0648-0205 Supporting Statement A_BL00

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Southeast Region Permits Family of Forms

OMB Control No. 0648-0205

Abstract

The information collections in 0648-0205 consist of applications for permits that are a mandatory part of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) program in the Southeast Regional Office (SERO) to manage commercial, recreational, and aquaculture fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), Atlantic, and U.S. Caribbean. In addition, this collection also contains fisheries’ reporting, notification, and registration forms and requirements. The fisheries in the southeast region are managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR parts 300, 622, and 635. NMFS issues permits to fishing vessels, vessel operators, and dealers, among others, in order to collect information necessary to comply with domestic and international fisheries obligations, secure compliance with regulations, and disseminate necessary information.

This revision request would remove existing information collection requirements for certain respondents to use the Federal Permit Application for Southeast Region Issued Operator Card (referred to as an operator card or an operator permit). The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has finalized Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic (Amendment 10). NMFS has approved Amendment 10 and is proposing regulations (RIN 0648-BL00) to remove the requirement for an operator permit in the Atlantic dolphin and wahoo fishery. As part of the proposed regulatory change, NMFS proposes to revise 0648-0205 by removing the associated information collection.

Justification

1. 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 information collections in 0648-0205 consist of applications for permits that are a mandatory part of NMFS’ program in SERO to manage commercial, recreational, and aquaculture fisheries in the U.S. southeast region. This collection also contains fisheries’ reporting, notification, and registration forms and requirements. The fisheries in the U.S. southeast region are managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and by regulations at 50 CFR parts 300, 622, and 635. NMFS issues permits to fishing vessels, vessel operators, and dealers, among others, in order to collect information necessary to comply with domestic and international fisheries obligations, secure compliance with regulations, and disseminate necessary information.

In 2004, the original Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Management Plan and associated final rule implemented the requirement for a vessel operator or a crewmember to hold a valid operator permit for the Atlantic dolphin and wahoo commercial permit or a charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo to be valid. NMFS implemented the operator permit requirement to improve enforcement within the fishery, aid in data collection, and decrease costs to vessel owners from fishery violations by vessel operators. However, in actuality, the benefits of operator permits to improve enforcement have not occurred as they have not been widely used as an enforcement tool since implementation. Rather, other methods of fishery enforcement, such as vessel permits and landings, have been used by law enforcement within the fishery. Because the expected benefits from operator permits are not being realized, the proposed rule for Amendment 10 would remove the requirement for operator permits in the Atlantic dolphin and wahoo fishery.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

The proposed rule for Amendment 10 would remove the requirement for operator permits in the Atlantic dolphin and wahoo fishery. NMFS would revise the permit application forms for the operator card and the Federal Permit Application for Vessels Fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (Vessel EEZ) to remove instructions and reference to those requirements. The remainder of 0648-0205 would remain unchanged from the revision and extension approved by OMB on January 7, 2021.

NMFS issues permits to fishing vessels, vessel operators, and dealers, among others, in order to collect information necessary to comply with domestic and international fisheries obligations, secure compliance with regulations, and disseminate necessary information. This information collection contains permit application forms, and fisheries’ reporting, notification, and registration forms.

All vessel and dealer permits in this collection must be renewed annually. Operator permits must be renewed every three years.

Permits can be used to accomplish many functions. One of the main purposes for issuing permits is to identify the participants in a particular trade or industry. NMFS manages fisheries on a regional basis; likewise, permits are issued by regional offices and the permit databases are regionally distributed. The requested information is used by various offices of NMFS, staff of the regional fishery management councils (Councils), the United States Coast Guard, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and state fishery agencies under contract to NMFS to develop, implement and monitor fishery management strategies. Analyses and summarizations of data are used by NMFS, the 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.

Collection of information through annual permits provides current information on the vessel owners, operators, and dealers participating in these fisheries, thus facilitating information gathering for purposes such as catch quota monitoring, which is necessary to avoid exceeding catch quotas. For example, NMFS requires that vessel permits be displayed to dealers and that permit numbers be recorded on dealer reports in order to validate landings of some species.

A current permit holder list aids NMFS in the communication and enforcement of fishery regulations through distribution of management program brochures, fish identification guides, and regulatory compliance guides. In addition, a permit “universe” facilitates collecting catch and effort information about commercial and recreational fisheries, as required by law. NMFS constructs sampling frames for dockside and telephone surveys from permit holder lists and uses the list to select vessels for logbooks or at-sea observers (addressed under separate collections). Such surveys, logbooks, and observer reports provide essential information for management of fisheries in the United States, particularly in terms of quota allocation decisions that follow Magnuson-Stevens Act recommendations, such as allocating fishing opportunities consistent with traditional fishing patterns and considering the economic values to various user groups. Another purpose of the vessel permit requirement is that it serves as a useful tool in support of enforcement of fishery regulations. That is, the permit can be revoked as a penalty for a violation of fishery conservation measures.

NMFS requires respondents to display up to two adhesive decals on their vessel if they have a federal Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit for Gulf Reef Fish or the Charter Vessel/Headboat Permit for Gulf Coastal Migratory Pelagic fish, and their respective Historical Captain endorsements in these two Gulf fisheries if applicable. NMFS issues one decal with each of the two specific fishery permits or endorsements. The purpose of the decals is to allow individuals and law enforcement officials to identify vessels that have federal permits more easily.

This collection also requires respondents to provide information through fisheries’ reporting, notification, and registration forms. The provided information allows NMFS to disseminate information to fishery participants, satisfy regulatory requirements, and effectively manage fisheries in the southeast region.

The following information collections and forms are contained under OMB Control Number 0648-0205 and are proposed for revision:

Federal Permit Application for Southeast Region Issued Operator Card. As currently specified in 50 CFR 622.270, a commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo issued to a vessel will only be valid if there is someone on the vessel that has a valid operator permit for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo. NMFS proposes to revise the general instructions on the operator card application that state a commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo is not valid unless NMFS has also issued an operator card to the operator or a crewmember on the same vessel.

The remaining applicability of this information collection would remain unchanged. For a person aboard a fishing vessel used to fish for rock shrimp in federal waters from the state border of Virginia and North Carolina to the east coast of Florida, either a Commercial Vessel Permit for Rock Shrimp must be issued to fish off of North and South Carolina (Carolinas Zone) or off of Georgia and Florida (South Atlantic EEZ), as specified in 50 CFR 622.200. A vessel may not be issued permits to fish in both areas simultaneously. If a vessel has a valid Commercial Vessel Permit for Rock Shrimp for the South Atlantic EEZ, and the vessel owner is applying for a Carolinas Zone permit on the same vessel, the South Atlantic EEZ permit must first be transferred from the vessel or surrendered to NMFS in order for a person aboard a fishing vessel to fish commercially for rock shrimp in federal waters in the other zone. A commercial permit for Atlantic rock shrimp issued to a vessel will only be valid if there is someone on the vessel that has a valid operator permit. The proposed rule for Amendment 10 would not change these requirements.

Federal Permit Application for Vessels Fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone. The Vessel EEZ application is used to collect vessel information. Permits are issued annually or more frequently at the request of the applicant if changes are necessary. There is one vessel permit application form that is used for both new vessels that are applying for a vessel permit and for previously permitted vessels that want to renew their vessel permit. For a person on a vessel used to harvest or possess federally-managed species in or from the EEZ, a vessel permit is required, as specified in 50 CFR part 622. For a person on a vessel used to harvest or possess smoothhound shark, a vessel permit is required, as specified at 50 CFR 635.4. The smoothhound shark permit application is included as part of this form but is listed separately below.

NMFS proposes to revise the Vessel EEZ application by removing two occurrences on page 2 and in Section 2 of the application that associate “An Operator Card is required” with Atlantic dolphin and wahoo permits - the open access commercial permit and the open access charter vessel/headboat permit. The same language would remain unchanged for the Rock Shrimp - Carolinas Zone permit.

The following information collections are also contained under OMB Control Number 0648-0205 but are not proposed for revision:

Federal Permit Application for Vessels Fishing for Wreckfish Off the South Atlantic States. This fishery is managed under the wreckfish individual transferable quota (ITQ) system, as specified in 50 CFR 622.172. NMFS provides each wreckfish shareholder with ITQ coupons in various denominations, the total of which equals a shareholder’s catch allocation, and a copy of the calculations used in determining the allocation. Each coupon is coded to indicate the initial recipient but is transferable to another shareholder. The information collection for the coupons for tracking wreckfish ITQ in the South Atlantic is contained under OMB Control Numbers 0648-0013 and 0648-0016.

Federal Permit Application for Dealers. Identification of dealers or processors is needed to obtain first purchase information on landings to evaluate the biological, economic, and social implications of management measures. The Gulf and South Atlantic dealer permit was implemented in 2014 to obtain more timely purchase information from dealers to better monitor annual catch limits for the various Gulf and South Atlantic species managed by NMFS SERO and the regional fishery management councils. This permit allows dealers to purchase all species managed by the Gulf and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (except for IFQ species, for which an IFQ dealer endorsement would still be required). The Magnuson-Stevens Act, Regulatory Flexibility Act, and Executive Orders 12866 and 12131 require the determination of these facts. For a dealer to first receive fish harvested in or from the EEZ, a Gulf and South Atlantic dealer permit must be issued to the dealer, as specified in 50 CFR 622.20(c)(1) for Gulf reef fish, 622.90(a)(1) for Gulf red drum, 622.170(c)(1) for South Atlantic snapper-grouper, 622.200(c)(1) for South Atlantic rock shrimp, 622.240(b)(1) for South Atlantic golden crab, 622.270(d)(1) for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, 622.370(c)(1) for Gulf and South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic species, and 622.400(a)(5)(i) for Gulf and South Atlantic spiny lobster. As with the Gulf and South Atlantic species, dealers purchasing swordfish and sharks caught in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must have a dealer permit as specified in 50 CFR 635.4. These requirements for shark and swordfish dealers are needed not only to comply with the statutes and executive orders mentioned above but also to comply with international requirements.

Federal Permit Application for the Harvest of Aquacultured Live Rock in the EEZ Form and Instructions (New and Renew). The purpose of this data collection is to collect information on types and quantities of aquacultured live rock that are harvested, as specified in 50 CFR 622.70 and 622.220. Although these data are collected by some state fishery agencies (notably Florida), it continues to be important to collect this information from harvesters with a Federal permit that are not from a state that requires regular permitting.

Report for the Deposit or Harvest of Aquacultured Live Rock. A person with a federal aquacultured live rock permit must submit this report for each deposit or harvest activity, as specified by 50 CFR 622.71 and 622.221.

Federal Permit/Certificate Application to fish in the Colombian Treaty Waters. The Colombian Treaty Waters Permit Application form is a federal permitting requirement that is part of the negotiated treaty with Columbia that permits U.S. vessels to fish in Columbian waters (50 CFR 300.123).

Change of Information for Permit Holders. The owner or operator of a vessel with a permit, a person with a coral permit, a person with an operator permit, or a dealer with a permit must notify the SERO Regional Administrator within 30 days after any change in the application information specified, as required by 50 CFR 622.4(b). This information includes: name, address, telephone number, date the business was formed, and other identifying information of the business. The permit is void if any change in the information is not reported within 30 days. The SERO Permits Office posts a form for this purpose on their website; however, use of the form is optional as long as NMFS receives notification of any change in permittees’ information within the specified period. NMFS uses the estimated annual number of responses to estimate volume, rather than respondents, because one respondent could provide multiple responses during a year.

Application for Duplicate Federal Fishery Permits, Operator Cards, or Decals. The SERO Permits Office posts this optional form on their web page for permit holders and operators to obtain duplicates of previously issued documentation. Permit holders and operators may use the optional form or provide the equivalent details in writing to the SERO Permits Office.

Application to Consolidate Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Permits. A permit holder with multiple commercial vessel permits for Gulf reef fish has the option to consolidate some or all of those permits and the associated landings histories into a single permit. The permit holder must submit a completed permit consolidation application to NMFS, as specified in 50 CFR 622.20(a)(1)(ii).

Notice of Intent to Harvest Aquacultured Live Rock. At least 24 hours prior to harvest of aquacultured live rock, the owner or operator of the harvesting vessel must provide information to the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Southeast Division, as specified in 50 CFR 622.75(a)(4) and 622.225(a)(5). The owner or operator can either call or fax a completed form to NOAA OLE. NMFS uses the estimated annual number of responses to estimate volume, rather than respondents, because one respondent could provide multiple responses during a year.

Notification of Lost or Stolen Traps, or Notification of Authorization for Trap Retrieval. Vessel and permit holders are required to notify NMFS when a trap is lost, stolen, or being retrieved for inventory purposes, as specified in 50 CFR 622.249(c) for South Atlantic golden crab, and 622.403(b)(3) and 622.405(b) for Gulf and South Atlantic spiny lobster.

Zone Transit Notification. For a person aboard a fishing vessel to fish for golden crab in one of three designated zones in the South Atlantic EEZ - the northern zone, the middle zone, or the southern zone - a federal golden crab permit for a specific zone is required. In order to transit a non-permitted zone with golden crab on board, the vessel operator must notify NOAA OLE, as specified in 50 CFR 622.241(b)(2).

Annual Landings Report for Gulf of Mexico Shrimp. The owner or operator of a vessel for which a federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf shrimp has been issued must annually report the permitted vessel’s total annual landings of shrimp and value, by species, on a form provided by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Compliance with this reporting requirement is required for permit renewal, as specified in 50 CFR 622.51(a)(4).

Permit Transfer Notarization. Transfer notification application must be accompanied by the original permit and a copy of a signed bill of sale or equivalent acquisition papers, as specified in 50 CFR 622.4. In those cases where a permit, license, or endorsement is transferable, the seller must sign the back of the permit, license, or endorsement and have the signed transfer document notarized.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Registration. Commercial vessels fishing for highly migratory species (HMS) are required to obtain an IMO number if they are 20 meters in length or longer (approx. 65 feet) in length. A vessel owner is only required to register the vessel one time, and then the IMO number is permanently assigned to that vessel and does not change or expire, regardless of any subsequent change in vessel ownership. SERO collects the IMO number through the Vessel EEZ application for the NMFS HMS Division and is required to renew or obtain a HMS limited access permit, including the Atlantic tuna longline, shark incidental, shark directed, swordfish incidental, swordfish directed, and swordfish handgear permits (50 CFR 635). Permit applications that do not contain the required supporting documents are considered incomplete. Collection of this information through annual vessel permits provides current information on the vessel owners participating in these fisheries, thus facilitating quota monitoring necessary to avoid exceeding catch quotas for HMS and helps support enforcement efforts of fishery regulations.

Smoothhound Shark Permit. This annual permit requirement aids in identifying the participants in the commercial smoothhound shark fishery to facilitate information gathering for fishery management and quota monitoring, facilitate enforcement of fishing regulations, and help maintain a sustainable fishery. For a person aboard a vessel used to harvest or possess any highly migratory species (i.e., sharks, tunas, swordfish), a vessel permit(s) is required as specified at 50 CFR 635.4. The smoothhound shark permit application is included as part of the Vessel EEZ application form. In the discussion below, estimates of the annual numbers of respondents, responses, and time and cost burden are given separately from the Vessel EEZ application.

NMFS anticipates that the information collected by these forms could be disseminated to the public or used to support publicly disseminated information. As explained in the following sections, the information gathered has utility. NMFS will 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. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.

3. 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.

The SERO and other NMFS websites include the forms under this collection. NMFS can also mail forms and instructions when preferred by respondents. Respondents can download and complete forms electronically, or complete paper forms, and then they can either mail or bring the forms to NMFS. Online permit applications for all of the permits included on the Vessel EEZ, Federal Dealer, and Operator Card forms. All other permitting and reporting requirements in 0648-0205 are currently still completed via paper forms.

Currently, only the permit application forms for Wreckfish, Aquaculture Live Rock, Duplicate Permit Request, Change of Information, Columbian Treaty Waters, and Consolidate Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Permits cannot be submitted online. These applications make up about 5 percent of the total applications that NMFS receives each year. NMFS recently upgraded the permit system and numbers received in the new system are unavailable. Electronic submissions comprised approximately 65 percent of applications received in the previous permit system.

By the end of 2021, NMFS plans to have online submission available for Wreckfish and Aquaculture Live Rock permit applications.

4. 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 Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils and their advisory groups meet multiple times per year to discuss issues pertinent to management of fisheries in the southeast region, including permits and permitting requirements. These groups include representatives from fishing and processing industries, environmentalists, the academic community, and the Atlantic, Gulf, and U.S. Caribbean states and territories. Through these forums and the federal rule-making process, information, including any potential unnecessary or duplication of permitting requirements is identified. No duplication or irrelevant information request on the forms proposed for revision has been identified.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

Because nearly all applicants are currently thought to be small businesses or small entities, separate requirements based on size of business have not been developed. However, one of the purposes of the proposed revisions is to determine more accurately if permit holders are in fact small entities. Only the minimum data to meet the current and future needs of NMFS’ fisheries management are requested from the applicants.

6. 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 this information collection were not conducted or conducted less frequently, the United States would have difficulty fulfilling reporting and compliance obligations under Magnuson-Stevens Act, possibly resulting in violations of Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements, including catch-reporting requirements.

Species harvested in fisheries with permits under this collection of information are managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and in several fishery management plans (FMPs). Section 303(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides statutory authority to require permits for fisheries governed by FMPs issued by the Secretary of Commerce.

In addition, regulations at 50 CFR parts 300 (subpart M), 622, and 635 require the permits under this collection of information. The importance of the information collected prior to permit issuance and the use of the permit system is explained under Question 2.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

There are no special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

8. 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.

In the near future, NMFS will publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule for Amendment 10 (RIN: 0648-BL00). The proposed rule will solicit public comments for a 30-day period on the revision of this information collection, among the other proposed management measures.

Furthermore, for several years, the South Atlantic Council has held public meetings, which were noticed in the Federal Register, to discuss the development of Amendment 10, including the removal of the operator permit for the Atlantic dolphin and wahoo fishery. Public comments from fishermen, law enforcement, and state fisheries management agencies were supportive of removing the existing requirements.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

There are no payments or other remunerations to respondents.

10. 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.

As stated on the forms and unless otherwise noted, all data submitted under the information collections will be handled as confidential material in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, section 402b, and NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Protection of Confidential Fishery Statistics.

This information collection is included in a comprehensive NMFS Permits and Registrations System of Records Notice (SORN), COMMERCE/NOAA #19, Permits and Registrations for U.S. Federally Regulated Fisheries, published April 17, 2008, and effective June 11, 2008. An updated SORN was published on August 7, 2015, and became effective on October 15, 2015.

11. 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 questions of a sensitive nature are asked.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.

As of August 26, 2021, NMFS had issued 122 permits for Carolina zone rock shrimp and 101 permits for South Atlantic EEZ rock shrimp, totaling 223 permits. Conservatively estimating that NMFS has issued each rock shrimp permit to a unique entity and that one operator permit is issued with each rock shrimp permit, the estimated respondents and responses for operator permits will be 223 per 3-year term of permit validity, or 74 respondents and responses annually. Burden hours total 37 per year and permit costs total $3,774 annually.

Information Collection	Type of Respondent (Occupational Title)	Annual # of Respondents (a)	Annual # of Responses / Respondent (b)	Total # of Annual Responses (c) = (a) x (b)	Burden Hrs / Response (d)	Total Annual Burden Hrs (e) = (c) x (d)	Mean Hourly Wage Rate $ (for Type of Respondent) (f)*	Total Annual Wage Burden Costs ($) (g) = (e) x (f)
Application for Vessels Fishing in the EEZ	Fisherman	5,648	~1.2	6,481	50 min	5,401	14.49	78,260.49
Application for Vessels Fishing for Wreckfish in the South Atlantic States	Fisherman	5	~1	6	55 min	6	14.49	86.94
Application for an Annual Dealer Permit	Fisherman	461	~1.2	533	30 min	267	14.49	3,868.83
Application for a New Permit for the Harvest of Aquacultured Live Rock	Fisherman	3	1	3	70 min	4	14.49	57.96
Application to Renew Permit for the Harvest of Aquacultured Live Rock	Fisherman	15	~1.5	22	50 min	18	14.49	260.82
Notice of Intent to Harvest Aquacultured Live Rock	Fisherman	18	~6.7	120	10 min	20	14.49	289.80
Aquaculture Deposit or Harvest Report	Fisherman	18	~6.7	120	15 min	30	14.49	434.70
Application for Operator Card	Fisherman	74	1	74	30 min	37	16.02	593
Application to fish in Colombian Treaty Waters	Fisherman	1	1	1	50 min	1	14.49	14.49
Change of Information for Federal Fishery Permit Holders	Fisherman	50	1	50	5 min	4	14.49	57.96
Application to Consolidate Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Permits	Fisherman	1	1	1	5 min	1	14.49	14.49
Application for Duplicate Permits, Cards, or Decals	Fisherman	150	1	150	5 min	13	14.49	188.37
Notification of Lost Traps	Fisherman	9	1	9	10 min	2	14.49	28.98
Golden Crab Permittee Zone Transit Notification	Fisherman	5	1	5	10 min	1	14.49	14.49
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Landings Report	Fisherman	1,325	~1.1	1,432	20 min	477	14.49	6,911.73
Permit Transfer Notarization	Fisherman	1,500	1.4	1,710	10 min	285	14.49	4,129.65
IMO Number Registration	Fisherman	50	1	50	30 min	25	14.49	362.25
Smoothhound Shark Permit	Fisherman	500	1	500	50 min	417	14.49	6,042.33
Totals		9833		11267	505 min; 23 min	7008		19401.2

Wage data for Application for Operator Card from the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation code 45-0000, Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations, was used to determine the appropriate mean hourly wage rate. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes450000.htm. Other wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation code 45-3031, Fishing and Hunting Workers, was used to determine the appropriate mean hourly wage rate. https://www.bls.gov/soc/2018/major_groups.htm#45-0000

13. 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).

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)
Application for Vessels Fishing in the EEZ	5,648	~1.2	6,481	41	265,721
Application for Vessels Fishing for Wreckfish in the South Atlantic States	5	~1	6	49	294
Application for an Annual Dealer Permit	461	~1.2	533	46	24,483
Application for a New Permit for the Harvest of Aquacultured Live Rock	3	1	3	176	528
Application to Renew Permit for the Harvest of Aquacultured Live Rock	15	~1.5	22	32	704
Notice of Intent to Harvest Aquacultured Live Rock	18	~6.7	120	0	0
Aquaculture Deposit or Harvest Report	18	~6.7	120	1	120
Application for Operator Card	74	1	74	51	3,774
Application to fish in Colombian Treaty Waters	1	1	1	1	1
Change of Information for Federal Fishery Permit Holders	50	1	50	1	50
Application to Consolidate Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Permits	1	1	1	1	1
Application for Duplicate Permits, Cards, or Decals	150	1	150	19	2,850
Notification of Lost Traps	9	1	9	0	0
Golden Crab Permittee Zone Transit Notification	5	1	5	0	0
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Landings Report	1,325	~1.1	1,432	1	1,432
Permit Transfer Notarization	1,500	1.4	1,710	6	8,550
IMO Number Registration	50	1	50	0	0
Smoothhound Shark Permit	500	1	500	26	13,000
TOTALS			11,267		321,508

14. 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/Step	Loaded Salary or Cost	% of Effort	Fringe (if Applicable)	Total Cost to Government
Federal Oversight	ZP-4	150,000	100		150,000
	ZP-2 (5)	75,000	100		375,000
TOTAL					525,000

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in ROCIS.

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
Federal Permit Application for Southeast Region Issued Operator Card	74	552	74	552	37	276	Regulatory change removed required information collection.
Total for Collection	9833	10311	11267	11745	7008	7247
Difference	(478)		(478)		(239)

Information Collection	Labor Costs $		Burden Costs $		Reason for change or adjustment
	Current	Previous	Current	Previous
Federal Permit Application for Southeast Region Issued Operator Card	593	3999.24	3774	28152	Fewer burden hours decreased estimated annual cost burden.  Fewer burden hours decreased estimate wage costs. Estimated mean hourly wage increased.
Total for Collection	19,401	22,807	321,508	345,886
Difference	-3,402		-24,378

16. 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 planned for publication in a standalone report. NMFS may use the results to inform other analyses or for general informational purposes.

17. 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 expiration date will be displayed on the information collections.

18. 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).

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