Justification for Change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE
NMFS OBSERVER PROGRAMS’ INFORMATION THAT CAN BE GATHERED ONLY
THROUGH QUESTIONS OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0593
In 2011, fisheries management changes will increase observer coverage in the Northwest Region,
which necessitates an increase in burden hour estimates for Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Control No. 0648-0593. The additional burden hours comes from additional trips that will be
observed by the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP). The revised estimate of the
burden minutes per observed trip (current and sector trips) is the total burden for all information
collections divided by the number of observed trips (all trips will be observed).

In addition, one additional question will be asked: “What first receiver (dealer) are you
delivering to?” This question is the same as “Dealer’s name if the catch is not sold immediately
after arrival in port” which is already included in the OMB Control No. 0648-0593. Additional
burden hours per trip were not needed to incorporate this question as there is a reduction of
burden hours due to two questions no longer being asked of the limited entry trawl fleet: “Did
you receive your selection letter?” and “Will you be fishing during the specified period?”.
Thus, the overall burden for OMB Control No. 0648-0593 will change from the currently approved
23,680 to 25,561 with the addition of 1,881 hours and responses, from 18,394 to 20,294, based on the
absolute difference of 1,900 trips. Reporting/recordkeeping costs will increase from the currently
approved $1,000 to $1,135.

The table below includes the responses and hours for the At-Sea Hake Observing Program
(ASHOP), with no changes, vs. the WCGOP current and changed burden.
Reminder, in this information collection, Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) statements are not on all
forms (i.e. forms that are mostly used by the observers for recording of direct observations), but are
on the letter to fishermen and/or the safety inspection form, and are also available directly from the
observer on board.

Northwest
May 26, 2009
ASHOP
Active vessels in fisheries with a
NMFS observer program
Observed vessels
Observed trips

WCGOP

Northwest
January 31, 2011
ASHOP

WCGOP

Change
ASHOP

WCGOP

15

1,400

15

1,500

0

100

15

1,000

15

1,100

0

100

110

1,500

110

3,400

0

1900

30

60

30

60

0

0

55

1,500

55

3400

0

1900

99%

99%

99%

99%

N/A

N/A

54

1,485

54

3366

0

1881

Fish processing plants in fisheries
with a NMFS observer program
Observed fish processing plants
Deployments to fish processing
plants
Other fish processing plants
contacted
Burden minutes/trip
Estimated burden hours with 100%
response
Response rate
Response rate adjusted estimated
burden hours