U.s. Purse Seine Discard Form

OMB No.: 0648-0649
EXPIRES: 7/31/2024

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
FORM UNIQUE IDENTIFIER: [WIN + DATE] ____________________________________________________________________________________________

U.S. PURSE SEINE DISCARD FORM
Section 1: Vessel Information
Vessel Name:

International Radio Call Sign:

License Number (WCPFC Area Endorsement Number):
Section 2: Personnel Information
Name of Vessel Operator:

Nationality of Vessel Operator:

Name of Observer on Board:
Section 3: Discard Information
Date and Time of Discard in MM/DD/YYYY / 24-HOUR Format:
Location of Discard (Latitude and Longitude Coordinates to the Nearest Minute of Arc):
Date and Time of Set in MM/DD/YYYY / 24-HOUR Format:
Location of the Set (Latitude and Longitude Coordinates to the Nearest Minute of Arc):
Type of Set (Check One): Unassociated □
Drifting Raft, FAD or Payao □

Feeding on Baitfish □

Anchored Raft, FAD or Payao □

Drifting Log, Debris or Dead Animal □
Other

□

Reason for Discard (Check All that Apply):
Fish Unfit for Human Consumption □

Insufficient Well Space □

Serious Equipment Malfunction □

Amount of Discarded Fish, by Species (in metric tons):
Skipjack tuna

Yellowfin tuna

Bigeye tuna

Amount of Retained Fish from the Set, by Species (in metric tons):
Skipjack tuna

Yellowfin tuna

Section 4: Optional Additional Information

Bigeye tuna

Instructions for U.S. Purse Seine Discard Form: Owners and operators of fishing vessels of the
United States equipped with purse seine gear that discard bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, or skipjack tuna caught in the
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Area must ensure completion of this form. One form must be
completed for each set from which any fish are discarded. The form must be completed and submitted to the Executive
Director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) within 48 hours of each discard at the
following address: E-Mail ([email protected]) or Fax (+691 320-1108).
A copy of the form must be submitted to the NMFS American Samoa Field Station within 48 hours of each such discard at
the following address: E-Mail ([email protected]) or Fax (684-633-1400). A hard copy of the form must be
provided to the observer on board the vessel.
Section 1: Vessel Information
Enter the current name of the vessel.
Enter the vessel’s International Radio Call Sign, which is the unique radio station identifier assigned to the vessel by the
Federal Communications Commission.
Enter the WCPFC Area Endorsement number of the vessel (issued by NMFS under 50 CFR 300.212). Enter “none” if
none.
Section 2: Personnel Information
Enter the name of the vessel operator (the master or other individual aboard and in charge of the vessel).
Enter the nationality of the vessel operator.
Enter the name of the observer on board. Enter “none” if none.
Section 3: Discard Information
Enter the date and time of the discard in MM/DD/YYYY/HOUR format. The time should be entered using a 24 hour clock
(e.g., 2:16 pm would be 14:16) in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Enter the location of the discard (latitude and longitude coordinates to the nearest minute of arc).
Enter the date and start time for the set from which the fish is discarded in MM/DD/YYYY/HOUR format. The time should
be entered using a 24 hour clock (e.g., 2:16 pm would be 14:16) in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Enter the location of the set (latitude and longitude coordinates to the nearest minute of arc).
Check the appropriate box for the type of the set. If you check “Other,” provide a brief description of the set type on the
adjacent line.
Check the appropriate box or boxes for the reason(s) for the discard.
Enter the amounts, in metric tons, of all bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna discarded from the set, broken
down by species.
Enter the amounts, in metric tons, of all bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna retained from the set, broken down
by species.
Section 4: Optional Additional Information
If there is any other information you wish to include, please do so in this section.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
suggestions for reducing this burden to Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office,
1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu HI 96818. Information submitted to NMFS will be managed as confidential data
consistent with the requirements of NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Section 506(d) of the WCPFC Implementation
Act, and regulations under 50 CFR Part 300. Information submitted to the WCPFC will be subject to the procedures,
policies, and practices adopted by the WCPFC, but NOAA and NMFS cannot provide any assurance of confidentiality.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subjected to
a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

Privacy Act Statement:
Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention
Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
Purpose: In order to fulfill obligations under the WCPFCIA, the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requires
the submission of information for NMFS and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) to
monitor discards of the U.S. purse seine vessels fishing for highly migratory species in the Commission’s area of
competence for compliance-related and scientific purposes..
Routine Uses: The Department will use this information to collect information on discards. Disclosure of this information
is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a), to be shared within NMFS offices, in order to
coordinate monitoring and management of sustainability of fisheries and protected resources, as well as with the
applicable State or Regional Marine Fisheries Commissions and International Organizations. Disclosure of this
information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice
COMMERCE/NOAA-6, Fishermen’s Statistical Data.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is mandatory.