Electronic Monitoring Systems for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (formerly entitled "Vessel Monitoring Systems for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species")
ICR 201610-0648-001
OMB: 0648-0372
Federal Form Document
⚠️ Notice: This information collection may be outdated. More recent filings for OMB 0648-0372 can be found here:
Electronic Monitoring Systems
for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (formerly entitled
"Vessel Monitoring Systems for Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species")
Respondents
suggested changes regarding this collection of information and NMFS
has stated it will consider the comments as part of a three year
review of the Individual Bluefin Quota program. The respondents'
comments must be considered and responded to prior to or as part of
the renewal of this collection of information.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
01/31/2020
36 Months From Approved
01/31/2017
44,729
0
67,388
6,420
0
20,513
422,329
0
3,912,437
This request is for revision and
extension of an existing information collection for electronic
monitoring and vessel monitoring systems (VMS) in Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) commercial fisheries. Pelagic longline
(PLL) vessels, bottom longline (BLL) vessels fishing in the region
of the Mid-Atlantic Closed Area, shark gillnet vessels in vicinity
of U.S. Southeast Restricted Area, and purse seine vessels are
required to use Enhanced Mobile Transmitting Unit (E-MTU) VMS to
submit hourly automatic position reports, and hail in and out on
fishing trips. PLL and purse seine vessels are also required to
report bluefin tuna catches via E-MTU message. PLL vessels are also
required to install a video and gear electronic monitoring system
and record all catch and relevant data regarding PLL gear
retrieval. These data must be submitted to the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) for catch monitoring and accounting of
individual bluefin tuna quota balances.
US Code:
16
USC 971 Name of Law: Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975
Program changes: The costs are
changed to reflect the government taking on funding EM electronic
data retrieval and review costs (-$939,600 per year), and PLL
fishermen being required to pay for the postage costs of mailing EM
hard drives to the government following each trip (plus $56,304 per
year). These resulted in an overall reduction of $883,296 in costs
to respondents per year. Adjustments: The hours and costs are
adjusted to reflect changes in the number of PLL vessels required
to report with VMS and EM that qualified for IBQ shares (253 to 136
vessels), the number that have already installed EM equipment (112
of 136 vessels), the estimated time it takes to mail in an EM hard
drive (2 hrs reduced to 1 hr), and an increase in the number of
months purse seine vessels are likely to be fishing and required to
use VMS (1 month to 2 months). There were reductions of 117
respondents, 22,658 responses, 14,093 hours and $2,606,812.
$1,101,600
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Margo Schulz-Haugen 301
713-0234
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.