The Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for
the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico was amended by a Framework
Action (Proposed Rule 0648-BD41) to modify the funding for the
mandatory electronic logbook program. Owners and operators of
permitted vessels, if selected by the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), are required to have a newer electronic logbook
(ELB) unit installed on their vessel. The newer ELBs automatically
record vessel position information, which is then transmitted to
NMFS and used to estimate catch-per-unit-effort for the trip at
various fishing locations.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
Adjustment: The number of
respondents and responses changes for this collection. As stated
above, the Gulf shrimp fishery requires a limited-access federal
permit, and there is a moratorium on new federal Gulf shrimp
permits until October 26, 2026. As of December 1, 2016, the maximum
number of vessels that could be active and have an ELB unit on
board at any one time is 1,441. This is also the number of
respondents and total annual responses. A vessel with an ELB unit
is required to participate in the data collection program each year
if the permit holder participates in the Gulf shrimp fishery.
Therefore, the number of responses potentially required is 1,441.
Estimates of annual time burden of 3 hours, including
troubleshooting problems with billing issues associated with the
data transmission or for the installation or functionality of the
ELB unit result in a new total of 4,323 hours. Estimates of annual
cost burden for data transmission is revised based upon the maximum
number of respondents and results in a new total of $345,840.
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.