SUPPORTING STATEMENT
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
WEST COAST REGION U.S. PACIFIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES
LOGBOOK FAMILY OF FORMS
OMB Control No. 0648-0223
A. JUSTIFICATION
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
This request is for a revision of a current information collection.
The United States (U.S.) is a major consumer of Pacific highly migratory species (HMS). Assessments of the status of HMS stocks and the monitoring of both the foreign and domestic fisheries are vital to U.S. fishermen, consumers and producers. Data collected through a recordkeeping and reporting program are essential to assess the status of these stocks by providing abundance indices and locations of catches. The ability to collect fishing information or other vessel activities is crucial to fisheries management under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as well as a High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA; 16 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.). The HSFCA authorizes a system of permitting U.S. fishing vessels that operate on the high seas (beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone) and establish management measures which includes maintaining a complete record of fishing activities.
Under the FMP and 50 CFR 660.707-708, West Coast Region (WCR) fishing vessels are required to obtain a permit and provide logbook information on daily fishing activity, including catches, effort and position. These data and associated analyses help the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (Center) provide the needed management advice to the U.S. in its negotiations with foreign fishing nations exploiting Pacific HMS. These data have been collected since the early 1960s and future collections will ensure a complete series of data for monitoring analysis purposes.
As of April 1, 2019, California logbook requirements were repealed by the California Fish and Game Commission for HMS fisheries drift gillnet and swordfish harpoon. As a result, the California commercial fishing fleet with HMS permits will no longer be able to obtain these logbooks to meet the Federal reporting requirements. NMFS developed Federal logbooks to replace the California logbooks to continue collecting important fishing information. In addition, NMFS developed a purse seine logbook for vessels smaller than 400 short tons (st) (362.8 metric tons (mt)) carrying capacity or less to provide a replacement for using the Pacific Tuna Fisheries Logbook (OMB control number 0648-0128) developed for vessels larger than 400 st carrying capacity. This logbook is designed to collect those data that better represent the smaller purse seine fleet.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used.
Logbook data will be collected throughout the year and submitted within 30 days of the end of each fishing trip. The collected information is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to assess the status of HMS stocks and monitor the fisheries. Data on catches and catch locations are used to determine population size, abundance levels and data on vessel characteristics are used to standardize fishing effort and for economic analyses. After data are standardized, catch and effort information are used to determine year class strength, fishing mortality, maximum sustainable yields and descriptive information on where and how many fish are caught.
Environmental data are used to correlate catches with certain environmental conditions in an effort to predict locations of favorable catches.
The information is stored on computer databases and analyzed through standard population dynamics models. Results of these analyses will show the condition of the stock and, if the stocks are under-exploited, will indicate where increased catches can be made or, in the case where the stocks are over-exploited, can be used to determine quotas, area closures or other methods to enhance stock recovery. This information will be used by U.S. negotiators in international and domestic forums to develop policy related to the continued harvesting of Pacific HMS. These data will also be summarized yearly and provided to the fishermen for their use.
NMFS will retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.
Hook and Line Logbook (formally Albacore Logbook; change request approved 3/31/2017): In the early 1970s, the collection of the data was contracted through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission). The Commission then decided to collect the data through a uniform logbook system and developed a predecessor to the current logbook. This logbook is focused on hook and line gear (troll, pole & line, and rod & reel). Fishermen record the amount of target catch species (albacore, yellowfin, and bluefin tunas) caught, incidental catch and any bycatch. In addition, information on fishing trip dates, fishing area, and landing ports is collected. Completed logbook pages are sent to the Center for analysis of the fishery.
Currently, WCR charter vessels logbooks are issued by the states of California and Washington with the exception of Oregon. Oregon recreational charter vessels are requested to use the Hook and Line logbook to meet logbook requirements.
Drift Gillnet Logbook: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDWF) and the California Fish and Game Commission required that California Limited Entry Drift Gillnet permit holders complete and submit a State Gill and Trammel Net Fishing Log which includes is required of large mesh drift gillnet permittees. To continue to collect necessary catch information, a Federal Drift Gillnet Logbook was designed to replace the information previously obtained from CDFW. Fishermen record fishing effort including the amount of target species (swordfish, common thresher sharks) caught, other species, and any bycatch. In addition, information on fishing trip dates, fishing area, and landing ports is collected. Completed logbook pages are sent to the Center for analysis of the fishery.
Harpoon Logbook: CDWF and the California Fish and Game Commission required California Swordfish permittees to complete and submit a State Swordfish Harpoon Logbook. The Federal Harpoon Logbook will continue to record swordfish fishing effort including fishing trip dates, fishing area, landing ports, and the number and weight of the fish caught. Completed logbook pages are sent to the Center for analysis of the fishery.
Purse Seine Logbook: U.S. participation in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) requires purse seine vessels who fish in the IATTC’s area of management responsivity to meet record keeping requirements using the Pacific Tuna Fisheries Logbook (OMB control number 0648-0148) developed for vessels 400 short tons (st) (362.8 metric tons (mt)) or more. In recent years purse seine fishing vessels less than 400 short tons (st) (362.8 metric tons (mt)) carrying capacity participating in the coastal pelagic species fishery have increase interest in also targeting HMS. To improve data collection from this small fleet, NMFS developed a logbook to better represent the reporting of fishing effort for these vessels. The Purse Seine Logbook will be used to report target species (Bluefin, skipjack, and yellowfin) caught, bycatch, fishing area, and landing ports. Completed logbook pages are sent to the Center for analysis of the fishery.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.
The logbooks are distributed in paper form and the hook and line logbook is available as an electronic logbook. Hook and Line Fishermen are encouraged to use the electronic logbook. The West Coast Region’s web site at http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/migratory_species/highly_migratory_species_logbooks.html, is used to inform the public about WCR logbooks and provides a means for fishermen to request logbooks and download electronic forms.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
No other collection of these data exists that fulfils the reporting obligations of the HMS FMP.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.
Most HMS vessel owners are small business entities. Federal logbooks are similar to actual logs that vessels would keep as standard records. Fishermen have been an integral part of both the development and modification of the forms and sampling program to minimize burden.
The current data collection system and forms are continuously updated to be the least burdensome.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
Collections of logbook data are required for HMS permit holders. Cancellation or decrease in coverage will hinder management of these permit programs and allocation of quotas in the future.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
The collection is consistent with OMB guidelines.
8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A Federal Register Notice published on March 7, 2019 (84 FR 8311) solicited public comment on this revision.
NMFS asked for comments from Pacific Highly Migratory Species Permit holders using the gear types large mesh drift gillnet, harpoon, and purse seine. 3 public comments from HMS permit holders were received in response to the 60-day Federal Registry notice for the collection of Drift Gillnet, Harpoon, and Purse Seine Federal Logbooks.
No comments were received that addressed (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques of other forms of information technology.
The comments from the permit holders included suggestions to provide more space for the several species caught. To reduce the amount of space to record each possible species, columns for the most frequently caught species (swordfish and thresher) were made in addition to a column for “other” species to list in rows the name and number of fish caught in that fishing set. Fishermen are allowed to use more than one row per fishing trip, if necessary. All of these suggestions were incorporated into the final logbook format for each logbook.
In addition to permit holders, representatives from the Center were invited to comment during the initial phase of logbook development to insure that the necessary information was being collected to accurately reflect fishing effort. Comments from the Center were made on the format (column size and amount of rows per fishing day) of the logbooks and adjustments to the format were made accordingly.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are made to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
As stated on the form, per NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, data are considered confidential and can only be distributed in summary form so as not to reveal the operations of a unique vessel. This practice is consistent with the Trade Secrets Act.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
No information of a sexual, religious or other private nature is collected.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Approximately, 1,700 logbooks will be distributed to HMS permit holders. As logbook completion is required in order to maintain the applicable permits, the response rate should be 100%. The amount of fillable sheets in each logbook exceeds the number of fishing trips in a season, anticipating a replacement time of two years and 850 respondents each year. Each respondent is estimated to make on average 4 trips a year, for a total of 3,400 responses. The burden is approximately 1 hour per response (it should be noted that data supplied would be recorded by the captain for their own use and carbons are kept for the vessels records).
The burden estimate for logbook submission is derived as follows:
1,700 HMS permit holders / 2 years = 850 respondents
850 respondents x 4 trips a year = 3,400 responses
3,400 responses x 1 hour per response = 3,400 burden hours
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).
Mailing costs are estimated to be $0.50 per submission, for a total of $1,700. There are no other costs.
3,400 responses x $0.50 = $1,700
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
The total annualized cost to the government is estimated at $58,600.
This is based on the approximate cost of a ZP II Interval Technician in the San Diego Area for collecting and analyzing logbook data = $45,850
Printing costs: $5 logbook x 1,700 / 2 years = $12,750
$45,850 + $12,750 = $58,600
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
Program changes: This is a revision of the information collection of Federal Logbooks for the HMS fishing fleet. These will replace the former CDFW logbooks and will not change the number of logbooks collected.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.
Annual reports are distributed to Pacific Regional fisheries management organizations and the public.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
Not Applicable.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
Not Applicable.
B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | John Childers |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-15 |