Pacific Tuna Fisheries Logbook

OMB Control NO. 0648-0148

Expiration Date: 06/30/2017

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Seiner Fishing Record and Bridge Log

Supplemental Instructions to U.S. Purse Seine Operators

Whale shark encirclement reporting

The owner and operator of a purse seine fishing vessel of the United States that encircles a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) while fishing commercially in the Convention Area must ensure that the incident is recorded in the comment section of this Seiner Fishing Record and Bridge Log.

The Log must describe, among other things:

1. The number of individual whale sharks with which the vessel interacted

2. Details of how and why the encirclement happened

3. Where the encirclement occurred

4. Steps taken to ensure safe release

5. An assessment of the life status of the whale shark upon release (including whether the animal was released alive, but subsequently died).

The information listed above can be written in either the “Remarks’, ‘Observations’, or ‘Additional Comments’ sections of the Log as space allows.

Public reporting burden for whale shark interaction reporting is estimated to average ten minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to NMFS West Coast Region, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802 and by e-mail to [email protected], or fax to (202) 395-7285.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.