Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Comment filed on proposed rule and continue
01/02/2025
09/06/2024
Terms of the previous clearance remain in effect. OMB files this comment in accordance with
5 CFR 1320.11(c). This OMB action is not an approval to conduct or sponsor an information
collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This action has no effect on any current
approvals. If OMB has assigned this ICR a new OMB Control Number, the OMB Control
Number will not appear in the active inventory. For future submissions of this information
collection, reference the OMB Control Number provided.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2026
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2026
17,794
0
17,794
1,677
0
1,677
0
0
0
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationâs (NOAAâs) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requests the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a revision and extension of the existing collection of information under OMB Control Number 0648-0328 for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports. The revision to this information collection package is due to modifications to the HMS reporting requirements that are being implemented by a proposed electronic reporting rulemaking (RIN 0648- BM23) and changes being implemented to the Maryland and North Carolina HMS catch card programs. The proposed electronic reporting rulemaking will modify several information collection requests (ICR), but its only modification to this ICR will be the removal of phone reporting as an option for HMS recreational landings and bluefin tuna catch reports, such that HMS permit holders will be required to use one of the existing electronic reporting options for their catch reports. This ICR is also being modified to reflect the state of Marylandâs decision to transfer their state catch card program to an electronic format, and eliminate the requirement to place a fish tag on their catch, which will significantly reduce the time per response. Additionally, the State of North Carolina has decided to discontinue their state catch card program effective in April 2025, which will necessitate HMS permit holders to shift to using the existing Federal reporting options for their HMS catch reports. This ICR has been revised to reflect that shift in reporting burden.
US Code:
16 USC 1801 et seq.
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
US Code:
16 USC 971 et seq.
Name of Law: Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975
Program changes: Program changes included 1) the elimination of the option to report HMS landings by phone, 2) the elimination of the North Carolina catch card program, which will require HMS permit holders in North Carolina to switch to reporting via the federal HMS catch reporting program, and 3) the reduction of the burden hours per response for respondents to the MD Catch Card program from 10 to 5 minutes due to their planned switch to electronic reporting, and the elimination of fish tags.
Program adjustments: The number of fish caught and number of permitted fishermen during recent years is used to estimate future responses and burden. Landings and catch varies from year to year. Additionally, reporting compliance has increased. However, there were no program adjustments to this submission as recent years saw fewer reports than the years used to estimate burden for the last revision.
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.