Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

ALASKA PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERIES: SPECIAL SUBSISTENCE PERMITS AND HARVEST LOGS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0512

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE: Add name, title, and signature fields for tribal/tribal or community representative on the Community CHP Log and the application for the Special Subsistence Permits.

The United States (U.S.) and Canada participate in the International Pacific Halibut Commission and promulgate regulations governing the Pacific halibut fishery under the authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). Regulations governing the allocation and catch of halibut in U.S. Convention waters that are in agreement with the Halibut Act may be developed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). Regulations recommended by the Council must be approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) before being implemented through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

In October 2000, the Council adopted a halibut program that recognizes the Alaska subsistence halibut fishery. This program was approved by the Secretary and regulations that carry out this program have been in effect since May 15, 2003. The regulations that govern the subsistence halibut fishery can be found at 50 CFR Part 300.

Subsistence halibut is halibut caught by an eligible rural resident or a member of an Alaska Native tribe for direct personal or family consumption as food, sharing for personal or family consumption as food, or for customary trade.

An eligible community or Alaska Native tribe may apply for a special subsistence permit by submitting an application to the Alaska Region, NMFS. The same application form may be used to apply for each of these permits.

There are three subsistence halibut special permits, which can be applied for on one form:

♦ a Community Harvest Permit (CHP) -- Permits an eligible community or Alaska Native tribe to harvest halibut from a single vessel under reduced gear and harvest restrictions.

♦ a Ceremonial Permit – Allows an Alaska Native tribe to harvest up to 25 halibut per permit issued.

♦ an Educational Permit -- Allows an Alaska Native tribe to harvest up to 25 halibut per permit issued.

Subsistence Halibut Special Permits Application

This change request would add fields for

♦ the printed name, signature, and official title of the tribal representative for the CHP.

♦ the printed name, signature, and title of the tribal or community representative for the Halibut Ceremonial Permit.

♦ the printed name, signature, and official title of the tribal representative for the Halibut Education Permit.

The tribal representative completes and submits the form, and he or she is the one that wants to be contacted when the permits are completed. By signing this field, the tribal representative would acknowledge that the recorded information is correct and complete.

Community Harvest Permit (CHP) Log

A CHP consists of a Community Harvest Permit Harvest Log and up to 5 laminated permit cards. Eligible communities or Alaska Native tribes may appoint one CHP Coordinator per community or tribe. The CHP coordinator must issue the laminated CHP permit card to an eligible fisherman, who must have the CHP permit card on his/her person when fishing under the CHP.

This change request would add a CHP coordinator signature field to the Subsistence Halibut Community Harvest Permit (CHP) Log. By signing this field, the coordinator would acknowledge that the recorded information is correct and complete.

It is possible that each response would increase by up to two minutes. There are approximately 26 responses total expected per year, for these two forms, 8 for the application, with a total of 16 minutes added, resulting in a rounded-up increase of 1 hour*; 18 for the CHP log, with a total of 36 minutes added, resulting in a rounded-up increase of 1hour*; thus, the total burden for this collection increases by two hours, from 17 to 19 hours.

*Figures were rounded up in ROCIS.

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