NMFS Recreational Bluefin Reporting System Feedback Survey Request Submission

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback” (OMB Control Number: 0690-0030)

TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: Survey for Soliciting Feedback on the NMFS Recreational Bluefin Tuna Reporting System

PURPOSE:

NMFS currently has a rule that requires mandatory reporting of all recreationally landed Atlantic bluefin tuna. This mandatory reporting requirement is fulfilled either by phone or web tool in all states except Maryland and North Carolina, where catch card programs exist. Compliance rates

with the current phone/web reporting system are thought to be extremely low. NMFS is exploring options for implementing a more reliable and accurate recreational bluefin tuna census-based data collection system. A pilot project is currently underway in Massachusetts to test alternative data collection methods for recreational bluefin tuna. The purpose of this survey is to get feedback from recreational bluefin tuna anglers and captains regarding the current data collection program and options for improvements.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS:

The target group for this survey will be Massachusetts anglers and charter boat captains who purchased a Highly Migratory Species permit required to fish recreationally for bluefin tuna in 2011 or 2012. Since the survey will be administered through email only permit holders who provided an email address will be included in the sample frame. Sample sizes for private boat HMS Angling permit and HMS Charter/headboat permit are 2,748 and 683, respectively, for a total sample size of 3,431.

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)

[ ] Customer Comment Card/Complaint Form [ ] Customer Satisfaction Survey

[X] Usability Testing (e.g., Website or Software) [ ] Small Discussion Group

[ ] Focus Group [ ] Other: ____________________

CERTIFICATION:

I certify the following to be true:

1. The collection is voluntary.

2. The collection is low-burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal Government.

3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other federal agencies.

4. The results are not intended to be disseminated to the public.

5. Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing influential policy decisions.

6. The collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the future.

Name:__ Ronald Salz ______________________________________________

To assist review, please provide answers to the following question:

Personally Identifiable Information:

1. Is personally identifiable information (PII) collected? [ ] Yes [X] No

2. If Yes, will any information that is collected be included in records that are subject to the Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [ ] No

3. If Yes, has an up-to-date System of Records Notice (SORN) been published? [ ] Yes [ ] No

Gifts or Payments:

Is an incentive (e.g., money or reimbursement of expenses, token of appreciation) provided to participants? [ ] Yes [ X] No

BURDEN HOURS

Category of Respondent	No. of Respondents	Participation Time	Burden Hours
	3,431	5 minutes	286 hrs.
Totals	3,431		286 hrs.

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is $0____________

If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical methods, please provide answers to the following questions:

The selection of your targeted respondents

1. Do you have a customer list or something similar that defines the universe of potential respondents and do you have a sampling plan for selecting from this universe? [X] Yes [ ] No

If the answer is yes, please provide a description of both below (or attach the sampling plan)? If the answer is no, please provide a description of how you plan to identify your potential group of respondents and how you will select them?

NOAA Fisheries issues permits to private boat anglers (Angling permit) and charter boat captains (Charter/headboat permit) who recreationally fish for tunas, sharks, billfish and swordfish. These permit lists will be used as our sampling frame to provide us with information for the pilot study in Massachusetts. Massachusetts HMS permit holders in the Angling and Charter/headboat permit categories from 2011 and 2012 (through February 14) will be included on the frame. All permit holders who provided an email address will be sent an email with a link to the survey using SurveyMonkey.com. Sample sizes for private boat Angling permits and charter boat Charter/headboat permits are 2,748 and 683, respectively.

Administration of the Instrument

1. How will you collect the information? (Check all that apply)

[X] Web-based or other forms of Social Media

[ ] Telephone

[ ] In-person

[ ] Mail

[ ] Other, Explain

2. Will interviewers or facilitators be used? [ ] Yes [ ] No

Please make sure that all instruments, instructions, correspondences (emails, letters, etc.) to respondents, and scripts are submitted with the request. Every instrument must have the following displayed – OMB Control No. 0690-0030

Expiration Date: 04/30/2014

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