Reporting injury and /or mortalities
of marine mammals is mandated under Section 118 of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act. This information is required to determine
the impacts of commercial fishing on marine mammal populations.
This information is also used to categorize commercial fisheries
into Category I, II or III. Participants in the first two
categories have to be authorized to take marine mammals, while
those in Category III are exempt from that requirements. All
categories must report injuries or mortalities on the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Marine Mammal Authorization Program
marine mammal mortality/injury form.
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.