U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Logbook Family of Forms
OMB Control No. 0648-0016
Abstract
NMFS is seeking to revise and extend the information collections currently approved under OMB Control No. 0648-0016.
A final rule implementing amendments to the Fishery Management Plans for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Regions require an owner or operator of a vessel with a federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish or Gulf coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) species, further referred to as a Gulf for-hire permittee, to submit an electronic fishing report (also referred to as a logbook) for each fishing trip. To validate these submitted logbooks, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has designed and proposes to revise the information collection under OMB Control No. 0648-0016 to implement a new intercept survey in 2021 in the Gulf of Mexico. These logbooks and the survey to validate the logbooks are required to carry out provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as amended, regarding conservation and management of fishery resources.
The logbook validation survey is called the Southeast For-Hire Intercept Survey (intercept survey) and the survey would intercept and interview the individual that submitted the electronic logbook (most likely the captain but could be a deckhand) of federally-permitted charter vessels in the aforementioned recreational fisheries in Gulf coastal counties. The intercept survey would obtain information after a fishing trip has occurred. The intercept survey is not a census of all charter vessel fishing trips but instead NMFS would use stratified random sampling to select what days of the month, time intervals, and landing locations for port samplers to perform the intercept survey. An analysis was done of recent data from charter vessels to determine the sample universe and sample weighting for the stratified random sampling of the intercept survey. At the selected sampling sites respondents (individuals that completed the electronic logbook) would be identified and interviewed about vessel information, time and type of fishing, number of anglers, and details of catch. Catch information would include species identification and number of fish, and also length and weight measurements of species retained on fishing trips. Respondents are required to respond to the intercept survey, conducted by contracted port samplers, as a provision of the limited access permits, and are required to make catches available for port samplers to obtain measurements. The results of the intercept survey would be used to adjust the electronic logbook reports to account for non-reporting and misreporting. This would lead to statistical validation of the data collected through the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program thus making it useful for stock assessments and fisheries management.
The proposed intercept survey would revise the currently approved information collections in OMB Control No. 0648-0016. NMFS has existing regulations that require specific types of recordkeeping and data reporting that are also approved under 0648-0016, and NMFS is requesting an extension of OMB approval. These data collections and regulations provide reliable and accurate information from the fishing industry and communities that support scientifically based management actions to achieve NMFS’ stewardship responsibilities.
Justification
Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that NMFS and regional fishery management councils prevent overfishing and achieve the optimum yield from federally managed fish stocks on a continuing basis. These mandates are intended to ensure that fishery resources are managed for the greatest overall benefit to the nation, particularly with respect to providing food production and recreational opportunities, and protecting marine ecosystems. To further this goal, the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the collection of reliable data essential to the effective conservation, management, and scientific understanding of the nation’s fishery resources. Specifically, Section 303(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies data and analyses to be included in fishery management plans (FMPs), as well as pertinent data that must be submitted to the Secretary of Commerce under those FMPs. Additionally, the collection of recreational fisheries catch and effort data is necessary to comply with Executive Order 12962 on Recreational Fisheries.
NMFS has existing regulations in 50 CFR part 622 and approved information collections under 0648-0016 that require specific types of recordkeeping and reporting from the fishing industry and the communities to support scientifically based management actions to achieve NMFS’ stewardship responsibilities throughout the U.S. southeast region, which covers marine areas from Texas through North Carolina.
Accurate and reliable fisheries information about catch, effort, and discards is critical to stock assessment and management evaluations. For example, catch and effort from federally permitted for-hire vessels represent a substantial portion of the total recreational catch and effort for fish species managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council). This is why the Gulf Council and NMFS established the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program (85 FR 44005, July 21, 2020). This program requires a Gulf for-hire permit holder to submit an electronic fishing report, using NMFS-approved hardware and software, for each fishing trip before offloading fish from the vessel. The final rule becomes effective on January 5, 2020. The information collection associated with this rulemaking is approved under OMB Control No. 0648-0016. The purpose of the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program is to increase and improve recreational fisheries information collected from federally permitted for-hire vessels in the Gulf. The information is expected to improve recreational fisheries management of the for-hire component of the reef fish and CMP fisheries in the Gulf.
As used in this supporting statement, a charter vessel is permitted by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry up to six passengers and the entire vessel is hired for a fee. A headboat is permitted by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry more than six paying passengers and each passenger pays a per-person fee. However, it is possible for a vessel with a passenger capacity greater than six to operate as a charter vessel or headboat.
Catch and effort data from NMFS-selected headboats are currently collected from electronic logbooks and validated under the Southeast Region Headboat Survey (SRHS). The SRHS already has a validation component. However, the validation component of SRHS is inadequate to validate the electronic logbook data from federally permitted charter vessels due to the much larger number of charter vessels. The SRHS samples approximately 75 to 80 vessels and the new electronic logbook requirement will include over 1,300 federally permitted charter vessels.
The SRHS data have been used to collect these trip report data from this portion of the for-hire component of the recreational sector since 1972. These trip report data have been extremely valuable in stock assessments of reef fishes and pelagic species in the southeast region. In Texas, the charter vessel trips have the catch and effort data estimated from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Marine Sport-Harvest Monitoring Program (Texas survey). The Texas survey uses dockside intercepts to estimate catch and calculates effort using a roving boat-count survey at boat ramps and marinas. The Texas survey estimates recreational trips by splitting the year into two waves where the waves are May 15 through November 20, and November 21 through May 14. In Louisiana, the charter vessel trips have the catch and effort estimated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recreational creel survey (LA Creel). LA Creel uses dockside intercepts to estimate catch and calculates effort with a phone call to charter vessel captains. The LA Creel survey provides statistics on recreational trips by week.
Separate from the 0648-0016 information collections, in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and west Florida, the remaining for-hire fleet (non-headboat charter trips) have their catch and effort data collected through the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), which is managed by Office of Science and Technology within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Charter catch data are provided through stratified random sampling dockside sampling of anglers conducted by MRIP. Charter fishing effort is calculated based on a monthly phone sample of less than 10 percent of permitted charter vessels, also conducted by MRIP. The charter vessel catch and effort information is reported to NMFS in 2-month intervals during the year, with reports available approximately 45 days after the end of each 2-month period. The MRIP survey captures anglers on both federally permitted and non-federally permitted for-hire vessels.
The Texas survey, LA Creel, and MRIP will continue to collect charter vessel data after NMFS implements the final rule to validate the data collected through the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program. These surveys differ from the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program because they intercept anglers, while the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program is vessel based and will intercept and interview captains about the entire catch for the vessel. The programs will continue side by side for two reasons: 1) to allow adequate calibration between the programs, and 2) the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program is only for federally permitted vessels so the Texas survey, LA Creel, and MRIP will need to continue to collect charter data from non-federally permitted vessels.
The Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program is an improvement in recreational data collection because instead of the federal for-hire permitted vessels being randomly intercepted with the Texas survey, LA Creel, and MRIP, the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program requires all of the trips on federal for-hire permit vessels to be reported. The survey method changes from a randomly sampling federally permitted vessel trips to a census of all of the federally permitted vessel trips. The Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program requires the electronic logbook to be reported before the catch is offloaded, ensuring more timely submission of data than the existing programs (Texas survey, LA creel, and MRIP). Census style programs also need validation to account for misreporting and non-reporting, in order to generate a final estimate for use in fisheries management.
The data collected through the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program needs to be validated through the proposed intercept survey. The electronic logbooks will be reported by fishermen and need to be verified and confirmed by NMFS to improve confidence in the data, and adjust this data for non-reporting and misreporting. NMFS recently obtained funding to validate these collected data. It is not feasible, either monetarily or temporally, to validate all of the electronic logbooks from the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program. However, the intercept survey would employ stratified random sampling to send port samplers to interview the for-hire fishermen to collect enough data to generate statistically valid results from the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program.
The purpose of the proposed intercept survey is to validate the electronic logbooks submitted from charter vessels through the Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program, the information collection for which is approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0016, to produce final catch and effort estimates for stock assessments and fisheries management. The data collected from the intercept survey would be matched with the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program data and used to estimate non-reporting of fishing trips and reporting errors. Data from the intercept survey matched with the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program data would be analyzed through statistical methods to provide accurate estimates of the total catch and effort for the covered federal for-hire fisheries. Without the intercept survey, the electronic logbook results would be left unchecked and could be erroneous due to no adjustments for non-reporting and misreporting. Erroneous fisheries information could mislead management and lead to inappropriate or unnecessary regulations or lead to lack thereof when needed as well as affect any calibration with existing surveys listed above.
The federal for-hire catch and effort estimates generated from this intercept survey and the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program are intended to be used on an ongoing basis by NMFS, regional fishery management councils, interstate marine fisheries commissions, and state natural resource agencies to develop, implement, and monitor fishery management programs, per statutory requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Catch and effort statistics are fundamental for assessing the influence of fishing on any fish stock. Additionally, the intercept survey would provide the opportunity to validate the catch of rarely reported species that would provide valuable and reliable information to enhance biological, locational, and catch data from rarely caught and reported species. Accurate estimates of the quantities taken, fishing effort, and both the seasonal and geographic distributions of the catch and effort are required for the development of regional management policies and plans.
The intercept survey would be administered by staff of NMFS, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, and state partner employees. The intercept survey would be conducted at local fishing docks, marinas, and boat ramps. The locations would be selected from a stratified random sampling method where the different strata are state, county, landing site, calendar day, and 6-hour time interval. The port samplers for the intercept survey will be assigned a specific 6-hour time interval (such as 11 am to 5 pm) at a specific site on a specific day based on the stratification results. The port sampler will then conduct in-person interviews for all the available respondents at that site during the 6-hour time interval. The interview consists of 19 questions, and is expected to take 15 minutes to complete. The interview questions ask for information on the vessel, time and type of fishing, number of anglers, and details of catch. The last question of the survey would require the port sampler to collect information on the length and weight of the harvested fish that are available for inspection. This information is not as critical as the other questions, and is collected only if a visual inspection of the sample site will determine if there is no potential of any other trips returning at the site that may include trips from the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program. The additional question of the length and weight data is expected to add an additional 5 minutes to the interview which would increase the expected interview time from 15 to 20 minutes. NMFS expects the majority of the interviews to not collect the length and weight data, and therefore, the majority of the interviews will take 15 minutes to complete.
An analysis of recent data following the method of Liu (2020)1 from federally permitted charter vessels estimated that 1,150 interviews are needed per year for the intercept survey to have a large enough sample size to generate statistically valid results. This total of 1,150 is for the entire Gulf and some Gulf States would need to be represented by more interviews than others. This is because some there is variable federal for-hire fishing activity and catch rates between Gulf States.
The intercept survey will not sample selected headboats in the SRHS. There are approximately 70 vessels in the SRHS, and a different program validates the electronic logbook data from those trips sampled by the NMFS’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). Due to the large number of federal for-hire permitted vessels not included in the SRHS it is not feasible to use the SRHS data validation program to validate data from vessels not in the SRHS but still part of the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program.
The data requested under 0648-0016 are used by various offices of NMFS, regional fishery management council staff, the U.S. Coast Guard, and state fishery agencies under contract to NMFS to develop, implement, and monitor fishery management strategies. Analyses and summarizations of logbook data are used by NMFS, the regional fishery management councils, the Departments of State and Commerce, OMB, the fishing industry, Congressional staff, and the public to answer questions about the nature of the Nation’s fishery resources.
These data serve as input for a variety of uses, such as biological analyses and fish stock assessments; Executive Order 12291 regulatory impact analyses; quota and allocation selections and monitoring; economic profitability profiles; trade and import tariff decisions; allocations of grant funds among states; identify ecological interactions among species. NMFS would be significantly hindered in its ability to fulfill the majority of its scientific research and fishery management missions without these data.
The Southeast Logbook Family of Forms has evolved as a means of collecting data from specific user groups within fisheries that are managed under federally implemented FMPs. NMFS’ SEFSC has the responsibility for both preparation of stock assessments (estimation of maximum sustainable yield or other indexes of biomass) and collection of the scientific data that are required to perform the assessments. A secondary data collection responsibility is to provide information that is necessary to routinely monitor and evaluate the conditions in the fisheries under federal management.
Similar data elements are required for most of the logbook forms or electronic reporting systems in this family of forms, although a few variables may be specific to one fishery or type of management technique regulating harvest.
a) Information such as name and address of a vessel operator and owner is used to identify the respondent and the legal entity controlling the fishing practices of the vessel. The legal entity requirement is essential in monitoring the compliance of the reporting requirement, where revocations of the operators permit or fines are involved. Because many vessels are owned by corporations, identification of an owner and operator on the logbook form allows NMFS to sanction the company as well as the individual vessel operator as necessary or required by the regulations. Information on the permit is obviously essential to monitoring reporting compliance.
b) Data on date of departure, date returned, days fished, duration of tows or sets, units of gear and mesh size used are all designed to quantify actual fishing effort. Fishing effort is needed to standardize differences in productivity among vessels or fishing grounds by establishing a rate of catch per unit time. These data allow comparisons over time, area and gear type of catches made by a variety of harvesters. Comparisons of catch and catch per unit effort (CPUE) over time are significant indicators of the biological status of the fisheries. Declining CPUE, especially if data on fishing effort are sufficiently detailed to adjust for changes in effort, can provide critical information on the status of the stock, i.e., that the level of harvest is beyond the level that is sustainable by growth and reproduction of the stock.
c) Area fished, depth of fishing, and latitude and longitude are variables that are used to establish fishing locations. This information can be related to other oceanographic and biological information to predict species availability and likely future abundance. For example, location of capture can be correlated to sea surface temperature measured by satellite to predict possible migration patterns. In addition, area or zone fished is used to cross reference locations where fishing is not permissible (such as closed spawning areas).
d) Species information such as landings, discards, and sizes of fish is the basic measure of fishing success, from which fishermen, biologists and economists infer conclusions about the status of the fishery. Landings information is also needed because controlling the quantity of fish harvested is often the means for ensuring that harvests can be replenished over time.
e) The name of a buyer, dealer number, and port of landing are data used to cross reference the quantity of fish caught with the quantity that is handled (processed) by the market. The important cross reference is between the total amount of catch, and the respective sizes of individual fish. It would be impossible for fishermen to measure individual fish as they are being caught and stored on board the vessels. However, many species of fish, especially the large pelagic species, are individually weighted by the dealers and these weights are recorded as part of the sales transactions. By knowing the dealer that purchased the fish, cross references can be made between data submitted by the dealers and the data from the logbooks. Combining the data in this manner provides greater precision on the CPUE estimates and more information on the sizes of catches by location and time.
f) Trip cost information such as fuel, tackle, bait, ice, labor, and miscellaneous expenses associated with the effort data for individual trips is use for evaluating regulatory proposals and to better understand how the cost of fishing varies with changes in fishing effort. With a better quantitative understanding of these relationships, NMFS can provide better estimates of the potential impacts of management regulations on fishing effort.
g) A separate form or response is required for many of the logbook reporting forms in 0648-0016 when a vessel does not fish during an entire calendar month or another defined period. These no-fishing report forms are necessary to assure NMFS that the vessel did not fish instead of failing to report. The information on the no-fishing form is minimal, i.e., only the vessel ID, vessel name, the month or other period in which the vessel did not fish, and the federal permits that vessel has been issued (a check box is provided for ease of identifying the permits). Most no-fishing forms are located in the back of the logbook booklets and are to be submitted via mail in the self-addressed, stamped envelopes provided by NMFS. Because of the nature of the reporting, no-fishing reports are not required for the headboat trip report, the live rock report, the annual fixed cost survey, the cost-earnings form (this information is included on the regular coastal logbook form), and the supplemental discard form.
The following are brief descriptions of the 0648-0016 information collections.
SRHS. Fishing from a headboat is a type of recreational fishing and represents a relatively small, but specialized component and the data collection of information from this fishery component by SEFSC predates and is separate from the MRIP data collection (0648-0052). To collect trip-level catch and effort data from this fishery in the Gulf and South Atlantic, a separate logbook program collects these data on a weekly basis, which is more precise information than the MRIP survey. Total catch and participation estimates for all headboat fishing activity are made from the SRHS. The need for good quality, representative catch per unit effort (CPUE) and species composition data from this recreational fishery component is the primary reason that this program was implemented.
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish, South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper, King and Spanish Mackerel, Shark, Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo logbook (coastal logbook). The program to collect logbook data in the Gulf of Mexico was initiated in April 1990. The purpose of the program is to provide critically needed data on individual fishing trips for species in this important management unit. The diversity of gear in this fishery (i.e., longline, hook and line, traps, spears, and buoy) and the variety of species increases the need to have detailed CPUE and species composition data. Furthermore, because species in this management unit are not migratory, it is important that detailed information on the CPUE and species composition are collected by area, so that assessments can be made for major reef complexes to determine how fishing effort is affecting these complexes over time.
This logbook program includes only fishermen who have been issued a federal vessel permit and are required to sell their catches to established (permitted) seafood dealers. Consequently, for-hire recreational fishermen do not submit logbooks for the Gulf reef fish fishery (see the description for the for-hire headboat catch reports above).
The logbook program for the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery was initiated in January 1992. The purpose of this program, as for the Gulf reef fish program, is to collect data on fishing effort, CPUE, and species composition. The snapper-grouper fishery is similar to the fishery for reef fish in the Gulf; consequently, the logbook forms used for the two fisheries are the same.
Although sharks are part of the Highly Migratory Species fishery management plan, and the reporting burden for these species are covered by OMB Control No. 0648-0371, the fishing operations for large and small coastal sharks are very similar to the fishing methods for Gulf reef fish and South Atlantic snapper-grouper species. Thus, the coastal logbook form (OMB Control No. 0648-0016) includes space for fishermen to report the catch, effort, and area of catch for coastal sharks. The pelagic shark fisherman will continue to report using the highly migratory species logbook (OMB Control No. 0648-0371).
As with the fisheries in OMB Control No. 0648-0016, the purpose of the logbook program for king and Spanish mackerel is to collect catch, effort and area for this fishery in both the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic. The assessments for king and Spanish mackerel were improved by the availability of this CPUE data. There are other species in this fishery management plan; however, logbook reporting for these species is not required via this logbook at this time.
Cost-earnings data section. The purpose of this data collection (20 percent sample) is to provide economic information about commercial fishermen in federal waters, which is necessary for the agency to address National Standard 8 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The reporting form requests information about operating costs associated with the individual fishing trips. The intent is to use the cost information associated with the effort data for individual trips to better understand how the cost of fishing varies with changes in fishing effort and the impacts of management measures on fishing communities. With a better (quantitative) understanding of these relationships, NMFS can provide better estimates of the potential impacts of management regulations on fishing effort.
Annual fixed cost survey for vessels required to use the coastal logbook. This survey is associated with the cost-earnings data collection. The purpose of this data collection is to provide information on the annual fixed costs (i.e., expenditures that are made infrequently throughout the year or only once per year) incurred by the commercial fishermen in federal waters. The survey instrument is sent to the same fishermen that are required to report their cost data for each trip.
Supplemental discard reporting logbook for vessels required to use the coastal logbook. This form was developed and initiated in August 2001, as a supplemental form to the Gulf of Mexico reef fish, South Atlantic snapper-grouper, shark and mackerel logbook form. The purpose of this instrument is to have the fishermen record the species and numbers of discards that they had for each trip. The form also asks the fishermen to report any interactions with marine mammals, endangered species or sea birds that they incurred on each trip. The purpose of this data collection is to collect information on the types and numbers of animals (species) that fishermen in these coastal fisheries discard or in the case of endangered species and marine mammals with which they interact, so the agency is able to address National Standard 9, which deals with bycatch. This data collection is conducted as a supplement to the regular logbook reporting so that the catch, effort and area of fishing can be associated with the discards or interactions.
Wreckfish logbook. The wreckfish fishery is part of the South Atlantic snapper-group management unit, but because there were concerns about the status of the wreckfish stock, specific management measures were implemented to collect data from vessels that harvest this species. Although separate logbooks are used for this fishery, they require the same basic CPUE and fishing location data as the other logbooks in the family, but the program also collects information on shares of the Individual Transferable Quota used during each trip.
Golden crab logbook. Fisheries for this species of deep water crabs occur in both the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic. This logbook program is designed to collect the quantity of golden crab that are caught in designated areas. The form is distinct from the other forms authorized by regulations (50 CFR Part 622) because lines of traps are used to catch these species and the amount of catch needs to be reported by trap line instead of for an entire trip.
South Atlantic for-hire electronic reporting. This information collection includes federally permitted charter vessels in Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic, Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, or South Atlantic snapper-grouper fisheries, and does not include for-hire vessels in the SRHS. Permit holders must submit trip-level electronic fishing reports (logbooks) at weekly intervals, or at shorter intervals if notified by NMFS, through NMFS-approved hardware and software. Information collected includes fishing location and effort, fish harvested and discarded, as well as socio-economic and other data. The purpose of the final rule is to increase and improve fisheries information collected from federally permitted for-hire vessels in the Atlantic. The information is expected to improve recreational fisheries management of the for-hire component in the Atlantic.
Gulf of Mexico for-hire electronic reporting. This information collection includes federally permitted charter vessels in Gulf reef fish and Gulf CMP fisheries, and does not include for-hire vessels in the SRHS. Information collected includes fishing location and effort, fish harvested and discarded, as well as socio-economic and other data. The purpose of this program is to increase and improve fisheries information collected from federally permitted for-hire vessels in the Gulf, which in turn, is expected to improve recreational fisheries management of the for-hire component in the Gulf.
The trip declaration requires charter fishermen to notify NMFS prior to departing on any trip and declare whether they are departing on a for-hire trip, or on any other trip type. Permit holders must submit trip-level electronic fishing reports (logbooks) through NMFS-approved hardware and software after each trip and before offloading fish from the vessel.
Landing locations must be verified by NMFS before they can be used by fishermen, to ensure the sites exist, and so that port sampling agents and law enforcement can access the sites to meet a vessel at the end of a trip for biological sampling and landings validation. If a desired landing location is not already approved or verified by NMFS, fishermen must submit a Landing Location Request form to NMFS. This validation will improve the data being collected.
The Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program requires a Gulf for-hire permittee to install a vessel monitoring system (VMS), and submit the VMS Installation & Activation Certification form, and use NMFS-approved hardware and software with GPS location capabilities that, at a minimum, archive vessel position data during a trip for subsequent transmission to NMFS. For the purpose of verifying whether a vessel is at the dock or is fishing, the final rule requires location monitoring by a cellular or satellite VMS unit that is permanently affixed to the vessel and has an uninterrupted power supply, unless NMFS grants a specific exemption to power-down the cellular or satellite VMS unit via the VMS Power-down Exemption Request form.
Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
For the proposed intercept survey, port samplers would conduct one interview per vessel by interviewing the respondent. The respondent is the individual that submitted the electronic logbook (most likely the captain but could be a first mate or deckhand). The intercept survey would be recorded by port samplers using an electronic tablet, computer, or paper form if the electronic hardware or software malfunction. The interview form would be installed on the port sampler’s individual tablet or computer. The port sampler would complete the survey form for each intercept and submit it to NMFS. The use of electronic data collection would reduce the burden of collection for both the port sampler and the respondent by decreasing the time needed to enter the information.
Electronic reporting is being utilized to report the detailed, trip level data for three of the logbook programs - the SRHS, and the Gulf and South Atlantic For-hire Electronic Reporting Programs. A web-based electronic reporting program is being used to report months where fishing has not occurred in the coastal fisheries logbook. NMFS is investigating various methods of recording and reporting CPUE data from vessels of the other fisheries. However, the large number of vessels involved in the affected fisheries and the cost per participant for the electronic and telecommunication equipment must be considered before mandating its use by fishermen. These costs significantly limit the options available for electronic reporting by vessel operators. NMFS will accept any data in an electronic format that can be easily read and inputted into the existing database management system currently utilized.
Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act's operational guidelines require each FMP to evaluate existing state and federal laws that govern the fisheries in question, and the findings are made part of each FMP. Each fishery management council membership is composed of state and federal officials responsible for resource management in their state or area. This joint participation enables identification of other collections that may be gathering the same or similar information. In addition, each FMP undergoes extensive public comment periods where potential applicants review the proposed permit application requirements. Therefore, NMFS is confident it would be aware of similar collections if they existed.
Detailed information on CPUE, effort and species composition by gear and area is not available from other sources. Some states, notably Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and North Carolina, have programs to collect landings by species for individual fishing trips (i.e., operational trip ticket programs), but these programs do not include the detailed information on location and effort that are required in the reporting requirements for this OMB request. Furthermore, these programs collect the data from seafood processors, and not fishermen, whereas logbooks are submitted directly by the fishermen.
NMFS collaborates with state natural resource agencies and the regional interstate fisheries commission on the Gulf coast to ensure that recreational fisheries data collections are not duplicative. Every five years, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the U.S. Department of the Interior conducts the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (OMB Control No. 1018-0088). This survey collects minimal information about annual recreational saltwater fishing activity within the context of additional recreational activities.
The intercept survey would not overlap with SRHS also approved under OMB Control No. 0648-0016. SRHS has its own validation program; however, it is not possible to use the SRHS data validation program to validate data from Gulf for-hire vessels not in the SRHS. To ensure sampling and effort is not duplicated, the introductory questions of the intercept survey would screen out any participants in SRHS.
The Texas survey, LA Creel, and MRIP do survey trips from federal for-hire vessels, but the data from these surveys are not adequate to validate data from the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program. First, the Texas survey, LA Creel, and MRIP are designed to sample multiple modes of recreational fishing (charter, private, and shore). Therefore, these surveys could not intercept enough federally permitted for-hire vessels to provide statistically valid results. Second, the Texas survey, LA Creel, and MRIP interview the anglers of the trip, not the captain or deckhand for the entire catch on the vessel. Therefore, the Texas survey, LA Creel, and MRIP would not interview the individual that submitted the electronic logbook which could introduce bias into the results because the angler will not be the individual submitting the electronic logbook. Third, the anglers may not be noting the catch of the trip, or they may not be familiar with the species. Fourth, the anglers may not be familiar with the federal for-hire permit information and vessel identification data that is needed to match the electronic logbooks and the intercept survey results.
Finally, as described earlier, there are several separate logbook forms included in the Southeast Logbook Family of Forms and several of the forms are used for multiple fisheries. For example, the data reporting required by the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper, CMP, and the Gulf Reef Fish FMPs and federal regulations have been combined and are reported on a single form. This approach is helpful for respondents because many fishermen hold multiple federal permits and participate in multiple fisheries.
If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
Because NMFS considers all respondents to be small businesses, there are not separate information collection requirements based on size of business. The estimated burden on the respondents is minimized by collecting only the minimum data to meet the analytical needs of NMFS.
Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
If the intercept survey is not conducted, NMFS would not have for-hire fisheries catch and effort information to compare with and validate the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program to support fishery stock assessments and management. An ongoing intercept survey is required to monitor differences from the reported electronic logbooks and the intercept survey results to obtain the best scientific information available. The proposed intercept survey is an integral part of the regulatory requirement for the Gulf for-hire logbook already approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0016. Without such validation, the usefulness of the Gulf for-hire logbook data would be limited for management advice and stock assessments due to the uncertainty of the results. Validation procedures are critical to assessing the accuracy and completeness of submitted logbook reports (Mion et al. 2015)2. Validation of vessel activity or inactivity is critical to determining compliance with logbook reporting requirements. Information on whether or not a vessel is in or out of port on a particular day can be matched with logbook records to determine if vessel activity was accurately reported. Dockside validation would also serve the secondary and essential function of collecting biological samples from the Gulf for-hire fishery. These samples are necessary to characterize the landings for use in stock assessments and to monitor the health of the stocks.
For the other existing information collections under 0648-0016, the consequence of not having detailed catch and species composition data would increase the uncertainty associated with the stock assessments that are the basis for sound management decisions. The other existing logbook programs provide information on catch and effort from other sectors that are needed for fishery stock assessments and management. As with any statistical analysis, the confidence limits (bounds) for specific points will be large if there is significant uncertainty in the data. With the availability of the logbook data in the long-running programs, the sample sizes for the various stratifications of gear and area are sufficiently large to reduce the uncertainty in the data to acceptable levels. While the other existing information collections could potentially benefit from additional validation programs, the costs of such validation would be large and could outweigh benefits. Further, no funding for any such additional validation is available.
The logbook data also provide critical information on the type and amount of effort. Without these data, there would be no way of knowing whether changes in total catch are due to changes in fishing effort or changes in the abundance of the resource, or both.
If the economic data (cost, earnings, and fixed cost) were collected less frequently or not at all, then economists would be less able to estimate the effects of regulations on financial performance or fishermen’s expected reactions to additional regulations. Future proposed fisheries regulations would continue to be debated with limited economic information. Another consequence of not having representative economic data could be judicial remand of conservation regulations challenged on grounds of inadequate analysis of economic impact to individual firms.
Not having discard data would also increase the uncertainty associated with the stock assessments. Furthermore, there is a lack of scientifically collected information on discards in many of these fisheries and consequently, it is difficult to determine whether discarding is a significant problem. Clearly, the data from observers in other fisheries, notably the pelagic longline fishery, show that discards are substantial and that their occurrence is variable. Consequently, NMFS has determined that it is necessary to collect discard data for coastal fisheries.
Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines:
Requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly. The intercept survey would require respondents to report their fishing effort and catch data on a randomly selected basis after the end of their fishing trips. Due to the high level of federal for-hire fishing activity in the Gulf it is likely that some respondents would be interviewed more than four times each year.
Federal regulations require fishermen to submit completed logbooks for all trips or sets for several reasons. First, it is critical that these data be timely. For fisheries that are significantly overfished, it is important to monitor changes in fishing mortality. Secondly, the renewal of federal vessel permits is predicated on compliance with the reporting requirements, and timely data are needed to determine whether fishermen are complying on a regular basis. Thirdly, quality control of the logbook data is better when the review and verification process is closer to the actual time that fishing occurred.
The proposed intercept survey would not require respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information. Other approved information collections in 0648-0016 require respondents to record data on paper or electronic forms for NMFS to receive the data.
The proposed intercept survey and other approved information collections in 0648-0016 do not require respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document.
Requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years. There are no special circumstances in 0648-0016 where the respondent would be required to retain any records for more than three years.
In connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study. This intercept survey and other approved information collections in 0648-0016 are designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be extrapolated to the universe of federally permitted Gulf for-hire vessels.
Requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB. No data would be collected in 0648-0016 that has not been approved by OMB.
That includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
Requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law. NMFS authority has been established to collect the fishing information from respondents in 0648-0016. NMFS also has protocols in place to protect the confidentiality of the data. NMFS would 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 the response to question 10 of this supporting statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy.
If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publications in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
NMFS published a notice in the Federal Register on August 19, 2020 (85 FR 51019) to solicit public comments on the proposed intercept survey and extension of the 0648-0016 information collection. Comments were due by October 19, 2020. NMFS did not receive any comments. Although NMFS did not receive public comments on the published notice, NMFS has received substantial input on the proposed intercept survey from agency personnel in other electronic reporting programs in the region and existing electronic reporting programs around the country, along with recommendations from electronic reporting software application developers.
The intercept survey design and operational processes have been reviewed and discussed with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, representatives of the five Gulf States and their fisheries data staff, and several university experts in the field of fisheries statistical surveys.
Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
This data collection will not include any incentives to prospective respondents.
Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If the collection requires a systems of records notice (SORN) or privacy impact assessment (PIA), those should be cited and described here.
Should respondents have any questions related to the program, the port samplers would provide an intercept survey information sheet explaining the program details and that responses are kept confidential as required by section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens and NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Confidentiality of Fisheries Statistics, and would not be released for public use except in aggregate statistical form without identification as to its source. Section 402(b) stipulates that data required to be submitted under an FMP to be confidential and would not be released by NMFS except to federal employees and Council staff responsible for FMP monitoring and development, or when required under court order.
As stated on the forms and the logbook cover, data collected via OMB Control No. 0648-0016 are treated in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Confidential Fisheries Statistics. Reports are considered confidential under the Trade Secrets Act. In addition, landings statistics are considered to be in an entrepreneurial capacity and will be exempt from the Privacy Act concerns. It is the policy of the NMFS that confidential data are not to be released to non-authorized users, other than in aggregate form, as the Magnuson-Stevens Act protects (in perpetuity) the confidentiality of those submitting data. Whenever data are requested, the NMFS ensures that information identifying the pecuniary business activity of a particular vessel is not identified.
Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
No sensitive questions are asked.
Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens. Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included under Annual Cost to Federal Government.
The estimated number of respondents, responses, time burden per response, and total burden hours in the 0648-0016 information collections do not change from currently approved values and are included with the proposed intercept survey in the table below. The proposed intercept survey would increase the number of responses and annual burden hours in 0648-0016 as follows.
Estimated number of respondents: 1,150. These respondents are already included as part of the Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program, and therefore, the proposed intercept survey would not increase the number of respondents overall under 0648-0016.
Estimated annual number of interviews (responses): 1,150. This is the estimated annual number of interviews completed by staff that would allow the intercept survey to have enough data generate statistically valid results; therefore, the intercept survey would increase the annual number of responses. The sample size of 1,150 interviews came from analysis of recent Gulf charter vessel data in a year period. The sample size may include some responses from the same individual because some sites have a small number (less than 5) of federal for-hire vessels. Therefore, it is possible the individuals fishing from these sites with small numbers of for-hire vessels could be interviewed multiple times during one year.
Estimated time per response: 15 minutes. Practice interviews determined that the average response time for each interview is about 15 minutes. This response time increases to 20 minutes if additional length and weight data is collected from the interview, however, this would only be on certain occasions. The most likely estimated time per response is 15 minutes.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 288 burden hours. This is the number of annual interviews (1,150) multiplied against the 15-minute interview time. This is the additional burden hours resulting from the proposed intercept survey.
Estimated annualized wage cost to respondents: $7,272. This is the additional annualized wage cost due to the proposed intercept survey.
As shown in the table below, the total annual burden hours and wage cost to respondents for this revision and extension information collection request are 69,165 hours and $1,746,416, respectively.
Information Collection |
Respondent Type (e.g., Occupational Title) |
Annual Number of Respondents (a) |
Annual Number of Responses per Respondent (b) |
Total # of Annual Responses (c) = (a) x (b) |
Burden Hrs per Response (d) |
Total Annual Burden Hrs (e) = (c) x (d) |
Hourly Wage Rate* ($) (for Type of Respondent) (f) |
Total Annual Wage Burden Costs ($) (g) = (e) x (f) |
Intercept Survey (to validate Gulf For-hire Pgrm) |
First-line supervisor of Fishing (Vessel captain) |
1,150 |
1 |
1,150 |
0.25 (15 min) |
288 |
25.25 |
7,272 |
Headboat Logbook |
Vessel captain |
142 |
167 |
21,312 |
0.167 (10 min) |
3,552 |
25.25 |
89,688 |
Headboat Logbook - No fishing report |
Vessel captain |
142 |
17 |
2,408 |
0.033 (2 min) |
80 |
25.25 |
2,020 |
Annual Cost Survey for Snapper-Grouper, Reef Fish, Mackerel, and Dolphin-Wahoo Permit Holders |
Vessel captain |
693 |
1 |
693 |
0.75 (45 min) |
520 |
25.25 |
13,130 |
Economic Trip Cost Logbook for SE Coastal Fisheries |
Vessel captain |
693 |
21 |
14,224 |
0.167 (10 min) |
2,371 |
25.25 |
59,867.75 |
Coastal Logbook - Vessel Trip Report |
Vessel captain |
3,466 |
19 |
36,535 |
0.167 (10 min) |
6,089 |
25.25 |
153,747.25 |
Coastal Logbook - No fishing report |
Vessel captain |
3,466 |
9 |
30,740 |
0.033 (2 min) |
1,025 |
25.25 |
25,881.25 |
Discard report for Snapper-Grouper, Reef Fish, Mackerel and Dolphin-Wahoo Permit Holders |
Vessel captain |
474 |
27 |
12,933 |
0.25 (15 min) |
3,233 |
25.25 |
81,633.25 |
Golden Crab Logbook |
Vessel captain |
12 |
19 |
164 |
0.167 (10 min) |
27 |
25.25 |
681.75 |
Golden Crab Logbook - No fishing report |
Vessel captain |
12 |
6 |
67 |
0.033 (2 min) |
2 |
25.25 |
50.50 |
Wreckfish Trip Report Logbook |
Vessel captain |
6 |
12 |
48 |
0.167 (10 min) |
8 |
25.25 |
202 |
Wreckfish Logbook - No fishing report |
Vessel captain |
6 |
4 |
24 |
0.033 (2 min) |
1 |
25.25 |
25.25 |
South Atlantic For-hire Elec Reporting Prgm Fishing report (charter vessels) |
Vessel captain |
2,119 |
71 |
150,438 |
0.167 (10 min) |
25,073 |
25.25 |
633,093.25 |
No-fishing report (charter vessels) |
Vessel captain |
2,119 |
8 |
16,548 |
0.034 (2 min) |
552 |
25.25 |
13,938 |
Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program Installation of cellular or satellite VMS unit |
Fishermen |
325 (charter only) |
0.33 |
325; 109 annualized |
5 hr |
542 |
25.25 |
13,685.50 |
Landing location request |
Fishermen |
1,368 (all) |
0.29 |
1,200; 400 annualized |
0.0833 (5 min) |
33 |
25.25 |
833.25 |
Trip declaration |
Fishermen |
1,368 (all) |
94 |
128,700 |
0.033 (2 min) |
4,290 |
25.25 |
108,322.50 |
Fishing report (per trip) |
Fishermen |
1,368 (all) |
94 |
128,700 |
0.166 (10 min) |
21,450 |
25.25 |
541,612.50 |
Power-down exemption request |
Fishermen |
1,368 (all) |
0.25 |
342 |
0.0833 (5 min) |
29 |
25.25 |
732.25 |
Totals (estimates) |
|
|
|
545,535 |
|
69,165 |
|
$1,746,416.25 |
*Hourly wage rate source: May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for “first-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing, and forestry workers (45-1011)” at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#45-0000.
Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected on the burden worksheet).
The proposed intercept survey would incur no cost burden on respondents beyond the costs of response time. There are no anticipated costs beyond the opportunity cost of completing the logbook forms.
For the current approved information collections, NMFS provides respondents with addressed, postage-paid envelopes that they use to return the completed forms. The table below summarizes the annual estimated costs for the information collections under 0648-0016.
Information Collection |
# of Respondents (a) |
Annual # of Responses / Respondent (b) |
Total # of Annual Responses (c)=(a) x (b) |
Cost Burden per Response ($) (h) |
Total Annual Cost Burden (i) = (c) x (h) |
South Atlantic For-hire Elec Reporting Prgm Operations and maintenance costs |
212 |
1 |
212 |
600 |
$127,200 |
Computer and Internet start-up costs 2021 |
212 |
1 |
212 |
100 |
$63,600; $21,200 annualized |
Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program Purchase of monitoring unit |
325 |
1 |
325 |
1,000 |
$325,000; $108,000 annualized |
Installation of monitoring unit |
325 |
1 |
325 |
500 |
$162,500; $54,167 annualized |
Landing location request |
n/a |
n/a |
132 |
0.60 |
$79 annualized |
Reporting requirements total |
1,368 |
≈ 94 |
128,700 |
≈ 10.84 |
$1,395,360 |
Trip declaration |
included |
included |
included |
included |
|
Fishing report per trip |
included |
included |
included |
included |
|
Location reporting |
included |
included |
included |
included |
|
Power-down exemption request |
342 |
1 |
342 |
0.60 |
$205 |
TOTALS (estimates) |
|
|
130,248 |
|
$1,706,211 |
Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
Cost Descriptions |
Grade or Step |
Loaded Salary or Cost |
Percent of Effort |
Fringe (if Applicable) |
Total Cost to Government |
Intercept Survey Compliance Coordinator |
GS- 11 |
$110,000 |
100 |
|
$110,000 |
Supplies (annual) |
|
$1,000 |
|
|
$1,000 |
Travel (annual) |
|
$10,000 |
|
|
$10,000 |
Port Agents (10) |
|
$65,000 |
100 |
|
$650,000 |
Administrative |
|
$70,000 |
100 |
|
$70,000 |
Equipment (one-time) |
|
$2,500 |
|
|
$25,000 |
Vehicle Purchase (10, one-time) |
|
$25,000 |
|
|
$250,000 |
Vehicle Maintenance (10, annual) |
|
$2,500 |
|
|
$25,000 |
Sampling Costs (1,150 interviews) |
|
≈$189 |
|
|
$217,600 |
Sub-total, annualized |
|
|
|
|
$1,213,533.34 |
Logbook Programs, remaining |
|
|
|
|
|
Federal employees (10) |
|
150,000 |
50 |
|
750,000 |
Contractors (5, annual) |
|
100,000 |
70 |
|
350,000 |
IT support (4, annual) |
|
137,500 |
100 |
|
550,000 |
Printing and postage (annual) |
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
Sub-total |
|
|
|
|
1,750,000 |
Cost Descriptions |
Grade or Step |
Loaded Salary or Cost |
Percent of Effort |
Fringe (if Applicable) |
Total Cost to Government |
Gulf For-hire Reporting Pgrm Federal Program Manager |
GS-13 |
150,000 |
100 |
|
150,000 |
VMS Technician (4) |
GS-11 |
100,000 |
100 |
|
400,000 |
QA/QC Technician (5) |
GS-11 |
100,000 |
100 |
|
500,000 |
Compliance Agent (4) |
GS-11 |
100,000 |
100 |
|
400,000 |
Customer Service Rep (2) |
Contractor |
60,000 |
100 |
|
120,000 |
Port Agents (10) |
Contractor |
75,000 |
100 |
|
750,000 |
Travel (annual) |
|
20,000 |
|
|
20,000 |
Sampling Design (one-time) |
|
10,000 |
|
|
10,000; annualized 3,333 |
Sampling Equipment (annual) |
|
10,000 |
|
|
10,000 |
Vehicles (10, one-time)) |
|
35,000 |
|
|
350,000; annualized 116,667 |
Fuel (annual) |
|
17,000 |
|
|
17,000 |
Vehicle Maintenance (10, annual) |
|
1,000 |
|
|
10,000 |
Sampling Equipment (annual) |
|
10,000 |
|
|
10,000 |
Computers (25, one-time) |
|
1,500 |
|
|
37,500; annualized 12,500 |
Phone Line (annual) |
|
1,000 |
|
|
1,000 |
Subtotal |
|
|
|
|
2,520,500 |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
$5,484,033.34 |
The intercept survey start-up year cost to the federal government is $1,357,800 with an estimated annual cost thereafter of $1,107,800. The annualized cost over the first three-year period would be $1,213,533.
The majority of annual costs to the Federal Government for the information collections under OMB Control No. 0648-0016 is estimated to be $1,750,000 per year. Many of these logbook programs share resources such as program staff and computer support. Therefore, these calculations were made for all the programs combined, and include a) printing costs which includes the cost of the postage-paid envelopes of approximately $100,000 annually, b) program staff and sight review and data entry of approximately $1,100,000 annually that includes 10 full-time employees and 5 part time contractors, c) form development, and program management costs of approximately $550,000 annually that includes 2 full time employees and approximately 2 contracts for computer related support.
NMFS expects the South Atlantic For-hire Electronic Reporting Program will increase annual costs to the Federal Government, because there will be an increased administrative burden, as all federally permitted charter vessels will be required to submit electronic reports to NMFS. This is a large increase in the number of vessels reporting electronically. However, no SEFSC application is configured to accept this information, so a software platform and database will also have to be developed or existing programs modified. NMFS is planning to minimize these costs by working through an existing program, by having data submitted through Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program, also known as ACCSP. However, the details of the data collection program required to implement the final rule, as well as the estimated costs, are still to be determined.
Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in ROCIS.
The proposed intercept survey is a new program that is a critical part of the new logbook reporting requirements for federal for-hire permit holders in the Gulf.
Information Collection |
Respondents |
Responses |
Burden Hours |
Reason for change or adjustment |
|||
Current Renewal / Revision |
Previous Renewal / Revision |
Current Renewal / Revision |
Previous Renewal / Revision |
Current Renewal / Revision |
Previous Renewal / Revision |
||
Intercept Survey (to validate Gulf For-hire Pgrm) |
1,150 |
0 |
1,150 |
0 |
288 |
0 |
Proposed new intercept survey. Respondents are already included in other information collections. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total for Collection |
6,971 |
6,971 |
545,535 |
544,385 |
69,165 |
68,877 |
|
Difference |
0 |
1,150 |
288 |
|
|||
Information Collection |
Labor Costs |
Miscellaneous Costs |
Reason for change or adjustment |
||
Current |
Previous |
Current |
Previous |
||
Gulf For-hire Electronic Reporting Program - Installation of cellular or satellite VMS unit; Landing location request; Trip declaration; Fishing report (per trip); Power-down exemption request |
$25.25/hr; $665,186.00 total |
$14.49/hr; $381,724.56 total |
|
|
Updated average hourly wage rate per respondent using May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm. |
Headboat Logbook; Annual Cost Survey for Snapper-Grouper, Reef Fish, Mackerel, and Dolphin-Wahoo Permit Holders; Economic Trip Cost Logbook for SE Coastal Fisheries; Coastal Logbook - Vessel Trip Report; Discard report for Snapper-Grouper, Reef Fish, Mackerel and Dolphin-Wahoo Permit Holders; Golden Crab Logbook; Wreckfish Trip Report Logbook |
$25.25; $426,927.00 |
$0 |
|
|
Not estimated previously |
Intercept Survey (to validate Gulf For-hire Pgrm) |
$25.25; $7272.00 |
$0 |
|
|
Proposed new intercept survey |
Total for Collection |
$1,099,385 |
$381,724.56 |
|
|
|
Difference |
$717,660.44 |
|
|
||
For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
The results from this collection are not expected to be published but will be used as empirical input to stock assessments, economic analyses, and other analyses of proposed or existing fishery management regulations prepared by NMFS.
If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
The agency plans to display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection on all instruments.
Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”
The agency certifies compliance with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
1 Liu, Z. 2020. Integrating different data sources for estimation of total with unknown population size. Thesis Dissertation. Southern Methodist University. Dallas, Texas. 103 Pages.
2 Mion, M., Piras, C., Fortibuoni, T., Celić, I., Franceschini, G., Giovanardi, O., Belardinelli, A., Martinelli, M., and S. Raicevich. 2015. Collection and validation of self-sampled e-logbook data in a Mediterranean demersal trawl fishery. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 2, 76-86.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-02-04 |