This action implements Amendment 106
to the BSAI FMP. This action specifies the conditions under which
the owner of an American Fisheries Act (AFA) vessel can rebuild a
vessel, replace a vessel, and remove a vessel. The purpose of the
proposed action is twofold. First, the BSAI Groundfish FMP and
groundfish regulations need to be brought into compliance with
Section 602 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, which was
signed into law on October 15, 2010 and which amended the AFA.
Currently, the language in both the BSAI Groundfish FMP and
groundfish regulations are not consistent with the AFA as amended
by the Coast Guard Act. To correct these inconsistencies, the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will adopt changes to
bring the BSAI Groundfish FMP and groundfish regulations into
compliance with the AFA as amended by the Coast Guard Act.
Secondly, in complying with Coast Guard Act amendments to the AFA,
the Council is considering measures to prevent newly authorized AFA
rebuilt and replacement vessels from increasing their fishing
effort in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The Coast Guard Act expressly
authorizes the Council to recommend for approval by the Secretary
of Commerce conservation and management measures, including size
limits and measures to control fishing capacity, to ensure that the
Coast Guard Act does not diminish the effectiveness of the fishery
management plan for the BSAI and the GOA. This action intends to
improve the management of Chinook and chum salmon bycatch in the
Bering Sea pollock fishery by creating a comprehensive salmon
bycatch avoidance program. This action is necessary to minimize
Chinook and chum salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery
to the extent practicable while maintaining the potential for the
full harvest of the pollock total allowable catch within specified
prohibited species catch limits. These changes include: revise
salmon retention and handling requirements on catcher vessels;
improve observer data entry and transmission requirements aboard
catcher vessels; clarify the requirements applicable to viewing
salmon in a storage container; and clarifying the requirements for
the removal of salmon from an observer sample area at the end of a
haul or delivery.
PL:
Pub.L. 194 - 265 303(d) Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
US Code: 16
USC 1851 Name of Law: American Fisheries Act
Adjustments Changes were made
to update personnel costs and postage costs. Application to
rebuild, replace, or remove a vessel (corrected) a decrease of $45
miscellaneous costs, $116 instead of $161 Application for AFA Coop
permit an increase of $126 personnel costs, $476 instead of $350
Application for eligibility to receive transferable Chinook salmon
PSC (corrected) an increase of 13 respondents, 15 instead of 2 an
increase of 28 responses, 30 instead of 2 an increase of 224
burden, 240 hr instead of 16 hr an increase of $8,480 personnel
costs, $8,880 instead of $400 an increase of $45 miscellaneous
costs, $48 instead of $3 Application to transfer Bering Sea Chinook
Salmon PSC a decrease of 3 hours, 5 hr instead of 8 hr a decrease
of $15 personnel costs, $185 instead of $200 a decrease of $9
miscellaneous costs, $8 instead of $17 Program changes This action
separates the salmon PSC allocation into two seasons, A and B,
instead of just one allocation and allows transfers to be used to
cover overages (post-delivery transfers). There is no associated
cost or burden change.
$5,479
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Patsy Bearden 907
586-7008
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.