Trip Data Release Form

Trip Data Release Form
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The information provided on this form will be used to ensure that the
data for a specific trip is not provided to a person who does not have authority to obtain that data under the
confidentiality requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Meeting those confidentiality requirements are critical for collecting
information that is used in analyses that support the conservation and management of living marine resources and
that are required under the MSA, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the MMPA, the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), Executive Order 12866 (EO 12866), and other applicable laws. The
public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 2 minutes per response, including the time for
completing, reviewing, and transmitting the information on the form. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden to: Amy
Martins, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Fisheries Sampling Branch, 166
Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-2266. Providing the requested information is required to deliver the copy of
the trip to the requested location and to release the trip data. The information on this form will be kept confidential
as required under Section 402(b) of the MSA (18 U.S.C. 1881a(b)) and regulations at 50 C.F.R Part 600, Subpart E.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject
to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. This is
an approved information collection under OMB Control No. 0648-0593 through XX/XX/20XX.

Policy for Data Requests of NMFS Observer-Obtained Information
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The only individuals who may request and receive data include: the owner(s), or the captain acting as an
authorized representative for the owner(s), or a vessel participating in the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Observer Program. No other individuals may be issued
any data under this policy.
Any data request must be submitted in writing on a form letter which may be obtained from a NMFS
Observer, or the address below. Two signatures are required on this letter: that of the individual requesting
the data, and that of the individual releasing the data. All letters must then be returned to the following
address:
Chief, Fisheries Sampling Branch
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1097
Any questions or other requests relating to data release should also be directed to the above address.
It should be understood that upon release of the requested data, the recipient then becomes responsible
for it.
The individual signing the letter as the “releaser” must issue the information in compliance with this policy.
Data may not be released upon an oral request, or without first completing and signing the authorized
release letter mentioned above.
Field diaries do not meet the specifications of releasable data under the policy. No field diaries may be
copied for, or reviewed by, vessel owners or captains.
Release of data for trips in which more than one vessel participated (i.e., pair trawl trips) may only occur if
both vessel owners or captains complete and sign data release letters.
Any requests for historical data (i.e., data that an observer has already mailed in) should be forwarded to
the address above.
All letters should be completed in pen, not pencil.

OMB Control No: 0648-0593
Expires on: XX/XX/20XX

NMFS FISHERIES OBSERVER PROGRAM
TRIP DATA RELEASE FORM
Request Date __________/__________/__________
Observer Trip ID # ___________________________
Vessel Name ______________________________________________________
USCG Doc # _______________________________
Date Landed __________/__________/__________

__________________________________________

____________________________

PRINT Name

Signature

PRINT Mailing Address:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Copies Released By:_____________________________ Date ___________ Edited? Yes___ No___

(For NMFS Office Use)

TEAR AT PERFORATION AND RETAIN BELOW SECTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

The data you receive may be preliminary and not yet completely reviewed.
Observer Trip ID # ______________________________
Date Requested ________________________________
Mail Request To:

Questions or Comments:

Chief, Fisheries Sampling Branch

Gina Shield

National Marine Fisheries Service

508-495-2139

Northeast Fisheries Science Center
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1097