This information collection consists
of a mandatory dealer reporting program for domestic landings and
international trade of highly migratory species. Catch and trade
monitoring is required under the provisions of the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act (ATCA), Tunas Convention Act (TCA), and
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).
Information collected through this program is essential for the
United States (U.S.) to meet its reporting obligations to the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
(ICCAT), Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC),
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT),
and its management obligations under the MSA. NMFS has modernized
its dealer reporting system for Atlantic bluefin tuna landings by
replacing the facsimile (FAX)-based optical character recognition
system with an online reporting application. The new online
electronic system collects the same data fields, at the same
interval, as those that were previously collected via FAX. Instead
of hand-writing out a landing form and faxing it into an automated
system, dealers now log into the Standard Atlantic Fisheries
Information System (SAFIS)
(https://safis.accsp.org:8443/safis_prod/f?p=SAFIS:101::::::) and
key in the required data electronically over the internet
(associated with a final rule, RIN 0648-BG16). Per Final Rule
0648-BF17, bluefin tuna catch documents (BCDs) will now be
submitted electronically, at the same estimated burden as the paper
documents. Users will be pre-registered in the new system. Paper
forms will still be allowed if needed.
US Code:
16
USC 971 Name of Law: Atlantic Tunas Conservation Act
Changes: Electronic reporting
was implemented for BFT landings reports during 2016, and would be
considered a program change. The number of respondents, number of
responses, and burden hours were not affected by this change;
however, the cost of submitted records has decreased since the
instrument is now submitted electronically. The savings for
electronic submission of bluefin landings reports was $450, which
was the cost of report submission included in the last collection
of information request. Adjustments: When available, actual 2016 or
2017 data have been used to project the number of responses, number
of respondents, and associated time and cost burden estimates for
this collection. In many cases, the new estimates differ
substantially from previous estimates as a result of incorporating
recent data. In a few cases, the adjustments were attributable to a
specific factor. For example, the number of respondents has
increased primarily because of an increase in the number of
permitted HMS fishermen. (approximately one thousand more in 2016).
The number of responses has increased because of increases in trade
reporting and negative reporting, offset by decreases in use of the
voluntary catch form and landing reports. The number of burden
hours has decreased because of decreases in landing reports and use
of the voluntary catch form, and transfer of the SD, CD, and RXC
burden to 0648-0732, offset by increases in negative reporting and
trade reporting. Lastly, total annual costs have decreased
primarily because currently permitted and new HMS dealers are
expected to have a computer and internet access as part of their
regular business operations. Thus, NMFS is not including any costs
for computer systems associated with this information collection.
Table 6. Program changes and adjustments Program change/Adjustment
Category Previous New Estimates Program Adjustment Program Change
Number of Respondents 9,585 10,391 806 0 Number of Responses
169,196 164,564 -4,632 - 0 Number of Burden Hours 39,961 18,285
--21,675 0 Total Annual Costs $12,570 1,634 - 12,433 -10,349
-450
$623,065
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Uncollected
Margo Schulz-Haugen 301
713-0234
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.