit, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 145) Total miscellaneous cost (97.25) Postage (0.45 x 85 = 38.25) Fax ($6 x 5 = 30) Online (0. x 200 = 0) Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 290 = 29)	290 290 145 hr $5,365 $97

Application for Registered Buyer Permit, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden (48.50) Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 145) Total miscellaneous cost	290 145 hr $5,365 0

e. QS/IFQ Designated Beneficiary Form [UNCHANGED]

Quota Share (QS) holders may provide NMFS with the name of a designated beneficiary to receive survivorship transfer privileges in the event of the QS holder’s death. If the QS holder does not leave a surviving spouse, he/she may name an immediate family member to be the beneficiary.

NMFS allows the transfer of IFQ only (lease) of any QS/IFQ transferred to the beneficiary by right of survivorship, for a period of 3 years following the death of the original QS holder. This information is necessary to provide temporary transfer privileges to families of deceased QS holders in the absence of a surviving spouse.

A designated beneficiary form may be submitted to NMFS by mail or delivery. Fax submittal is not acceptable due to the Notary requirements.

QS/IFQ Designated Beneficiary Form

Block A – Identification of QS holder

Name and NMFS Person ID

Business mailing address

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block B – Identification of beneficiary

Name and NMFS person ID

Business mailing address

Business telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address+

Block C – Relationship of Beneficiary to QS Holder

If beneficiary is not the spouse of the QS holder, explain immediate relationship

of the beneficiary to the QS holder

Block D – Signature

Signature and printed name of beneficiary, and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization

Notary Public signature, commission expiration date, and stamp or seal

QS/IFQ Designated Beneficiary Form, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time per response = 30 minutes Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 69) Total miscellaneous cost (765.90) Postage (0.45 x 138 = 62.10) Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 138 = 13.80) Notary (5 x 138 = 690)	138 138 69 hr $2,553 $766

QS/IFQ Designated Beneficiary Form, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 69) Total miscellaneous cost	138 69 hr $2,553 0

f. Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ (includes transfer by sweep-up, see below) [UNCHANGED]

Any person that received Quota Share/Individual Fishing Quota (QS/IFQ) as an Initial Issue or that holds a Transfer Eligibility Certificate (TEC) is eligible to receive QS/IFQ by transfer. IFQ resulting from category B, C, or D QS may not be transferred separately from its originating QS, except as provided in 50 CFR 679.41(k). The IFQ Program does not permit transfer of QS subject to any conditions of repossession or resale to the transferor except by court order, operation of law, or security agreement

An Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ must be approved by NMFS before a person may use IFQ that results from a direct transfer to harvest IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish. Collectively held QS must be transferred to a qualified individual upon any change in a corporation or partnership.

The information required by this application is necessary to ensure that QS and IFQ are transferred in compliance with the regulations governing the buying and selling of QS and the leasing of IFQ.

If this is a transfer of Catcher Vessel CDQ compensation QS, there is a one-time opportunity at the time of the first transfer to permanently designate the catcher vessel category of the QS being transferred. CDQ compensation QS is QS issued as compensation for halibut and sablefish harvest privileges foregone due to the CDQ Program.

Persons issued CDQ compensation QS in a catcher vessel category and in an IFQ regulatory area in which they do not hold QS other than CDQ compensation QS, may use that CDQ compensation QS on any catcher vessel. This exemption from catcher vessel categories ends upon the first transfer of the CDQ compensation QS. CDQ compensation QS being transferred will be permanently assigned to a specific catcher vessel category as designated by the person receiving the transfer.

An application for transfer may be submitted to NMFS by mail or delivery. Fax submittal is not acceptable due to the Notary requirements.

Application for Transfer of QS and IFQ

Indicate whether transferee has a TEC

Checklist

Use this list to ensure application is complete.

Block A – Identification of Transferor (Seller)

Full name as it appears on QS Holder Summary Report or TEC

NMFS Person ID

Date of birth

Business mailing address (indicate whether permanent or temporary)

Business telephone number, Business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block B – Identification of Transferee (Buyer)

Indicate whether transferee holds a TEC

Name and NMFS Person ID

Date of birth

Business mailing address (indicate whether permanent or temporary)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block C – QS Questions for Transferee

If QS is to be included in a sweep-up, list the QS Group Number on the QS Holder Summary Report into which

this new piece should be combined

If this is a transfer of Catcher vessel CDQ compensation QS and the vessel category was never declared,

indicate the vessel category in which you would like to have your QS issued

Block D – Identification of QS and IFQ to be Transferred

Complete Block D if QS and IFQ are to be transferred together or to transfer QS only.

Whether Halibut or sablefish

IFQ Regulatory area

Vessel category

Number of QS units to be transferred

Transferor IFQ permit number

Start and end serial numbers of QS to be transferred

Indicate whether all remaining pounds for the current fishing year should be transferred

If NO, number of pounds to be transferred

Block E – Transfer of IFQ only

Complete Block E if requesting transfer of IFQ only (applies only to Category A and surviving Spouse IFQ)

Whether Halibut or sablefish

IFQ regulatory area

Number of units to be transferred

Start and end serial numbers of IFQ to be transferred

Actual number of IFQ pounds

Transferor IFQ permit number

Fishing year

Block F – Required Transferor Supplemental Information

Price per unit of QS

Price per pound of IFQ

Total amount paid for the QS/IFQ, including all fees

Reasons for transferring the QS/IFQ (check all that apply)

If a broker is used for this transaction, enter amount paid in brokerage fees or % of total price

Block G – Required Transferee supplemental information

Indicate whether QS/IFQ being purchased will have a lien attached

If YES, name of lien holder

Primary source of financing for this transfer (check one)

How the QS/IFQ was located (check all that apply)

Buyer’s relationship to the QS/IFQ Holder (check all that apply)

If agreement exists to return QS/IFQ to Transferor or other person, or a condition placed on resale, explain

Block H – Certification of Transferor

Printed name and signature of Transferor and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization

Signature, commission expiration date, and stamp of notary

Block I –- Certification of Transferee

Printed name and signature of Transferee and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization.

Signature, commission expiration date, and stamp of notary

Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ by Sweep-up

This application is for use by a person who wishes to combine (sweep-up) two blocks. Blocked QS may be combined into one block if the total amount of QS being combined is less than or equal to established amounts of QS units per area. To be combined, QS must be in the same vessel category, and the resulting block size must not exceed the sweep-up limits.

An application for transfer may be submitted to NMFS by mail or delivery. Fax submittal is not acceptable due to the Notary requirements.

Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ by Sweep-up

Block A – Applicant information

Applicant name and NMFS Person ID

Date of birth

Business mailing address (indicate whether permanent or temporary)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block B –- First Quota Shore Block

Halibut or sablefish

IFQ Regulatory area

Vessel category

Number of QS units to be combined

Start and end serial numbers of QS

Block C –- Second Quota share Block

Halibut or sablefish

IFQ Regulatory area

Vessel category

Number of QS units to be combined

Start and end serial numbers of QS

Block F – Certification of QS Holder

Signature and printed name of QS holder and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization

Signature, commission expiration date, and stamp of notary public

Application for Transfer of QS and IFQ, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time per response = 2 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 784) Total miscellaneous cost (2214.80) Postage (0.45 x 392 = 176.40) Photocopy (0.05 x 4 pp x 392 = 78.40) Notary ($5 x 392 = 1960)	392 392 784 hr $29,008 $2,215

Application for Transfer of QS and IFQ, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden (301.50) Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 196) Total miscellaneous cost	392 196 hr $7,252 0

g. Military Transfer Application [UNCHANGED]

The IFQ military transfer is for use by members of the National Guard and military reserves who are mobilized to active duty. This military transfer of annual halibut and sablefish IFQ to other eligible IFQ recipients allows guardsmen and reservists to accrue some economic benefit from their annual IFQ if unable to harvest halibut or sablefish in the event of a military mobilization affecting a QS holder.

A QS holder may apply for a military transfer by submitting an application to the Alaska Region, NMFS. A military transfer will be approved if the QS holder demonstrates that he or she is unable to participate in the IFQ fishery for which he or she holds QS because of a military mobilization or activation to duty status. A QS holder who has received an approved military transfer may transfer the IFQ derived from his or her own QS to an individual eligible to receive IFQ. Any person that received QS/IFQ as an Initial Issuee or that holds a Transfer Eligibility Certificate (TEC) is eligible to receive QS/IFQ by transfer.

To be eligible to receive a temporary military transfer, a QS holder must:

♦ Be a member of a branch of the U.S. National Guard or other U.S. military reserve.

♦ Possess one or more catcher vessel IFQ permits.

♦ Not qualify for a hired master exception under § 679.42(i). Persons who qualify for a hired master exception are ineligible to receive a temporary military transfer.

The original application must be submitted; an application by fax will not be processed due to notary requirements.

Military Transfer Application

Block A – Qualifying Questions

Indicate if the Transferor (Military) qualifies for a hired master exception

If YES, the military transfer application will be denied

Indicate if the Transferee (Not Military) holds a Transfer Eligibility Certificate (TEC)

If NO, the transferee (buyer) must apply for a TEC

Block B – Attachments

Use this list to determine necessary attachments

Block C -- Transferor (Seller) Information

Full name as it appears on QS Certificate and/or TEC

NMFS Person ID

Birth date of applicant

Business Mailing Address: Include street or P.O. Box number, city, state, and zip code

Indicate whether permanent or temporary.

Temporary only if you want the transfer documentation sent other than to the permanent address.

Business telephone number, business fax number (include area codes), and business E-mail address

Block D -- Transferee (Buyer) Information

Full name as it appears on QS Certificate and/or TEC

NMFS Person ID

Birth date of applicant

Business Mailing Address: Include street or P.O. Box number, city, state, and zip code

Indicate whether permanent or temporary.

Temporary only if you want the transfer documentation sent to other than to the permanent address

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business E-mail address (if any)

Block E – Identification of IFQ to be Transferred

Indicate whether halibut or Sablefish IFQ

IFQ Regulatory Area

Number of Units

Numbered To and From (Serial Numbers are shown on the QS Certificate)

Actual Number of IFQ Pounds

Transferor IFQ Permit Number

Fishing Year

Block F -- Certification Of Transferor

Printed name and signature of transferor and date signed

If completed by a representative, attach authorization

Notary Public Attest, affix Notary Stamp, and provide date commission expires

The Notary Public cannot be the person(s) submitting this application.

Block G - Certification Of Transferee

  Printed name and signature of transferor and date signed

If completed by a representative, attach authorization

Notary Public Attest, affix Notary Stamp, and provide date commission expires

The Notary Public cannot be the person(s) submitting this application.

Military Transfer Application, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time requirement per response = 2 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 2) Total miscellaneous cost (5.55) Postage 0.45 x 1 = 0.45 Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 1 = 0.10 Notary ($5 x 1 = 5)	1 1 2 hr $74 $6

Military Transfer Application, Federal Government
Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden (0.5) Time requirement per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 1) Total miscellaneous cost	1 1 hr $37 0

h. Emergency Medical Transfer Application [UNCHANGED]

QS holders not eligible to hire a Skipper and who (themselves or an immediate family member) have a medical condition preventing them from fishing their catcher vessel IFQ may lease out the IFQ. This provision is intended to allow IFQ to be fished while the QS holder has a short-term medical condition. For this reason, a written declaration from a medical professional is required, and the number of times a person may use a medical transfer for the same medical condition is limited. In evaluating use of this provision, NMFS considers all transfers of a QS holder's IFQ in the same year for the same medical condition to be one "use" of the provision.

The requirement for an individual IFQ permit holder to be aboard the vessel during fishing operations and to sign the IFQ landing report may be waived. An emergency medical transfer may be approved if the applicant demonstrates that he or she is unable to participate in the IFQ fishery for which he or she holds IFQ:

♦ Because of a severe medical condition that precludes participation; or

♦ Because of a severe medical condition involving an immediate family member that requires the IFQ holder’s full time attendance.

To be eligible to receive an emergency medical transfer, an individual halibut or sablefish QS holder:

♦ Must possess one or more catcher vessel IFQ permits.

♦ Must not qualify for a hired master exception.

Although small in number, a substantial percentage of persons who have used medical transfers are initial issuees of QS not otherwise eligible to use a Hired Master (that is, those who held QS only in 2C or southeast or did not own a suitable vessel).

The original application must be submitted; an application by fax will not be processed.

Emergency Medical Transfer Application

Block A – Qualifying Questions

Indicate if the Transferor (Medical condition) qualifies for a hired master exception

If YES, the medical transfer application will be denied

Indicate if the Transferee (No Medical condition) holds a TEC

If NO, the transferee (buyer) must apply for a TEC

Block B – Attachments

Use this list to determine necessary attachments

Block C -- Transferor Information (Medical Condition)

Name of Transferor

NMFS Person ID

Birth date of applicant

Business Mailing Address: Include street or P.O. Box number, city, state, and zip code

Indicate whether permanent or temporary.

Temporary address only if you want the transfer documentation sent to other than the permanent address

Business telephone number, business fax number (include area codes), and business E-mail address

Block D -- Transferee Information (No medical Condition)

Name of Transferee

NMFS Person ID

Birth date of applicant

Business Mailing Address: Include street or P.O. Box number, city, state, and zip code

Indicate whether permanent or temporary.

Temporary address only if you want the transfer documentation sent to other than the permanent address

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business E-mail address (if any)

Block E – Identification of IFQ to be Transferred

Indicate whether halibut or Sablefish IFQ

IFQ Regulatory Area

Number of Units

Numbered To and From (Serial Numbers are shown on the QS Certificate)

Actual Number of IFQ Pounds

Transferor IFQ Permit Number

Fishing Year

Block F – Transferor Supplemental Information

Price per pound, including fees

Total amount paid for the IFQ, including fees

Block G – Transferee Supplemental Information

Primary source of financing for this transfer

Indicate how IFQ was located

Transferee's relationship to the IFQ Holder

Block H – Medical Declaration

Name of Treating Medical Professional

Business Telephone Number

Permanent Business Mailing Address

Type of Medical Professional

Description of the medical condition affecting the applicant or applicant’s family member

(attach documentation of the medical condition and a description of the care required)

Signature of Treating Medical Professional and date signed

Block I –Certification Of Transferor
Printed name and signature of transferor and date signed

If completed by a representative, attach authorization

Notary Public Attest, affix Notary Stamp, and provide date commission expires

The Notary Public cannot be the person(s) submitting this application.

Block J - Certification Of Transferee

  Printed name and signature of transferor and date signed

If completed by a representative, attach authorization

Notary Public Attest, affix Notary Stamp, and provide date commission expires

The Notary Public cannot be the person(s) submitting this application.

Emergency Medical Transfer Application, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time requirement per response = 2 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 188) Total miscellaneous cost (521.70) Postage (0.45 x 94 = 42.30) Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 94 = 9.40) Notary ($5 x 94 = $470)	94 94 188 hr $6,956 $522

Emergency Medical Transfer Application, Federal Government
Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden Time requirement per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 47) Total miscellaneous cost	94 47 hr $1,739 0

i. Application for replacement of certificates, permits, or licenses [UNCHANGED]

This form is used to request a replacement for a certificate, permit, or license that was previously issued by NMFS and that subsequently was lost, destroyed, or stolen.

An application for replacement may be submitted to NMFS by mail, delivery, or fax.

Application for replacement of certificates, permits, or licenses

Block A – Identification of Applicant

Name and NMFS Person ID

Date of birth, if an individual; Date of incorporation, if a corporation, association, partnership, or other

non-individual entity

Business mailing address (indicate whether temporary or permanent)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block B – Replacement Request

Indicate certificate, permit, or license to be replaced (check only items that apply)

Block C – Reason for replacement Request

Check one; if checked “other” describe

Block D – Certification of Applicant

Signature and printed name of applicant and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization

Application for Replacement of Certificates, Permits, or Licenses, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden (12.50) Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 13) Total miscellaneous cost (13.75) Postage (0.45 x 25 = 11.25) Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 25 = 2.50)	25 25 13 hr $481 $14

Application for Replacement of Certificates, Permits, or Licenses, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden (12.50) Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 13) Total miscellaneous cost	25 13 hr $481 0

j. Registered Buyer landing report incl/Manual landing report [UNCHANGED]

A person who is issued a Registered Buyer permit under § 679.4(d)(3) and who receives IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish from an IFQ permit holder or who receives CDQ halibut from a CDQ permit holder at any time during the fishing year is required to use eLandings or other NMFS-approved software to submit landing reports.

A landing of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish may commence only between 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 1800 hours, A.l.t., unless permission to land at a different time is granted in advance by a clearing officer.

Deadline: The User for the Registered Buyer and the IFQ permit holder, IFQ hired master permit holder, or CDQ hired master permit holder must sign and submit the sablefish/halibut IFQ landing receipt within six hours after all IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish are offloaded from a harvesting vessel and prior to shipment or transfer of the fish from the landing site.

The User for a Registered Buyer must enter information for each IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish delivery into eLandings. This report must be submitted through eLandings at https://elandings.atlassian.net/wiki/display/doc/Creating+a+New+Landing+Report

Registered Buyer landing report

UserID and password of person assigned for that system

Landing date (mm/dd/yyyy)

Location (port code) of the landing

Permit number of the IFQ permit holder, and any IFQ hired master permit holder, or CDQ hired master permit holder harvesting the fish and permit number of Registered Buyer receiving the IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut.

Delivery information as reported by the IFQ permit holder, IFQ hired master permit holder,

or CDQ hired master permit holder

Harvesting vessel's ADF&G vessel registration number

Gear code of gear used to harvest IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut

ADF&G fish ticket number(s) for the landing (after the initial eLandings report is submitted, eLandings assigns an ADF&G fish ticket number to the landing report)

ADF&G statistical area of harvest

If ADF&G statistical area is bisected by a line dividing two IFQ regulatory areas, provide the IFQ regulatory area of harvest

Initial accurate scale weight(s) (to the nearest pound) made at the time of offloading for IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut. Includes sold and retained (where retained includes fish intended for personal use, fish weighed and reloaded for delivery to another processor, and fish landed but rejected at the dock by the Registered Buyer).

Species codes, delivery condition code, and disposition code for each ADF&G statistical area of harvest

NOTE: Accurate weight of IFQ sablefish processed product obtained before the offload may be substituted for the initial accurate scale weight at time of offload, if the vessel operator is a Registered Buyer reporting an IFQ sablefish landing

Indicate whether initial accurate scale weight is given with or without ice and slime.

Fish which have been washed prior to weighing or which have been offloaded from refrigerated salt water are not eligible for a 2% deduction for ice and slime and must be reported as fish weights without ice and slime. The 2%t deduction is made by NMFS, not the submitter

Indicate whether IFQ halibut is incidental catch concurrent with legal landing of salmon or concurrent with legal landing of lingcod harvested using dinglebar gear

Signatures for IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish deliveries

Manual landing report

If the Registered Buyer is unable to submit commercial fishery landings of IFQ crab, IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish due to hardware, software, or Internet failure for a period longer than the required reporting time, or a change must be made to information already submitted, the Registered Buyer must complete an IFQ manual landing report. Manual landing instructions must be obtained from NOAA Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), Juneau, AK, at 800-304-4846 (Select Option 1). The use of the manual landing report is a rare event and time and burden are included in the eLandings landing report.

The Registered Buyer must retain paper copies of IFQ manual landing reports and make them available upon request of NMFS observers and authorized officers.

The Registered Buyer must complete all questions on the manual report, even if only one item has changed, and must fax the IFQ manual landing report to 907-586-7313.

Changed number of annual responses from 19.7 to 20. Changed time per response to

12 minutes. Changed Federal table to reflect that this information is submitted electronically and does not require human attention. This report is submitted online through eLandings. No miscellaneous costs occur.

Registered Buyer landing report, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 20 Total Time burden Time per response = 12 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 1160) Total miscellaneous cost Online thru eLandings ( 5,800 x 0 = 0)	290 5,800 1,160 hr $42,920 0

Registered Buyer landing report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

k. IFQ Administrative Waiver

OLE receives a request for an administrative waiver by telephone at a NMFS-provided toll-free number (or, in rare cases, by marine radio) from participants in IFQ fisheries.

A waiver is completed by OLE, Juneau to document a request for an administrative waiver from one of the following requirements. The waiver is granted at the discretion of the clearing officer:

♦ Six-hour Prior of Notice of Landing

Issued to a vessel to land fish before the required 6 hours

♦ 12-hour IFQ Landing Window

Issued to a vessel that lands fish after hours: after 1800 and before 0600

♦ Electronic Landing Report requirement.

Issued due to eLandings failure

♦ IFQ hired master onboard requirement.

Issued for the IFQ hired master to not be on board in extreme personal emergencies

IFQ Administrative Waiver

Toll-free telephone call’ form completed by OLE

Date and time of waiver

Vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number

All IFQ permit numbers

Prior Notice confirmation number (if applicable)

Registered Buyer name and permit number (if applicable)

Requirement being waived.

IFQ Administrative Waiver, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year Total Time burden Time per response = 6 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 40) Total miscellaneous cost	400 400 40 hr $1,480 0

IFQ Administrative Waiver, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Time per response = 6 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 40) Total miscellaneous cost	400 40 hr $1,480 0

l. IFQ Departure Report [UNCHANGED]

A vessel operator who intends to make a landing of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab at any location other than in an IFQ regulatory area for halibut and sablefish or in a crab fishery for CR crab in the State of Alaska must submit an IFQ Departure Report, by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK, (800-304-4846 or 907-586-7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, A.l.t., and 2400 hours, A.l.t.

A vessel operator who intends to make an IFQ landing at a location different from the location named on the IFQ Departure report must submit a revised report naming the new location at least 12 hours in advance of the offload. Revisions must be submitted by telephone, to OLE, Juneau, AK (800-304-4846 or 907-586-7163) between the hours of 0600 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), and 2400 hours, A.l.t.

The IFQ Departure Report is submitted only after completion of all IFQ fishing and prior to departing the waters of the EEZ adjacent to the jurisdictional waters of the State of Alaska, the territorial sea of the State of Alaska, or the internal waters of the State of Alaska.

A vessel operator submitting an IFQ Departure Report

♦ for CR crab must have a Registered Crab Receiver permit.

♦ for IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish must have a Registered Buyer permit and must submit IFQ landing reports for all IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ sablefish on board at the same time and place as the first landing of any IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish.

IFQ Departure report

Intended date, time (Alaska local time), and location of landing

Vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number

Halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and CR crab permit numbers of IFQ

and CDQ permit holders on board

Vessel operator's name

Registered Buyer permit or Registered Crab Receiver permit number

Area of harvest.

If IFQ or CDQ halibut, provide halibut regulatory areas (Figure 15 to 50 CFR part 679)

If IFQ sablefish, provide sablefish regulatory areas (Figure 14 to 50 CFR part 679)

If CR crab, provide CR fishery code (Table 1 to part 680)

Estimated total weight as appropriate of IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish,

or CR crab on board (lb/kg/mt)

IFQ Departure Report, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses = 1 Total Time burden (6.25) Time per response = 15 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 6) Total miscellaneous cost	25 25 6 hr $222 0

IFQ Departure Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden (6.25) Time per response = 15 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 6) Total miscellaneous cost	25 6 hr $222 0

m. Transshipment Authorization [UNCHANGED]

No person may transship processed IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab between vessels without authorization by a local clearing officer. Authorization from a local clearing officer must be obtained for each instance of transshipment at least 24 hours before the transshipment is intended to commence.

The authorization is requested from OLE by telephone at 800-304-4846. The request must be made at least 24 hr before the transshipment is intended to commence.

To obtain a Transshipment Authorization, the vessel operator must provide the following information to the clearing officer.

Transshipment authorization

Time and date of transshipment

Location of transshipment

Name and ADF&G vessel registration number of vessel offloading transshipment

Name of vessel receiving the transshipment

Product destination

Species code and product type code

Total product weight

Time (A.l.t.) and date of request

Name, telephone number, fax number for person making the request

Transshipment Authorization, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 1 Total Time burden (0/2) Time per response = 12 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 4) Total miscellaneous cost	1 1 1 hr $37 0

Transshipment Authorization, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden (0.2) Time per response = 12 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 1) Total miscellaneous cost	1 1 hr $37 0

n. Dockside sales receipt [UNCHANGED]

The purpose of reporting the amount of IFQ fish involved in a dockside sale is to provide OLE with the ability to monitor and inspect the shipment of IFQ fish to determine whether there was proper accounting for all IFQ fish landed.

A person holding a valid IFQ permit, or IFQ hired master permit, and a Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish have been landed and reported.

A person holding a valid halibut CDQ hired master permit and Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of CDQ halibut with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all CDQ halibut have been landed and reported.

A Registered Buyer conducting dockside sales must issue a receipt to each individual receiving IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish in lieu of a product transfer report (see OMB Control No. 0648-0213).

Dockside sales receipt

Date of sale

Registered buyer permit number

Weight by product of the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or sablefish IFQ transferred

Dockside Sales Receipt, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 5 Total Time burden Time per response = 6 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 50) Total miscellaneous cost	200 1,000 100 hr $1,850 0

Dockside Sales Receipt, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total Time burden Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

It is anticipated that the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support publicly disseminated information. NOAA Fisheries will retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.

Forms and applications are “fillable” on the computer screen at the NMFS Alaska Region Home Page at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-applications, except for those forms completed by OLE officers via the telephone. These forms and applications may be completed on the computer screen by the participant, downloaded, printed, and faxed to NMFS.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

None of the information collected as part of this information collection duplicates other collections. This information collection is part of a specialized and technical program that is not like any other.

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

NMFS has defined all IFQ halibut vessels as small businesses, for the purpose of this analysis. This collection of information does not impose a significant impact on small entities

6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.

Without the specified reporting scheme described in this Support Statement, the IFQ Program would be unable to proceed.

The lack of adequate information to manage the IFQ program would result in the fishery management decision-making process being less objective, more political, and potentially less equitable. This would decrease the credibility of the fishery management process and result in an unnecessarily costly and ineffective management system. The cost of making decisions based on inadequate information would adversely affect the viability of the IFQ fishing industry.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

Not Applicable

8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

A proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register Notice coincidentally with this collection to solicit public comments.

9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift will be provided under this program.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

The information collected is confidential under section 303(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); and also under NOAA Administrative Order (AO) 216-100, which sets forth procedures to protect confidentiality of fishery statistics. Assurance of confidentiality under these authorities is stated on all forms.

A Privacy Act System of Records Notice, COMMERCE/NOAA System-19, Permits and Registrations for United States Federally Regulated Fisheries, was published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2008 (73 FR 20914); an amended SORN was published August 7, 2015 (80 FR 47457).

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

This information collection does not involve information of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.

Estimated total respondents: 1,639 (22 Eligible to receive QS/IFQ, 1327 hired master, 290 registered buyer). Estimated total responses: 11,250, up from 9,797. Estimated total burden hours: 3,930 up from 3,162. Estimated total personnel costs: $ 119,511, up from $ 105,165. Personnel labor costs are estimated to the average wage equivalent to a GS-9 employee in Alaska, including COLA, at $37 per hour.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).

Estimated total miscellaneous costs: $5,127, down from $6,704.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.

Estimated total responses: 10,165, up from 8,797. Estimated total burden hours: 2,319, up from 1,931 hr. Estimated total personnel costs: $ 75,110, up from $ 60,754. Personnel labor costs are estimated to the average wage equivalent to a GS-9 employee in Alaska, including COLA, at $37 per hour.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

Program changes

This action would allow fishermen to use longline pot gear to harvest sablefish and incidentally caught halibut in the GOA, because longline pot gear is less prone to whale depredation than the currently used hook-and-line gear.

Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL)

an increase of 215 respondents, 315 instead of 100.

an increase of 1,175 responses, 1,575 instead of 400

an increase of 314 hours, 394 hr instead of 80 hr

an increase of $ 11,618 personnel cost, $ 14,578 instead of $ 3,700.

Adjustments

Registered Buyer permit application

an increase of 193 responses, 290 instead of 97

an increase of 96 hours, 145 hr instead of 49 hr

an increase of $ 4,552 personnel cost, $ 6,365 instead of $ 1,813.

an increase of $ 40 miscellaneous cost, $ 97 instead of $ 57

Registered Buyer landings report (includes manual report)

an increase of 85 responses, 5,800 instead of 5,715

an increase of 358 hours, 1,160 hr instead of 802 hr

an increase of $ 13,346 personnel cost, $ 42,920 instead of $ 29,574

a decrease of $ 1,233 miscellaneous cost, $ 0 instead of $ 1,233

16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.

The information collected will not be published.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.

The OMB Control Number and the expiration date are not found on the PNOL, which is submitted by telephone.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

Not Applicable.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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