There are currently approximately
1,932 permitted vessels that harvest shrimp from the Exclusive
Economic Zone, and the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Fishery Management
Council (Council) estimates that there are over 13,000 boats that
fish in state waters. With such a large number of vessels of
differing sizes, gears used, and fishing capabilities compounded by
seasonal variability in abundance and price and the broad
geographic distribution of the fleet, it is practically impossible
to estimate the actual amount of fishing effort using current
methods and data. The only practical way of improving the estimates
of the amount and type of bycatch is by having a more precise means
of estimating effort. Therefore, Amendment 13 to the GOM shrimp
fishery amended the Fishery Management Plan to include a mandatory
electronic logbook program.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
The number of respondents has
doubled for this collection due to the expansion of the ELB
program. NMFS has purchased additional ELB units for installation
on additional vessels.
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.