0512 respondent survey

QUESTIONS FOR OMB Control No. 0648-0512 COLLECTION

ALASKA PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERIES: SUBSISTENCE

The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) requires agencies to demonstrate the practical utility of the information that they collect and to balance this against the burden imposed on the public. Public comment is sought regarding: whether this proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

To satisfy the PRA requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Alaska Region is seeking your help on the Alaska Pacific Halibut Fisheries: Subsistence collection, OMB Control Number 0648-0512. This subsistence collection includes special Pacific Halibut permit applications and harvest logs.

The halibut subsistence program provides NMFS the opportunity to improve estimates of subsistence removals for stock assessment purposes and to learn more about the fishery. Despite the current, incomplete data, all subsistence harvests are estimated to account for less than one percent of total halibut removals.

Subsistence Halibut is halibut caught by a 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 customary trade. Subsistence fishing and hunting in Alaska has historically been part of the customary and traditional practices of Alaska Natives and non-Natives, especially in rural areas with limited alternative food resources.

Please look over the survey attached. For each subsistence form listed, please make a check mark to indicate your answer. If a permit application or harvest log does not apply to you, please check N/A, and go to the next form. If you do have a certain permit or harvest log, mark YES. Let us know why you answered YES or NO to each question.

Please e-mail your responses to Patsy A. Bearden at patsy.bearden@noaa.gov by May 25, 2014.

If you have any questions or need more information, call me at 907-586-7008.

Subsistence halibut registration certificate (SHARC) application view at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/subsistence/sharc_rural.pdf
[__] YES, I have this permit [__] Not applicable GO TO THE NEXT FORM.
1. Do you have the information needed to complete the SHARC permit application easily available?	[__] YES
If NO, tell us what you need to do to complete this form.	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
2. Do you prefer to file this application online?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
If NO, tell us your preferred method – U.S. mail, fax, courier, other method?
3. Is our estimate of 10 minutes long enough for you to collect and record the information?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
IF NO, how long does it take? Why does it take this much time?
4. Are the instructions for the application clear and understandable?	[__] YES
If NO, which question(s) is not clear? and why?	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
5. Do you think that renewing the SHARC each year is necessary?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
If NO, tell us what renewal cycle you would prefer.
6. Provide any additional comments on any aspect of the SHARC permit application	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
COMMENTS:

Subsistence halibut special permits application view at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/subsistence/spapp.pdf
[__] YES, I have one of these permits [__] Not applicable GO TO THE NEXT FORM.
1. Do you have the information needed to complete the special permits application easily available?	[__] YES
If NO, tell us what you need to do to complete this form.	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
2. Do you prefer to file this application online?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
If NO, tell us your preferred method – U.S. mail, fax, courier, other method?
3. Is our estimate of 10 minutes long enough for you to collect and record the information?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
IF NO, how long does it take? Why does it take this much time?
4. Are the instructions for the application clear and understandable?	[__] YES
If NO, which question(s) is not clear? and why?	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
5. Do you think that renewing the special permit each year is necessary?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
If NO, tell us what renewal cycle you would prefer.
6. Provide any additional comments on any aspect of the special permit application	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
COMMENTS:

Community harvest permit harvest (CHP) log view at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/subsistence/chplog.pdf
[__] YES, I have used this harvest log [__] Not applicable GO TO THE NEXT FORM.
1. Do you have the information needed to complete the CHP log easily available?	[__] YES
If NO, tell us what you need to do to complete this log.	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
2. Would you prefer to file this harvest log online?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
If NO, tell us your preferred method – U.S. mail, fax, courier, e-mail attachment, other method?
3. Is our estimate of 10 minutes long enough for you to collect and record the information?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
IF NO, how long does it take? Why does it take this much time?
4. Are the instructions for the harvest log clear and understandable?	[__] YES
If NO, which question(s) is not clear? and why?	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
5. Provide any additional comments on any aspect of the CHP harvest log	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
COMMENTS:

Ceremonial or Educational harvest permit harvest (CPEP) log view at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/subsistence/chplog.pdf
[__] YES, I have used this harvest log [__] Not applicable GO TO THE NEXT FORM.
1. Do you have the information needed to complete the Ceremonial or Educational harvest log easily available?	[__] YES
If NO, tell us what you need to do to complete this log.	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
2. Would you prefer to file this harvest log online?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
If NO, tell us your preferred method – U.S. mail, fax, courier, e-mail attachment, other method?
3. Is our estimate of 30 minutes long enough for you to collect and record the information?	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
IF NO, how long does it take? Why does it take this much time?
4. Are the instructions for the harvest log clear and understandable?	[__] YES
If NO, which question(s) is not clear? and why?	[__] NO
	[__] NO COMMENT
5. Provide any additional comments on any aspect of the harvest log	[__] YES [__] NO [__] NO COMMENT
COMMENTS:

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