This request is to extend the MRIP
Access-Point Angler Intercept Survey (OMB Control No. 0648-0659)
that has recently been conducted from 2016-2018. The new APAIS will
continue to be conducted in Maine through Florida on the Atlantic
Coast, and in Florida through Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico
Coast (Louisiana not included), Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. On the
Atlantic Coast, Maine and New Hampshire will be surveyed in three
waves per year (May-Jun, Jul-Aug, Sep-Oct), Massachusetts-Virginia,
South Carolina, and Georgia will be surveyed in 5 waves per year
(Mar-Apr – Nov-Dec), and North Carolina, the Gulf States, Hawaii,
and Puerto Rico will be surveyed in all 6 waves per year (Jan-Feb –
Nov-Dec). These specific sampling periods by state or region
encompass the majority of the recreational fishery seasons. Prior
surveys indicated recreational fishing outside these periods was
rare, contributed a very small percentage of annual landings of
managed fishes, and would be disproportionately expensive to
estimate precisely. The period of this request is for 2019 – 2021.
The APAIS for this period will not be substantially changed from
that of the previous 3-year data collection program (OMB Control
No. 0648-0659).
US Code:
16 USC 1801 et seq. Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
Response rates for the APAIS
will be maintained at the high levels achieved to date with the
current version of the intercept survey, through intensive
interviewer training and monitoring, and stakeholder outreach
efforts. Additional training will be developed to address
conversion of the initial refusals, which have increased in recent
years.
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.