Electronic Monitoring Systems
for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
08/15/2022
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2023
07/31/2023
33,615
35,409
3,305
5,276
238,862
384,233
This is a resubmission, with the final
rule, of a request for revision of an existing information
collection. The associated rule, Amendment 13 to the 2006 Atlantic
Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) (Amendment 13), adds a requirement to report commercial
fishing interactions with bluefin tuna to Atlantic Tunas Longline
permitted vessels using green-stick gear, and removal of reporting
requirement for vessels fishing with purse seine gear, which would
no longer be allowed. (RIN 0648-BI08). Two changes were made to
this information collection (ICR) from the proposed to the final
rule that resulted in changes to the burden and cost estimates for
this collection. Previously, the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) would cover all costs associated with the installation of
electronic monitoring (EM) systems; however, NMFS is now moving
toward having vessel owners pay for portions of the EM system
consistent with the NOAA Cost Allocation Policy (Procedure
04-115-02). Per this policy change, the final rule now requires
that installation of hardware to improve the view of the EM rail
camera, and installation of a measuring grid will be incurred by
the vessel owner, and will not be subject to reimbursement from
NMFS. New entrants to the HMS fishery may still qualify for
reimbursement for EM equipment costs if funds are available. As all
active vessels now possess EM systems, this ICR has been modified
to include full EM installation costs for only one new entrant per
year. Finally, the final rule reduces the EM reporting burden for
the longline fishery by half. Previously, EM vessels were required
to send their EM hard drives to NMFS following every trip, but this
rule modifies that reporting requirement to every other trip. While
these changes were not included in this PRA supporting statement at
the proposed rule stage, the public was given the opportunity to
comment on all of them during proposed rule comment period, and
summaries of their comments and the agency’s responses are included
under question 8. The combined effect of these changes is a
significant reduction in reporting burden and costs for the pelagic
longline fishery.
US Code:
16
USC 971 Name of Law: Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975
Vessel Monitoring System Certification Statement for Atlantic
Highly Migratory Species
Total Request
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in
Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of
the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
33,615
35,409
0
2,063
-3,857
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
3,305
5,276
0
2,063
-4,034
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
238,862
384,233
0
52,391
-197,762
0
Yes
Miscellaneous
Actions
No
Reduction of the EM reporting
burden for longline fisheries as rule modifies reporting
requirement to every other trip and removal of reporting
requirement for vessels fishing with purse seine gear.
Additionally, Electronic Video and Gear Monitoring Requirements was
split into 4 separate ICs for increased transparency and it was
discovered that there was an administrative error in failing to
include burden for service payments and purchase/install and EMP.
This has been corrected in this submission.
$1,486,847
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Clifford Hutt 301
427-8588
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.