This is a resubmission with the final
rule 0648-BE83. Gear-marking requirements assist National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) in obtaining detailed information about
which fisheries or specific parts of fishing gear are responsible
for the incidental mortality and serious injury of right, humpback,
and fin whales. Generally, only a portion of gear is recovered from
an entangled whale and it is almost impossible to link that portion
of gear to a particular fishery. Therefore, requiring fishermen to
mark surface buoys and the buoy line provides NMFS with an
additional source of information, which could then be used to
determine the gear responsible for and the location of the
entanglement event. The following fisheries are affected by this
information collection: Northeast lobster trap/pot fisheries;
Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fisheries targeting crab (red,
Jonah, and rock), hagfish, finfish (black sea bass, scup, tautog,
cod, haddock, pollock, redfish, and white hake), conch/whelk, and
shrimp; Northeast anchored gillnet; and Northeast drift gillnet.
Only those fishing in waters regulated by the ALWTRP will be
required to gear mark.
US Code:
16 USC
31 Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
Program Change: The proposed
unique gear marking for vessels entering the specified areas adds
2,796 hours and $3,450 annualized burden and cost to the current
totals.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Kate Swails 978
282-8481
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.