Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status

No forms / supporting documents in this ICR. Check IC Document Collections.

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43575	Bluefin Tuna Landing Cards for MD and NC Form	Removed
220949	MD and NC swordfish and billfish landings Form	Removed
213797	Commercial Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports - General, Harpoon, and Charter/Head boat Other-Website (screenshot)	Modified
205758	Maryland Shark Landings Form	Removed
190406	MD and NC weekly and annual reports on BFT landngs Form	Removed
190405	Billfish and Swordfish Catch Reports Instruction	Modified
190404	73" Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0328	ICR Reference No: 202602-0648-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202209-0648-006
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 03/26/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2026
Responses	18,681	17,794
Time Burden (Hours)	1,557	1,677
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) 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. Under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) of 1975, the Secretary of Commerce is required to promulgate regulations as may be necessary and appropriate to implement binding recommendations adopted by the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT requires the United States to collect biological statistics for research purposes and establishes annual quotas that limit the overall U.S. bluefin tuna and swordfish catches and U.S. recreational marlin landings. Timely access to recreational bluefin tuna catch data (e.g., landings and dead discards) and swordfish and marlin landings is vital to effectively monitor and manage the U.S. quotas. This collection provides such access so that managers can implement appropriate measures to limit catch or landings as necessary. This information collection request (ICR) is being modified to reflect the decision by the states of Maryland and North Carolina to discontinue their state catch card programs, which will necessitate HMS permit holders to shift to using the existing Federal reporting options for their HMS catch reports. The state of North Carolina discontinued their HMS catch card program in April 2025, while the state of Maryland’s program was discontinued in December 2025. This ICR has been revised to reflect that shift in reporting burden. Previously submitted revisions pursuant to proposed rule 0648-BM23 will be addressed by a separate action.

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Authorizing Statute(s): 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
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 30876	07/11/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 14680	03/26/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Billfish and Swordfish Catch Reports
Bluefin Tuna Landing Cards for MD and NC	NA, NA	MD Tuna Catch Card ,   NC Catch Card
Commercial Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports - General, Harpoon, and Charter/Head boat
MD and NC swordfish and billfish landings	NA	MD Billfish Catch Card
MD and NC weekly and annual reports on BFT landngs	NA	Catch Card Census Report
Maryland Shark Landings	NA	MD Shark Catch Card
Recreational Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports - Reported Landings and Call-Backs for Fish > 73"

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ICR Summary of Burden

	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	18,681	17,794	0	-1,632	2,519	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,557	1,677	0	-331	211	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: As of the end of last year, both the NC and MD HMS Catch Card programs were discontinued; therefore, we are using this renewal to remove four of the ICs related to those responses and burden.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $882,715

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 03/26/2026

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