The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) proposes to collect information about fishing expenses and
catch distribution (the share of fish that is sold, retained for
home consumption, directed to customary exchange, etc.) for the
Mariana Archipelago small boat-based reef fish, bottomfish, and
pelagic fisheries with which to conduct economic analyses that will
improve fishery management in those fisheries; satisfy NMFS’ legal
mandates under Executive Order 12866, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the
National Environmental Policy Act; and quantify achievement of the
performances measures in the NMFS Strategic Operating Plans.
Respondents will include small boat fishers in Mariana Archipelago
(Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) and
their participation in the economic data collection will be
voluntary. These data will be used to assess how fishermen will be
impacted by and respond to regulations likely to be considered by
fishery managers.
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.