ARSC SS revised 071110

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
ALASKA REGION SCALE AND CATCH WEIGHING
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-NEW

INTRODUCTION
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) off Alaska. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)
prepared the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (BSAI) and the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf
of Alaska under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR part 679.
On October 21, 1998, the President signed the The American Fisheries Act (AFA), 16 U.S.C.
1851 which imposed major structural changes on the BSAI pollock fishery. Implementing
regulations are found at 50 CFR 679.
This document describes a collection-of-information to support a new program, the Chinook
Salmon Prohibited Species Quota (PSQ) Program (Chinook PSQ Program). This collection will
be combined with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 0648-0330
collection after renewal is approved.

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The Chinook PSQ Program is established as a management tool to promote reduction of Chinook
salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) in the Bering Sea pollock fishery managed under the AFA
to the extent practicable while achieving optimum yield in the pollock fishery. The focus of the
new program is the Bering Sea pollock fishery because this trawl fishery catches up to 95 percent
of the Chinook salmon taken as PSC in the BSAI groundfish fisheries. Non-Chinook salmon
PSC reduction measures will also remain in effect.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be
used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support
information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection
complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
a. Inshore Processor Catch Monitoring And Control Plan (CMCP).
Under current regulations, each inshore processor (shoreside processor or stationary floating
processor (SFP) receiving fish harvested in the following fisheries must prepare, submit, and
have approved a CMCP prior to the receipt of fish harvested in these fisheries: AFA and CDQ
pollock; Aleutian Islands directed pollock, and Rockfish Program, unless those fish are harvested
under the entry level rockfish fishery described under §679.83. A CMCP is a plan submitted
1

annually by the manager of inshore processors and approved by NMFS detailing how the
processor will meet each of the performance standards at 50 CFR 679.28(g).
New CMCP requirements would be effective for the 2011 fishing year so inshore processors
would have to modify their plants to meet these requirements and have these modifications
reflected in CMCPs approved by NMFS prior to January 20, 2011.
Requirements to deliver pollock to inshore processors that have approved CMCPs currently
apply only to AFA catcher vessels delivering non-CDQ pollock to inshore processors. These
requirements do not apply to catcher vessels directed fishing for pollock on behalf of a CDQ
group. With few exceptions, pollock allocated to the CDQ Program since 1992 has been
processed at sea on catcher/processors or motherships. Therefore, this requirement would not
require any of the CDQ groups to stop delivering pollock CDQ to a currently-contracted
processing partner.
NMFS will approve a CMCP for one year if it meets the performance standards.
♦ The CMCP must detail:
Amount and location of space for sorting catch,
Number of staff assigned to catch sorting
Maximum rate that catch will flow through the sorting area.
♦ The CMCP must identify by serial number each scale used to weigh groundfish and
describe the rational for its use. NMFS may exempt scales not designed for automatic bulk
weighing from some or all of the printed record requirements if the CMCP identifies any scale
that cannot produce a complete printed record, states how the processor will use the scale, and
states how the plant intends to produce a complete record of the total weight of each delivery.
♦ Each CMCP must identify a single delivery point
♦ Each CMCP must designate an observation area
♦ Each CMCP must identify and include an observer work station for the exclusive use of
observers.
♦ The CMCP must describe communication equipment such as radios, pagers or cellular
phones, used to facilitate communications within the plant
♦ The CMCP must designate a plant liaison
♦ The CMCP must be accompanied by a scale drawing of the plant showing
The delivery point
The observation area
The observer work station
The location of each scale used to weight catch
Each location where catch is sorted including the last location where sorting could occur
Location of salmon storage container.
2

CMCP, Respondent
Number of respondents
7 AFA inshore processors
5 Rockfish inshore processors in Gulf of Alaska
Total annual responses
Number annual responses = 1
Total burden hours
Time per response = 40 hr
Total personnel cost
Cost per hour = $25
Total miscellaneous costs ($55.20)
Mail (2.10 x 12 = 25.20)
Photocopy cost ($0.05 x 50 pp x 12 = $30.00)

12

12
480
$12,000
$55

CMCP, Federal Government
Total annual responses
Total burden hours
Time per response = 5 hr
Total personnel cost
Cost per hour = $25
Total miscellaneous cost

12
60
$1500
0

b. Inspection Request, Inshore CMCP
The owner or manager may arrange for a CMCP inspection by submitting to NMFS a written
request for a CMCP inspection. NMFS will schedule an inspection within 10 working days after
NMFS receives a complete application for an inspection.
A CMCP is approved for one year. An owner or manager must notify NMFS in writing if
changes are made in plant operations or layout that does not conform to the CMCP.
Inspection Request, Inshore CMCP
Name and signature of the person submitting the application
Date of the application;
Business mailing address, business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address
Proposed CMCP
Inspection Request, Inshore CMCP, Respondent
Number of respondents
Total annual responses
Frequency of response = 1
Total burden hours (5 min/60 min x 12 = 1)
Time per response (5min)
Total personnel cost
Total miscellaneous cost (77.04)
Postage (0.42 x 12 = 5.04)
Fax ($6 x 12 = 72)
Inspection Request, Inshore CMCP, Federal Government
Total annual responses
Total burden hours = 4 hr
Total personnel cost = $25/hr
Total miscellaneous cost
3

12
12
1 hr
$25
$77

12
48
$1,200
0

c. CMCP Addendum
An owner or manager must notify NMFS in writing if changes are made in plant operations or
layout that does not conform to the CMCP. An owner and manager may change an approved
CMCP by submitting a CMCP addendum to NMFS. NMFS will approve the modified CMCP if
it continues to meet the performance standards.
CMCP Addendum
Name and signature of the person submitting the addendum;
Business mailing address, business telephone number, business fax number, and business email address
A complete description of the proposed CMCP change.
CMCP Addendum, Respondent
Number of respondents
Total annual responses
Responses per respondent
Total burden hours
Time per response = 8 hr
Total personnel cost ($25 x 32)
Personnel cost per hr = 25
Total miscellaneous cost (25.68)
Postage (0.42 x 4 = 1.68)
Fax ($6 x 4 = 24)
CMCP Addendum, Federal Government
Total annual responses
Total burden hours = 4 hr
Total personnel cost = $25/hr
Total miscellaneous cost

4
4
32 hr
$800
$26

4
16
$400
0

d. Electronic Monitoring (Cameras, Monitors, & Digital Video Recording System)
A number of electronic monitoring technologies are now being applied to fisheries monitoring.
Video technology is proposed as a potential way to supplement existing observer coverage;
enhance the value of the data NMFS receives; and/or fill data gaps that have proven difficult to
fill with human observers. Video monitoring of bins is currently offered as an option for the
AFA pollock fishery.
The video requirements for the Chinook PSQ Program would be effective for the 2011 fishing
year. Owners of catcher/processors and motherships would need to modify their vessels to meet
these requirements and have these modifications approved by NMFS prior to January 20, 2011.
The owner or operator of a catcher/processor or a mothership must provide and maintain an
electronic monitoring system that includes cameras, a monitor, and a digital video recording
system for all areas where sorting of salmon of any species takes place and the location of the
salmon storage container. These electronic monitoring system requirements must be met when
the catcher/processor is directed fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea, including pollock CDQ,
and when the mothership is taking deliveries from catcher vessels directed fishing for pollock in
the Bering Sea, including pollock CDQ.
4

The software and hardware requirements are essentially the same for bin monitoring and
Chinook monitoring. Differences are indicated below. Any change to the video system that
would affect the system’s functionality must be submitted to, and approved by the Regional
Administrator in writing before that change is made.
Software And Hardware
The vessel owner or operator must ensure that the electronic monitoring system
♦ Has sufficient data storage capacity to store all video data from an entire trip. Each frame
of stored video data must record a time/date stamp in Alaska local time. At a minimum,
all periods of time when fish are flowing past the sorting area or salmon are in the storage
container must be recorded and stored (Chinook) or at a minimum, all periods of time
when fish are inside the bin must be recorded and stored (Bin)
♦ Includes at least one external Universal Serial Bus (USB) (1.1 or 2.0) port (hard drive) or
other removable storage device approved by NMFS. An USB is a way of setting up
communication between a computer and peripheral devices.
♦ Uses commercially available software.
♦ Color cameras must have at a minimum 420 TV lines of resolution (bin) or 470 TV lines
of resolution (Chinook), a lux rating of 0.1 (bin) and auto-iris capabilities. Color
cameras must output color video to the recording device with the ability to revert to black
and white video output when light levels become too low for color recognition
(Chinook).
♦ Video data must be maintained and made available to NMFS staff, or any individual
authorized by NMFS, upon request. These data must be retained onboard the vessel for
no less than 120 days after the beginning of a trip unless NMFS has notified the vessel
operator that the video data may be retained for less than this 120-day period.
♦ Provides sufficient resolution and field of view to: observe all areas where salmon could
be sorted from the catch, all crew actions in these areas, and discern individual fish in the
salmon storage container (Chinook) or see and read a text sample written in 130 point
type (corresponding to line two of a standard Snellen eye chart) from any location within
the tank where crew could be located (bin);
♦ Records at a speed of no less than 5 frames per second at all times when fish are being
sorted or when salmon are stored in the salmon storage location (Chinook) or when fish
are inside the tank (bin);
♦ Provides a 16-bit or better color monitor, for viewing activities within the tank in real
time within the observer sampling station. The monitor must:
▪

Have the capacity to display all cameras simultaneously;
5

▪

Be operating at all times when fish are flowing past the sorting area and salmon are
in the storage container (Chinook) or at all times when fish are in the tank (bin);

▪

Be securely mounted at or near eye level;

♦ Enables the observer to view any earlier footage from any point in the trip and be assisted
by crew knowledgeable in the operation of the system.
Specifications Of The System
At a minimum, must include:
Length and width (in pixels) of each image
File type in which the data are recorded
Type and extent of compression
Frame rate at which the data will be recorded
Brand and model number of the cameras used
Brand, model, and specifications of the lenses used
Size and type of storage device
Type, speed, and operating system of any computer that is part of the system.
Capital Costs
Costs for the Chinook PSQ Program video include cameras, a digital video recorder (DVR),
associated software, storage of the data, installation of the equipment, and maintenance of the
system. Because vessel configurations are variable, the costs for a vessel to implement video to
ensure an observer can monitor all locations where sorting, storage, and discard of salmon prior
to being counted could be located could be quite variable, depending on the nature of the system
chosen. In most cases, the system would be expected to consist of one DVR/computer system
and between two and five cameras.
DVR systems range in price from $1,500 to $10,000, for an average of $5,750, and cameras cost
between $75 and $300 each, for an average cost of $187.50. Storage costs will vary depending
on the frame rate, color density, amount of compression, and image size. The system would be
expected to record data at a rate of between 5 and 20 gigabits (GB) per day. Assuming that a
catcher/processor fishes for an average of 10 days per trip, the amount of storage space would be
between 50 and 200 GB per camera, or between 100 (for a two camera system producing highly
compressed images, with 8 bit color density, and a fairly small frame size) and 1,000 GB (for a
five camera system producing moderately compressed images, with 16 bit color density, and a
fairly large screen size).
Installation costs will be a function of where the DVR/computer can be located in relation to an
available power source, cameras, and the observer sampling station. In most cases, the
DVR/computer would be located on the factory deck in an office/lab, if one is available, or in the
wheel house if one is not. It is also possible that vessel owners will choose to build a weather
resistant enclosure for the DVR/computer in or near the observer sampling station. NMFS
estimates that a fairly simple installation will cost approximately $2,000, while a complex
installation will cost approximately $10,000, for an average cost of $6,000.
6

Miscellaneous Costs
Assuming that vessels choose to purchase redundant storage capacity, and that Universal Serial
Bus (USB) compatible hard drives cost approximately $1.00 per GB, NMFS estimates that
storage will cost between $400 and $3,000, for an average cost of $1,700. Maintenance costs are
difficult to estimate because much of this technology has not been extensively used at sea by the
U.S. fleet. However, we estimate a hard disk failure rate of 20 percent per year, and a
DVR/computer lifespan of three years, or between $680 and $4,100 per year.
Electronic Monitoring System, Respondent
Number of respondents
17 AFA trawl catcher/processors
3 AFA motherships
1 non-AFA trawl catcher/processor
Total annual responses
Data responses per year = 12 (1/month)
Total burden hours
Estimated time per response = 1 hr
Total personnel cost
Cost per hour = $25
Total capital cost for Chinook PSQ Program
Digital video recorder (DVR)/computer system
($1,500 to $10,000 = av. $5,750)
Video camera ($75 to $300 = av. $188)
Installation ($2,000 to $10,000 = av. $6,000)
$5,750 + $188 + $6,000 = $11,938/3 = $3,979 * 21
Total miscellaneous cost
Data storage ($400 to $3,000 = av. $1,700)
Annual system maintenance
($680 to $4,100= avg $2,390)
$1,700 + $2,390 = 4,090 *21
Electronic Monitoring System, Federal Government
Total annual responses
Total burden hours
Total personnel cost
Total miscellaneous cost

21

252
252
6,300
$83,559

$85,890

0
0
0
0

e. Request For Inspection.
The owner may arrange the time and place for an inspection of the electronic monitoring or bin
monitoring by submitting to NMFS by fax (206) 526-4066 or e-mail
station.inspections@noaa.gov an Inspection Request available on the NMFS Alaska Region Web
site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Inspections will be scheduled no later than 10 working days after NMFS receives a complete
application for an inspection. Inspections will be conducted on vessels tied to docks in Alaska at
Dutch Harbor and Kodiak and in the Puget Sound area of Washington State.

7

An Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) Inspection Report, valid for 12 months from the date it
is signed by NMFS, will be issued to the vessel owner if the electronic monitoring system meets
the requirements. The EMS Inspection Report must be made available to the observer, NMFS
personnel, or to any authorized officer upon request. The vessel owner must maintain a current
EMS Inspection Report onboard the vessel at all times the vessel is required to provide an
approved electronic monitoring system.
A Scale Inspection Report and a Scale Inspection Sticker, valid for 12 months, will be issued to
the vessel owner or operator if the bin monitoring system meets the requirements under the line
of sight option described in §679.28(i)(1)(ii) or the video option described in §679.28 (i)(1)(iii).
The vessel owner must maintain a current Scale Inspection Report and a Scale Inspection Sticker
onboard the vessel at all times the vessel is required to provide an approved bin monitoring
inspection.
Request for Inspection, Bin Monitoring, Video Option
Printed name and signature of the person submitting the application
Date of the application
Business mailing address, business telephone number, and business fax number
If vessel previously received an electronic monitoring system inspection,
the date of the most recent inspection report
Vessel name and Federal fisheries permit number
Location where the inspection is requested to occur, including street address and city
A diagram drawn to scale showing
Locations where all catch will be weighed and sorted by the observer,
Location where unsorted catch will be collected
Location of any video equipment or viewing panels or ports
Request for Inspection, Chinook Electronic Monitoring System
Vessel name and Federal fisheries permit number
Printed name and signature of the person submitting the application
Date of the application
Business mailing address, business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address
System specifications
Pixel length and width of image
File type to which data are recorded
Compression type
Frame rate at which data are recorded
Storage device type and size
Brand and model number of the cameras
Brand, model, and specifications of the lenses
Type, speed, and operating system of any computer that is part of the system
A diagram drawn to scale showing
All locations where salmon will be sorted
Location of the salmon storage container
Location of each camera and its coverage area
Location of any additional video equipment
Individual or company responsible for installing and maintaining the system
Individual onboard the vessel responsible for maintaining the system and working with the observer on its use

8

Inspection Request, Electronic Monitoring System,
Respondent
Number of respondents
21
Total annual responses
21
Responses per year = 1
Total burden hours
42
Estimated time per response = 2 hr
Total personnel cost
$1,050
Cost per hour = $25
Total miscellaneous cost (2.10)
$2
Photocopy (0.05*21)
Email submittal (0.05*21)
Inspection request, Electronic Monitoring System,
Federal Government
Total annual responses
Total burden hours (2.31)
Time per response = 0.11 hr x 21
Total personnel cost
Cost per hour = $25
Total miscellaneous cost

21
2
$50
0

It is anticipated that the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to
support publicly disseminated information. As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the
information gathered has utility. NMFS will retain control over the information and safeguard it
from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic
information. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on
confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all
applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be
subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of
Public Law 106-554.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
The CMCP is a large report with various sizes of pages which does not lend itself to automated
submittal. It would be mailed or delivered. “Fillable” forms are available at the NMFS Alaska
Region Home Page at alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, for the participant to download, print, and fax to
NMFS.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
None of the information collected as part of this information collection duplicates other
collections.

9

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
This collection of information does not impose a significant impact on small entities. The only
small entities that are directly regulated by this action are the six western Alaska CDQ
organizations, and the impact is not significant.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The purpose of the proposed action is to minimize Chinook salmon PSC to the extent practicable
while achieving optimum yield from the pollock fishery. This action is necessary to ensure longterm conservation and abundance of salmon, maintain a healthy marine ecosystem, provide
maximum benefit to fishermen and communities that depend on salmon and pollock, and comply
with the Magnuson–Stevens Act. If the information were not collected annually, NMFS would
be unable to achieve these goals.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
No special circumstances are associated with this information collection.
8. Provide a copy of the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments on the
information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received
in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those
comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their
views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and
recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be
recorded, disclosed, or reported.
The NMFS Alaska Region will submit a proposed rule, Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)
0648-AX98, coincident with this submission, requesting comments from the public.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payment or gift will be provided under this program.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
As stated on the forms, the information collected under Magnuson-Stevens Act is confidential
under section 402(b). The information is also confidential under NOAA Administrative Order
216-100, which sets forth procedures to protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.

10

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
This information collection does not involve information of a sensitive nature.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Total estimated unique respondents: 33 (18 catcher/processors, 12 inshore processors, 3 AFA
motherships). Total estimated responses: 301. Total estimated time burden: 807 hours. Total
estimated personnel cost: $20,175.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question
12 above).
Total operation and maintenance/miscellaneous costs: $86,050. Total annualized capital costs:
$83,559.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
Total estimated time burden: 126 hr. Total personnel cost: $3,150. No estimated miscellaneous
costs.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
This is a new program.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
The information collected will not be published.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
Not applicable.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
Not applicable.

B.

COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection does not employ statistical methods.
11