0323 SS 101712 Part B

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION AND REPORTING

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0323

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.

All HMS tournaments (approximately 300: 210 targeting billfish and 90 targeting only tuna and/or sharks) are required to be registered and all 300 tournaments are eligible to be selected for reporting.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

As stated above, all HMS tournaments are eligible for reporting selection. Selection of tournaments for reporting is based on fisheries management program-based needs. At this time, the Recreational Billfish Survey (NMFS SEFSC) selects all billfish tournaments for reporting. While all HMS tournaments are eligible for reporting selection, the existing HMS tournaments program does not have the staff or technologies to collect and store the amount of data that would be produced by requiring all tournaments (including tunas and over 40 shark species) to report. NMFS is currently examining the resources required to collect the catch reports of all HMS tournaments in order to obtain reliable, long-term fishery-dependent data in an efficient manner.

3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse. The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Tournaments that are selected for reporting are required by law to submit a completed tournament summary form along with a copy of tournament rules to NMFS within seven days after the completion of tournament fishing (50 CFR 635.5(d)). The reporting form and selection notice are provided to tournament operators. Tournament operators already collect this information to determine a tournament winner. Because the information is readily available to tournament operators, it is possible to complete the reporting summary form quickly and easily. The only additional time or cost burden associated with the collection would be for transcribing, photocopying and mailing/faxing. Because of the mandatory requirement and because the reporting form summarizes information that tournament operators already have, NMFS anticipates a high response rate. In recent years, response rates have varied from 82 – 94%.

To further encourage a high response rate, NMFS conducts an outreach program (brochures, mailings, e-mail network, etc.) to inform tournament operators of the registration and reporting requirements, and to indicate the importance of reliable tournament information for stock assessment purposes and social/economic analysis of potential management measures. Information obtained on the HMS tournament registration and reporting forms is analyzed for reliability before it is incorporated into stock assessments. In order to obtain more reliable and complete data, NMFS continues to consider the option to require all HMS tournaments to submit catch summaries.

4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB must give prior approval.

The information obtained from HMS tournament reports may be incorporated into stock assessment documents, prepared by NOAA fishery scientists, if the data is considered reliable. The stock assessment documents are then discussed and peer-reviewed by domestic and international experts before any policy-related agreements or decisions are made. The peer review process may suggest any possible modifications to the information collection, if deemed necessary.

In 2012, NMFS developed an HMS tournament operator survey (OMB Control No. 0648-0342) that is now being distributed to all operators that registered a tournament in 2012. The survey requests the opinions of tournament operators regarding their experience registering their tournaments and reporting their catch with NMFS. The survey asks if operators would prefer alternative methods of obtaining forms and information, such as online, and if they have any suggestions for improvement in the information collection and its associated procedures. The results of this survey are expected to help the HMS tournaments program develop improved services that are appropriate for use by HMS tournament operators.

5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

For HMS Tournament Registration: Katie Davis

Tournament Registration Administration and Survey Development

NMFS/HMS Management Division

263 13^th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

(727) 824-5399

For HMS Tournament Reporting: Arietta Venizelos

Billfish Tournament Catch Reporting Data Collection

NMFS/Southeast Fisheries Science Center

75 Virginia Beach Drive

Miami, FL 33149

(305) 361-4214

Anna Avrigian

Billfish Tournament Catch Reporting Data Collection

NMFS/Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Panama City Laboratory

3500 Delwood Beach Road

Panama City, FL 32408

(850) 234-6541

Lisa Natanson

Northeast Shark Tournament Sampler/Data Collector

NMFS/Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Narragansett Laboratory

28 Tarzwell Drive

Narragansett, RI 02882

(401) 782-3320

Ron Salz

MRIP Administrator and Data Collector

NMFS/Fisheries Statistics

SSMC3

1315 East West Hwy

Silver Spring, MD 20910

(301) 427-8171

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