0213 Ss_022018

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ALASKA REGION LOGBOOK AND ACTIVITY FAMILY OF FORMS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0213

Introduction

This action is a request for extension of an existing collection. We are changing the name of the collection from “Alaska Region Logbook Family of Forms” to “Alaska Region Logbook and Activity Family of Forms” to clarify that Check-in/Check-out, Product Transfer, and Vessel Activity are all forms related to different types of activity.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Region manages the groundfish and crab fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) and the groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) under fishery management plans (FMPs) for the respective areas. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council prepared, and NMFS approved, the FMPs under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR parts 679 and 680.

The collection of reliable data is essential to the effective conservation, management, and scientific understanding of the fishery resources. NMFS requires vessels and processors participating in Federally managed groundfish and crab fisheries off Alaska to provide information necessary for conservation and management of the fisheries. The information collected through paper logbooks and other forms promotes the goals and objectives of fishery management plans, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws.

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

This information collection consists of paper logbooks and reports to be submitted by the respondents to NMFS Alaska Region for management of the groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA); for management of the IFQ halibut and sablefish fisheries, and for management of the CR crab fisheries. NMFS must have the best available biological and socioeconomic information with which to carry out its responsibilities for conserving and managing groundfish resources, as well as other fish resources, such as crab, halibut, and salmon, that are incidentally caught in the groundfish fishery.

Collecting information from fishery participants is necessary in order to promote successful management of groundfish, crab, Pacific halibut, and salmon resources. A comprehensive information system which identifies the participants and which monitors their fishing activity is necessary to enforce the management measures and prevent overfishing. An information system is also needed to measure the consequences of management controls. This collection supports an effective monitoring and enforcement system with information that includes: identification of the participating vessels, operators, dealers, and processors; location of the fishing activity; timeframes when fishing and processing is occurring; and shipment and transfer of fishing products.

2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.

All vessels of the U.S. harvesting EEZ fish and shoreside processors, stationary floating processors (SFPs), and motherships receiving EEZ-caught fish are required to hold a Federal permit and thus comply with reporting requirements. Data collected are used for making in-season and inter-season management decisions that affect the groundfish resources and the fishing industry that utilizes them.

There are four collections in the Alaska Region Logbook and Activity Family of Forms: 1) Paper logbooks; 2) Vessel Activity Reports; 3) Check In/Check out Reports; and 4) Product Transfer Reports. In some cases there are several forms within a collection; for example, there are two types of Checkin / Checkout reports: shoreside processor and mothership. Table 1 and the following sections provide more detail on each of the collections and the associated forms.

NOAA will retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review consistent with NOAA’s information quality guidelines.

Table 1. A list of the information collections in the Alaska Logbook and Activity Family of Forms.

Collection Title	Form Name	Regulation part (in 50 CFR)	Who Submits	When Submitted	How Submitted
Paper Logbooks	Catcher vessel trawl gear Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL)	679.5(c)(4)	Operator of a Catcher Vessel	See Table 2	Mail or by hand
	Catcher vessel longline/pot gear Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL)	679.5(c)(3)	Operator of a Catcher Vessel	See Table 2	Mail or by hand
	Catcher/processor longline/pot gear Daily Cumulative Production Logbook (DCPL)	679.5(c)(3)	Operator of a Catcher/Processor	See Table 2	Mail or by hand
Vessel Activity Report	U.S. Vessel Activity Report (VAR)	679.5(k)	Operator of a Catcher Vessel, C/P, or Mothership	Before crossing seaward boundary of EEZ or before crossing US Canadian International boundary	Fax or email
Check-in / Check-out Report	Shoreside Processor Check-in / Check-out Report	679.5(h)	Manager of a shoreside processor or Stationary Floating Processor	Check-in report prior to becoming active and a check-out report for every check-in report submitted	Fax
	Mothership Check-in / Check-out Report	679.5(h)	Operator of a catcher/processor or mothership	Check-in report prior to becoming active and a check-out report for every check-in report submitted	Fax
Product transfer Report	Product Transfer Report	679.5(g)	Operator of a mothership or catcher/ processor Manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor Registered Buyer Registered Crab Receiver	By 1200 Alt of the Tuesday following the week of transfer	Fax or email

1. Paper Logbooks

Daily logbooks are required in the groundfish, crab, and halibut fisheries and information collected on a logbook is necessary to provide data about where and when fishing effort occurs, as well as record discard information of prohibited species. Logbook information is used by NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) during vessel boardings and site visits to ensure conservation of groundfish, compliance to regulations, and reporting accuracy by the fishing industry. The logbooks are also an important source of information for NMFS to determine where (vessel position coordinate) and when fishing activity occurs and the number of sets and hauls.

There are three paper logbook forms:

1. Catcher vessel trawl gear Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL);

2. Catcher vessel Longline/pot gear DFL;

3. Catcher/processor longline/pot gear Daily Cumulative Production Logbook (DCPL).

The logbooks are designed to provide a convenient method to enter information that serves both the business needs of the fishing industry and the data collection requirements of NMFS. Copies of the logbook forms and instructions are available on at: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/rr-log. NMFS also provides electronic logbooks under OMB Control Number 0648-0515 for use by the fishing industry.

There are multiple, self-copy logsheets for each paper logbook page and the operator must distribute each of the logsheets as described in the Table 2.

Table 2. Disposition of the 5 copies of the logbook pages, where they are submitted, and the time limits for submission.

Logsheet Color	Paper Logbook Type			Submit To...	Time Limit
	Catcher Vessel Trawl DFL	Catcher Vessel Longline/ Pot DFL	Catcher /Processor Longline /Pot DCPL
White	X	X	X	Permanent copy stays in logbook
Goldenrod	X	X	X	Observer	After signature of operator and prior to departure of observer from the vessel.
Yellow	X	X		NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement	Quarter 1: May 1 Quarter 2: August 1 Quarter 3: November 1 Quarter 4: Feb 1 of following year
Blue	X	X		Processor that receives the harvest	Within 2 hours after completion of catch delivery
Green	X		X	IPHC	After catch is off-loaded

i. Catcher vessel trawl gear Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL)

The operator of a catcher vessel 60 ft. or greater LOA, that is required to have an Federal Fishing Permit (FFP) under § 679.4(b), and that is using trawl gear to harvest groundfish are required to submit fisheries information to NMFS through use of a paper Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL).

A trawl gear catcher vessel electronic logbook (eLog) (see OMB 0648-0515) is available for optional use instead of the DFL.

The operator must account for each day of the fishing year, January 1 through December 31, in the DFL and indicate whether the vessel was inactive or active during the time period. Table 2 lists all the information that must recorded on one logbook page in the DFL during inactive periods. Table 3 describes all of the information that the operator must enter into the DFL on each active day.

ii. Catcher vessel longline/pot gear Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL)

The requirement to complete and submit a catcher vessel longline/pot Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL) depends on the vessel length, area fished, and fishing year. The operator of a catcher vessel is required required to maintain a DFL when operating a catcher vessel that is:

• 60 ft or greater length overall (LOA) and is required to have an FFP under § 679.4(b) and is using longline or pot gear to harvest groundfish;

• 60 ft or greater LOA and fishing in the GOA using longline gear or longline pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish and when using gear composed of lines with hooks attached, setline gear (IPHC), or longline pot gear to harvest IFQ halibut;

• less than 60 ft LOA and using longline pot gear in the GOA;

• 60 ft or greater LOA and fishing in the BSAI using hook-and-line gear or pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish, and when using gear composed of lines with hooks attached or setline gear (IPHC) to harvest IFQ halibut or CDQ halibut;

• 60 ft or greater LOA, and using pot gear to harvest CR crab from the BSAI.

A longline and pot catcher vessel electronic logbook (eLog) (see OMB Control No. 0648-0515) is available for optional use instead of the DFL.

The operator must account for each day of the fishing year, January 1 through December 31, in the DFL and indicate whether the processor was inactive or active during the time period. Table 2 lists all the information that must recorded on one logbook page in the DFL during inactive periods. Table 3 describes all of the information that the operator must enter into the DFL on each active day.

iii. Catcher/processor longline/pot gear Daily Cumulative Production Logbook (DCPL)

The operator of a catcher/processor that is required to have an FFP under § 679.4(b) and that uses longline or pot gear to harvest groundfish or to harvest IFQ sablefish, IFQ halibut, or CDQ halibut from the GOA or BSAI, uses pot gear to harvest CR crab from the BSAI, or uses longline pot gear to fish IFQ sablefish and IFQ halibut in the GOA must use the catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL to record and report daily processor identification and catch-by-set information.

The operator must account for each day of the fishing year, January 1 through December 31, in the DCPL and indicate whether the processor was inactive or active during the time period. Table 2 lists all the information that must recorded on one logbook page in the DCPL during inactive periods. Table 3 describes all of the information that the operator must enter into the DCPL on each active day.

A longline and pot catcher/processor electronic logbook (eLog) is required for all but 5 catcher/processors (see OMB Control No. 648-0515). The eLog is also available for voluntary use by other catcher/processors.

Table 3. Data fields completed on catcher vessel and catcher/processor paper logbooks on each inactive fishing day. If the inactive time period extends across two or more successive quarters, the operator must complete a logbook page for each inactive quarter. The logbook page created for an inactive quarter must indicate the first and last day of the respective inactive quarter. An X indicates that the field is submitted by the user on the form.

Data Field	Paper Logbook Type
	Catcher Vessel Trawl DFL	Catcher Vessel Longline/Pot DFL	Catcher/Processor Longline/Pot DCPL
Page Number	X	X	X
Operator Printed Name and Signature	X	X	X
Vessel Name	X	X	X
FFP or Federal Crab Vessel permit number	X	X	X
ADF&G Vessel Registration Number	X	X
ADF&G Processor Code			X
Inactive (check-box)	X	X	X
Date of First Day when Inactive	X	X	X
Brief Explanation Why Inactive	X	X	X
Date of Last Day when Inactive	X	X	X

Table 4. Data fields completed on catcher vessel and catcher/processor paper logbooks on each active fishing day. An X indicates that the field is submitted by the user on the form.

Data Field	Paper Logbook Type
	Catcher Vessel Trawl DFL	Catcher Vessel Longline/Pot DFL	Catcher/Processor Longline/Pot DCPL
Page Number	X	X	X
Operator Printed Name and Signature	X	X	X
Name of Vessel	X	X	X
FFP or Federal Crab Vessel permit number	X	X	X
ADF&G Vessel registration number	X	X
ADF&G Processor Code			X
IFQ permit number of the operator		X	X
CDQ permit number and group number		X	X
Crew Size	X	X	X
Number of observers onboard	X	X	X
Name and cruise number of observer	X	X	X
Management Program	X	X	X
Management program ID (if applicable)	X	X	X
Federal Reporting Area of catch	X	X	X
Whether harvest occurred in COBLZ or RKCSA (if applicable)	X
Gear Type	X	X	X
Gear Details (including skate length, book size, hook spacing)		X	X
Set or Haul Number	X	X	X
Date and Time of Gear Set/Deployed	X	X	X
Date and Time of Gear Hauled/Retrieved	X	X	X
Gear Begin Position	X	X	X
Gear End Position	X	X	X
Begin and End buoy or bag numbers		X	X
Begin and End Gear Depths		X	X
Average Gear and Sea Depth	X
Number of skates or pots set and lost		X	X
Target Species Code	X	X	X
Estimated Total Hail Weight	X	X	X
IR/IU Species Codes	X	X	X
CDQ/IFQ halibut & IFQ sablefish weight in pounds		X	X
CR Crab		X	X
Check mark if moved to avoid Chinook salmon bycatch (If applicable)	X
Bird Avoidance Gear		X	X
Number marine mammals sighted		X	X
Numbner of fish and hooks damaged		X	X
Discard or Disposition Date	X	X
Weight of each species – Daily Total	X	X
Weight of each Prohibited species – Daily Total	X	X
Weekly cumulative Total	X	X
Date delivery completed	X	X
ADF&G Fish Ticket	X	X
Name of Recipient, RCR, or Registered Buyer	X	X
Name of Port or Port Code	X	X

2. Vessel Activity Report

A Vessel Activity Report (VAR) provides information about fish or fish product onboard a vessel when it crosses the boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska or crosses the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and USCG boarding officers use VAR information to audit and separate product inventory when boarding a vessel. If a vessel does not file a VAR and has fish or fish product onboard when it enters the EEZ off Alaska, NMFS assumes the fish were harvested in U.S. waters. Without the requirement to submit a form prior to crossing, vessel operators may be more inclined to illegally fish in Federal waters and claim retained product was harvested from foreign or international waters.

Except as noted below, the operator of a catcher vessel greater than 60 ft length overall (LOA), a catcher/processor, or a mothership required to hold a Federal fisheries permit (FFP) issued under part 679 and carrying fish or fish product onboard must complete and submit a VAR before the vessel crosses the seaward boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska or crosses the U.S.-Canadian international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia If fish or fish products are landed at a port other than the one specified on the VAR, the operator must submit a revised VAR showing the actual port of landing before any fish are offloaded.

If a vessel is carrying non-Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) groundfish and IFQ halibut, Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) halibut, IFQ sablefish or Crab Rationalization Program (CR) crab, the operator must submit a VAR in addition to an IFQ Departure Report required by

§ 679.5(l)(4) (see OMB Control No, 0648-0272). A VAR is not required if a vessel is carrying only IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab onboard and the operator has submitted an IFQ Departure Report required by § 679.5(l)(4).

The Vessel Activity Report (VAR) is available online at: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/VAR.pdf. The operator must enter the following information on a VAR:

• Whether it is an original or revised report

• Vessel name and FFP number or RCR permit number

• Vessel type

• Representative name, telephone number, fax number, and COMSAT number (if available)

• If a “return report” where the vessels is intending to land in Alaska:

  • Port of landing

  • Date and time (Greenwich Mean Time) vessel will cross boundary

  • Latitude and longitude where vessel will cross

• If a “depart report” where the vessel is leaving Alaska:

  • Intended U.S. port of landing or country other than the United States

  • Date and time (Greenwich Mean Time) vessel will cross boundary

  • Latitude and longitude where vessel will cross

• Russian Zone -- whether vessel is returning from or departing to fish in the Russian zone

• Fish or fish product (including non-groundfish) onboard the vessel when crossing:

  • Harvest zone code where groundfish were harvested

  • Species code, Product code, and Total product weight of fish product onboard in pounds or nearest 0.001 metric ton.

3. Check-in / Check-out Report

i. Shoreside Processor Check-in / Check-out Report

The manager of a shoreside processor or SFP is required to submit a check-in report prior to participation in a groundfish fishery and to submit a check-out report upon completion of that participation. If a processor is continually active through the end of a fishing year (and a check-out report was not previously submitted during the fishing year), then: 1) the processor must submit a check-out report on December 31; and 2) they must submit a check-in to start the new year on January 1.

The check-in/check-out information is used by NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement to monitor the processing activity.

The shoreside processor check-in and check-out report is available at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/chckss.pdf. The manager must enter the following information check-in/check-out report:

• Processor name and ADF&G processor code

• Federal processor permit (FPP) number

• Representative name, business telephone number, and business fax number

• If check-in report:

  • Indicate that it is a check-in report

  • Whether checking in: a) for the first time this fishing year; or b) to restart receipt and processing of groundfish after filing a check-out report

  • Whether an original or revised report

  • Date and time receipt of groundfish will begin

  • If SFP, give latitude and longitude of position where receiving groundfish

• If check-out report:

  • Indicate that it is a check-out report

  • Whether an original or revised report

  • Date and time when the last receipt or processing of groundfish was completed

  • Weight (and units) of all fish or fish products (including non-groundfish) remaining at the facility (other than public cold storage) by species codes and product code.

ii. Mothership Check-in / Check-out

The operator of a mothership must submit to NMFS a check-in report (BEGIN message) prior to becoming active and a check-out report (CEASE message) for every check-in report submitted.

A mothership that is carrying onboard an operational vessel monitoring system (VMS) (See OMB Control No. 0445) is exempt from submitting check-in / check-out report to NMFS. The information collected only through the check-in / check-out report may be obtained through the combination of VMS and the Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS) (see OMB control number 0648-0515). Only 1 mothership is required to submit the mothership check-in / check-out report.

The mothership check-in and check-out report is available at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/mothershipinout.pdf. The operator must enter the following information:

• Indicate whether it is an Original or Revised Report.

• Vessel Name

• Vessel ADF&G Processor Code

• Vessel Federal Fisheries Permit Number

• Name, telephone number, and fax number of vessel representative

• Satellite communications contact (COMSAT) number

• Management Program

• Gear Type

• If check-in report (BEGIN message):

  • Date and Time

  • Latitude and longitude where groundfish receipt begins.

  • Federal Reporting Area.

  • COBLZ or RKCSA

  • Primary and Secondary Target Species Codes. Record the two main species expected to receive in the following week

• If check-out report (CEASE message):

• Date and Time

• Latitude and longitude where the last receipt of groundfish was completed.

• Reporting area code where last receipt of groundfish was completed

4. Product Transfer Report

Product Transfer Reports (PTR) provide the information on the volume of groundfish disposed of by persons buying it from the harvesters. The PTR is an important enforcement document and provides an important check on buyer purchase reports. Information collected on PTRs is used by OLE to verify the accuracy of reported shipments through physical inspections. OLE uses the PTR to monitor movement of product in and out of the processor on a timely basis.

With exceptions (listed below) regulations at §679.5(g) require that:

• Operators of motherships, catcher/processors, or managers of shoreside processors or stationary floating processors must complete and submit a separate Product Transfer Report (PTR) for each shipment of groundfish and donated prohibited species caught in groundfish fisheries;

• Registered Buyers must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of halibut or sablefish, other than those conducting dockside sales, for which the Registered Buyer was required to submit an IFQ landing report under 679.5(e)(7);

• Registered Crab Receivers (RCR) must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of crab for which the RCR was required to submit a Registered Crab Landing Report under 679.5(e)(8).

Exceptions to submittal requirements

• Bait sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). During one calendar day, the operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR the individual sales or shipments of non-IFQ groundfish to vessels for bait purposes during the day recording the amount of such bait product shipped from a vessel or facility that day.

• Retail sales, IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish. During one calendar day, the operator, manager, or Registered Buyer may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish if each sale weighs less than 10 lb or 4.5 kg.

• Retail sales, CR crab. During one calendar day, the RCR may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of CR crab if each sale weighs less than 100 lb or 45 kg.

• Wholesale sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). The operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR, wholesale sales of non-IFQ groundfish by species when recording the amount of such wholesale species leaving a vessel or facility in one calendar day, if invoices detailing destinations for the entire product are available for inspection by an authorized officer.

The time limits for completing and submitting PTRs are:

• All product transfer information must be recorded on a PTR within 2 hours of the completion of the shipment.

• The PTR must be submitted (either by fax or email) by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the shipment occurred.

• If any information on the original PTR changes prior to the first destination of the shipment, a revised PTR must be submitted by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the change occurred.

The PTR form is available on at: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/PTR.pdf. The following information is required to be completed on at PTR:

• Indicate whether an original or revised report

• Representative name, telephone number and fax number of the shipper, where the shipper depends on what is being shipped:

  • If shipping non-IFQ groundfish: Processor’s name and FPP number.

  • If shipping IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish: Registered Buyer name and permit number.

  • If shipping CR crab: RCR name and permit number.

  • If shipping non-IFQ groundfish, IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish, and CR crab on the same PTR: Processor name and FFP or FPP number, Registered Buyer name and permit number, RCR name and permit number

• Start date, start time, finish date, and finish time of product transfer

• Transfer Information as outlined in Table 5.

• Products shipped:

  • Species and product code

  • Species weight (use only if recording 2 or more species with 2 or more product types contained within the same production unit)

  • Number of units

  • Unit weight (lb or kg)

  • Total weight (lb or kg)

• Total or partial offload information (mothership or catcher/processor only):

  • Indicate whether transfer is a total or partial offload

  • If a mothership or catcher/processor, indicate whether fish or fish products are left onboard the vessel (partial offload) after the shipment is complete.

  • If a partial offload, for the products remaining on board after the transfer, enter for each product:

    • Species code

    • Product code

    • Total product weight (lb or MT)

Table 5. Information for entering the receiver, date, time, and location of transfer and mode of transportation on a Product Transfer Report (PTR).

If you are the shipper and …	Then enter ...
	Receiver	Date & time of product transfer	Location of product transfer	Mode of transportation & intended route
Receiver is on land and transfer involves one van, truck, or vehicle.	Receiver name and Federal fisheries, Federal processor, or Federal crab vessel permit number (if any).	Date/time when shipment leaves the plant.	Port or city of product transfer.	Name of the shipping company; destination city and state or foreign country.
Receiver is on land and transfer involves multiple vans, trucks or vehicles.	Receiver name and Federal fisheries, Federal processor, or Federal crab vessel permit number (if any).	Date/time when loading of vans or trucks is completed each day.	Port or city of product transfer.	Name of the shipping company; destination city and state or foreign country
Receiver is on land and transfer involves one airline flight.	Receiver name and Federal fisheries, Federal processor, or Federal crab vessel permit number (if any).	Date/time when shipment leaves the plant.	Port or city of product transfer.	Name of the airline company; destination airport city and state.
Receiver is on land and transfer involves multiple airline flights.	Receiver name and Federal fisheries, Federal processor, or Federal crab vessel permit number (if any).	Date/time of shipment when the last airline flight of the day leaves.	Port or city of product transfer.	Name of the airline company(s); destination airport(s) city and state.
Receiver is a vessel and transfer occurs at sea.	Vessel name and call sign	Start/finish dates and times of transfer.	Transfer position coordinates in latitude and longitude, in degrees and minutes.	The first destination of the vessel.
Receiver is a vessel and transfer takes place in port.	Vessel name and call sign	Start/finish dates and times of transfer.	Port or position of product transfer.	The first destination of the vessel.
Receiver is an agent (buyer, distributor, shipping agent) and transfer is in a containerized van(s).	Agent name and location (city, state).	Transfer start/finish dates and times.	Port, city, or position of product transfer.	Name (if available) of the vessel transporting the van; destination port.
You are aggregating individual retail sales for human consumption. (see paragraph (g)(2) of this section).	“RETAIL SALES”	Date of transfer.	Port or city of product transfer.	N/A.
You are aggregating individual bait sales during a day onto one PTR (non-IFQ groundfish only).	“RETAIL SALES”	Date of transfer.	Port or city of product transfer.	N/A.
Non-IFQ Groundfish only. You are aggregating wholesale non-IFQ ground-fish product sales by species during a single day onto one PTR and maintaining invoices detailing destinations for all of the product for inspection by an authorized officer.	“WHOLESALE SALES”	Time of the first sale of the day; time of the last sale of the day.	Port or city of product transfer.	N/A.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection-of-information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.

All forms are available on the NMFS Alaska Region web page at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/rr-forms. The forms are fillable electronically on a computer, and may be printed and submitted to NMFS by email attachments or fax.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

The information collected as part of this collection does not duplicate other collections. Where there is overlap, the public is not required to complete duplicate reports. Under the Interagency Electronic Reporting System collection (see OMB Control No. 0648-0515), NMFS offers optional use of the electronic logbook and if the operator completes an eLog, then they are not required complete the paper logbooks in this collection. A mothership that is carrying onboard an operational vessel monitoring system (VMS) is exempt from submitting check-in / check-out report to NMFS (See OMB Control No. 0648-0445). This reduces redundant reporting because the information collected through the check-in / check-out report may be obtained through the combination of VMS and the IERS.

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

There are several ways that NMFS reduces the impact of this collection on small entities:

• Except for when using using longline pot gear in the GOA, catcher vessels that are less than 60 ft LOA are not required to submit logbooks. This exemption from record keeping and reporting requirements specifically reduces burden for the operators of small vessels.

• NMFS staff are available to answer questions via email and telephone and step-by-step instructions for completing each of the forms in this collection are available online at:

  • https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/rr-log

  • https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/rr-forms

• In addition to agency support staff, a Help Desk phone number and centralized email is manned from 6 a.m. to midnight every day and provides targeted assistance for logbooks, Product Transfer Reports, and Vessel Activity Reports, which are the more complicated forms in this collection.

6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.

The extension of the existing data collection is necessary for NMFS to continue efficient monitoring and effective management practices for the fisheries of the EEZ off the coast of Alaska. If this collection were not conducted, the quality of NMFS fishery data would be greatly reduced and negatively impact NMFS management of fisheries, resulting in adverse impacts on: the long-term biological stability and economic yield of the groundfish resource; the efficiency and economic viability of the domestic groundfish industry; and the credibility of the fishery management process itself.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

The information is collected consistent with OMB guidelines.

8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

A Federal Register Notice published on September 19, 2017 (82 FR 43744) to solicit public comment. The comment period ended on November 20, 2017. No comments were received.

In addition, NMFS solicited input from fishery participants that submit information through this collection. NMFS received 4 comment letters from the public that contained 5 unique substantive comments. The comments and NMFS’ responses are presented below.

Comment #1: The definition of when the trawl gear deployment starts for the Catcher Vessel Trawl DFL should be clarified and modified. Using the time when trawl net entering the water is not the best measure of the beginning of fishing effort, particularly for vessels using pelagic trawl gear.

Response: The regulations at 50 CFR § 679.5(c)(4)(vi)(B) require vessel operators to record in the logbook the time and location that the trawl net enters the water. NMFS interprets “when the trawl enters the water” to mean when the first part of the trawl net that is deployed makes contact with, or “enters,” the water.

NMFS agrees that there is a benefit to further discuss the specific regulations about when gear deployment and retrieval starts for several gear types, including trawl gear. Modifying the definition of gear deployment would require a change to regulation and larger analysis process that is outside the scope of this Paperwork Reduction Act collection renewal. If NMFS determines that a regulatory revision is needed, the agency must do that through a rulemaking process that includes internal discussion with users of the logbook data, preparation of a written analysis, public input, and rulemaking. In the meantime, NMFS will continue to enforce the requirements in the current regulations. All vessel operators should continue to record the information required in the logbook until NMFS can further examine this issue and make revisions, if we determine that revisions to the logbook requirements are needed.

Comment #2: In the gear deployment section of the Catcher/ Processor Longline/ Pot DCPL, the operator must enter the position when the first hook-and-line gear of a set enters the water. The most accurate start and end positions are where the anchors are dropped. The anchors represent the exact locations of the buoys, which are technically the first and last pieces of “hook and line gear” to be removed from the water. However, NMFS and NMFS-certified observers have communicated that the operator need to identify the location of the last “hook” that came out of the water, not the anchor locations. NMFS needs to clarify what is meant by “first hook-and-line gear” of a set.

Response: The regulations at 50 CFR § 679.5(c)(3)(vi)(B) require vessel operators to record in the logbook the time and location when the first hook-and-line gear of a set enters the water. NMFS trains observers that the documented time of gear deployment represents the first hook in the water and the documented time of gear retrieval represents when the last hook came out of the water. This interpretation enables NMFS to gather information on the entire time that hooks were in the water and were able to potentially interact with marine resources (fish, seabirds, marine mammals, etc). This definition is also consistent with NMFS interpretation of gear deployment for trawl gear, which starts when the first part of the trawl net enters the water (see response to comment #1).

NMFS agrees that the wording of the regulation that defines set deployment/retrieval could be more specific so that it would be clear exactly what information NMFS is seeking. As noted in response to comment #1, modifying the regulations that define when gear deployment begins would require a change to regulation and larger analysis process that is outside the scope of this Paperwork Reduction Act collection renewal. In the meantime, NMFS will provide outreach to catcher/processors fishing with longline gear to clarify what information should be entered into the Catcher/ Processor Longline/ Pot DCPL.

Comment #3: Product Transfer Report (PTR) should be included in elandings so that the information can be entered through an electronic document. This would be more streamlined and consistent and the element of human error would be reduced.

Response: NMFS agrees that there would be benefits to incorporating the PTRs into the elandings application, which is part of the Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS) (see OMB Control No. 0648-0515). NMFS has had discussion with IERS programmers and NOAA Office for Law Enforcement and identified that it would be possible to add PTRs to elandings. However, reduced staff resources on the IERS project have limited the agency’s ability to add new features and this project has not been able to be accomplished. NMFS will continue to keep this project on the tasks list and the agency will consider incorporating PTRs into the IERS if resources become available.

Comment #4: Reporting of product movement on a PTR is burdensome, and it is not clear why NMFS needs to gather this information in such detail.

Response: The information collected on PTRs is important for NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and enables the agency to monitor movement of product in and out of the processor on a timely basis. NMFS has heard from the public that it would minimize the burden to have the PTR available in eLandings. As described in response to comment #3, as staff resources are available, NMFS will prioritize incorporating PTRs into the IERS.

Comment #5: The PTR form should be rearranged to make additional space to enter product information so that more data can be entered on a single form. Also, the form should be simplified in certain areas to make it more clear what is needed in the fields.

Response: NMFS agrees and in response to this comment modified the PTR form to increase the number of rows for data entry and added check boxes for some fields to make it simpler for users to enter data.

9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift is provided under this program.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

The information collected is confidential under section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. It

is also confidential under NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, which sets forth procedures to

protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

This information collection does not involve information of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.

The estimated number of unique respondents is 445, which decreased from 604.

The total number of estimated responses for the collection is 41,602 (Table 6), which increased from 41,548. The total estimated annual burden hours are 15,654 (Table 6), which decreased from 15,691. The total estimated personnel cost is $579,180 (Table 6), which decreased from $580,567.

Table 6. Total Number of respondents annual responses, and labor costs.

Collection Title	Form Name	Number of Respondents*	Annual Responses per Respondent	Total Annual Responses	Estimated Time per Response (mins)	Total Annual Burden (hours)	Total Labor Cost ($37/hr)
Paper Logbook	Catcher vessel Trawl DFL	100	93	9,300	18	2,790	$103,230
	Catcher vessel Longline/ Pot DFL	118	71	8,378	35	4887.2 (4887)	$180,825
	Catcher/ Processor Longline/ Pot DCPL	5	21	105	50	87.5 (88)	$3,237
Chek-In/Out (CICO) Report	Shoreside Processor CICO Report	46	3	138	5	11.5 (12)	$426
	Mothership CICO Report	1	2	2	7	0.233	$9
Product Transfer Report (PTR)	PTR	168	140	23520	20	7840	$290,080
Vessel Activity Report (VAR)	VAR	53	3	159	14	37.1 (37)	$1,373
Total for Collection		445 (unique)		41,602		15,654	$579,180

*For Paper Logbooks, Product Transfer Reports, and Vessel Activity Reports the number of respondents was based on average per year using data from 2014-2016. The average number of respondents for Check-In and Check-Out Reports for Shoreside Processors and Motherships was taken based on the average number of forms received in 2016 and 2017.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).

Total estimated miscellaneous costs are: $7,164 for photocopies, faxing, and postage (see Table 7).

The estimate of miscellaneous costs does not include any equipment, based on the assumption that respondents have purchased computers, fax machines, and printers as part of regular business operations.

Table 7. Total annual estimated costs for printing, faxing, and postage.

Collection Title	Form	Description	Misc Costs
Paper Logbooks	Catcher vessel Trawl gear DFL	Mail logsheets $5 x 4 qtr x 100	$2,000
	Catcher vessel Longline/Pot gear DFL	Mail logsheets $5 x 4 qtr x 118	$2,360
	Catcher/Processor Longline/Pot gear DCPL	Mail logsheets $5 x 4 qtr x 5	$100
Check-In/Out Reports	Shoreside Processor Check-In / Check-Out Report	Fax $6 x 70 = $420 Photocopy (.05 x 138 = $6.90)	$427
	Mothership Check-In / Check-Out Report	Fax $6 x 2 = $12 Photocopy (.05 x 2 = $1	$13
Product Transfer Report	Product Transfer Report	Fax $6 x 100 = $600 Photocopy (.05 x 23520 = $1,176)	$1,776
Vessel Activity Report	Vessel Activity Report	Fax $6 x 80 = $480 Photocopy (.05 x 159 = $8)	$488
Total for Collection			$7,164

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.

The total estimated annual costs to the Federal government for this collection is $42,348, which includes costs for printing, mailing, and personnel costs for review, data entry and filing (see Table 8).

Table 8. Total annual estimated costs to NMFS.

Title	Form	Description	Costs
Paper Logbooks	Catcher vessel Trawl DFL	Printing costs: 100 x 2 x $12 (2 booklets per respondent)	$2,400
		Mail logbooks to each respondent $5 x 100	$500
		Review, data entry, filing quarterly = 10 mins. (100 x 4 x 10mins = 66.66 hours @ $37/hr)	$2,467
	Catcher vessel Longline/ Pot DFL	Printing costs: 118 x 2 x $13 (2 booklets per respondent)	$3,068
		Mail logbooks to each respondent $5 x 118	$590
		Review, data entry, filing quarterly = 10 mins. (118 x 4 x 10mins = 78.66 hours @ $37/hr)	$2,911
	Catcher/ Processor Longline/ Pot DCPL	Printing costs: 5 x 1 x $21 (1 booklet per respondent)	$105
		Mail logbooks to each respondent $5 x 5	$25
		Review, data entry, filing quarterly = 10 mins. (5 x 4 x 10mins = 3.33 hours @ $37/hr)	$123
Check-In/Out (CICO) Report	Shoreside Processor CICO Report	Review, data entry, filing = 10 mins. (138 x 10mins = 23 hours @ $37/hr)	$851
	Mothership CICO Report	Review, data entry, filing = 5 mins. (2 x 5mins = 0.16 hrs @ $37/hr)	$ 6
Product Transfer Report	Product Transfer Report	Review, data entry, filing = 2 mins. (23,520 x 2mins = 3920 hours @ $37/hr)	$29,008
Vessel Activity Report	Vessel Activity Report	Time per response = 3 mins. (159 x 3mins = 79.5 hours @ $37/hr)	$294
Total for Collection			$42,348

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

Adjustments to respondents, responses, and cost:

Respondents and burden hours:

• Catcher vessel trawl gear DFL

  • Decrease of 52 respondents, 100 instead of 152

  • Increase of 3,676 responses, 9,300 instead of 5,624

  • Increase of 1,202 hours burden, 2,790 hours instead of 1,588 hours

  • Increase of $44,474 in personnel costs, $103,230 instead of $58,756

• Catcher vessel Longline/pot gear DFL

  • Decrease of 203 respondents, 118 instead of 321

  • Decrease of 3,499 responses, 8,378 instead of 11,877

  • Decrease of 1,560 hours burden, 4,888 hours instead of 6,447 hours

  • Decrease of $57,714 in personnel costs, $180,825 instead of $238,539

• Catcher/processor longline/pot gear DCPL

  • Decrease of 1 respondents, 5 instead of 6

  • Decrease of 1,113 responses, 105 instead of 1,218

  • Decrease of 915 hours burden, 88 hours instead of 1,002 hours

  • Decrease of $33,837 in personnel costs, $3,238 instead of $37,074

• Shoreside Processor Check-In / Check-Out Report

  • Decrease of 78 respondents, 46 instead of 124

  • Decrease of 3,582 responses, 138 instead of 3,720. Previously, the number of respondents was based on numbers of processing permits. The adjusted number is based on an average of the actual number of forms that were submitted in 2016 and 2017.

  • Decrease of 299 hours burden, 12 hours instead of 310 hours

  • Decrease of $11,045 in personnel costs, $426 instead of $11,470

• Mothership Check-In / Check-Out Report

  • Decrease of 28 responses, 2 instead of 30

  • Decrease of 3.8 hours burden, 0.2 hours instead of 4 hours

  • Decrease of $139 in personnel costs, $9 instead of $148

• Product Transfer Report

  • Decrease of 664 respondents, 168 instead of 832

  • Increase of 4,635 responses, 23,520 instead of 18,885

  • Increase of 1,545 hours burden, 7,840 hours instead of 6,295 hours

  • Increase of $57,165 in personnel costs, $290,080 instead of $232,915

• Vessel Activity Report

  • Decrease of 141 respondents, 53 instead of 194

  • Decrease of 35 responses, 159 instead of 194

  • Decrease of 8 hours burden, 37 hours instead of 45 hours

  • Decrease of $292 in personnel costs, $1,373 instead of $1,665

Miscellaneous costs

• Total estimated miscellaneous costs for the collection are $7,164, which decreased from $9,532. Most of the decrease is due to a correction to the number of shoreside check-in/check-out reports (see above). Previously, the number had been based on permit numbers alone, and we are now basing it on the actual number of forms received.

16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.

The information collected will not be published.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.

Not Applicable.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

Not Applicable.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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