The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) collects information about fishing trip expenses in the
American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI) boat-based reef fish, bottomfish, and pelagics
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-Steven 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. An
example of these performance measures is the fishing cost trend as
one of the economic performance indicators reported in Annual Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Reports of each Fishery Ecosystem
Plan (http://www.wpcouncil.org/annual-reports/). In addition, the
economic data collected will allow quantitative assessment of the
fisheries sector’s social and economic contribution, linkages and
impacts of the fisheries sector to the overall economy through
Input-output (I-O) models analyses. Results from I-O analyses will
not only provide indicators of social-economic benefits of the
marine ecosystem, a performance measure in the NMFS Strategic
Operating Plans, but also be used to assess how fishermen and
economy will be impacted by and respond to regulations likely to be
considered by fishery managers. These data (highlighted in yellow
in the survey forms) are collected in conjunction with catch and
effort data already being collected in this fishery as part of its
creel survey program. The creel survey program is one of the major
data collection systems to monitor fisheries resources in these
three geographic areas. The survey monitors the islands’ fishing
activities and interviews returning fishermen at the most active
launching ramps/docks during selected time periods on the
islands.
US Code:
16 USC 1801 et seq. Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
An adjustment to the number of
respondents was made based on information from the previously
conducted surveys. The decrease in the number of respondents
accounts for the decrease in the number of responses and burden
hours.
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.