Application for American Fisheries Act (AFA) Permit Rebu

Revised: 4/21/2023 ^{OMB Control No. 0648-0393 Expiration Date: 11/30/2026}

Application for AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT (AFA) PERMIT: REBUILT, REPLACEMENT, OR REMOVED VESSEL

U . S. Department of Commerce/NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Restricted Access Management (RAM) P.O. Box 21668 Juneau, Alaska 99802-1668 (800) 304-4846 toll free / (907) 586-7202 in Juneau (907) 586-7354 fax / ram.alaska@noaa.gov

This application is used to notify NMFS that an AFA vessel has been rebuilt; request an AFA permit for a replacement catcher vessel, catcher/processor, or mothership; or request removal of an AFA catcher vessel that is a member of an inshore cooperative and assignment of the catch history of that vessel to other vessel or vessels in the same inshore cooperative.

BLOCK A – PURPOSE OF APPLICATION

This application is to be used for (check one):

Notification of Rebuilt AFA Vessel: Complete Block B. Sign Block E.

Replacement of AFA Vessel: Complete Block B and Block C. Sign Block E.

Removal of AFA Catcher Vessel and Assignment of Pollock Catch History of Removed Vessel: Complete Block B, Block C, Block D and Sign Block E.

BLOCK B – AFA PERMITTED VESSEL
Identify existing AFA permitted vessel being rebuilt, replaced, or removed from AFA fishery. If owner is notifying NMFS of the rebuilding of an AFA vessel, attach USCG Documentation for Rebuilt Vessel
1. Vessel Name:
2. ADF&G Vessel Registration Number:		3. USCG Documentation Number:
4. AFA Permit Number:		5. LLP Groundfish License Number:
6. Gross Tons:	7. Shaft Horsepower:		8. Registered Length (feet):
9. Vessel Owner Name(s):
10. Business Mailing Address:		11. Business Telephone Number:
		12. Business FAX Number:
		13. Business E-mail Address:

BLOCK C - IDENTIFICATION & OWNERSHIP OF REPLACEMENT VESSEL
Only one vessel may be identified as a “replacement vessel” for the vessel listed in Block B. Attach the current USCG documentation for this vessel showing a valid fishery endorsement.
1. Vessel Name:
2. ADF&G Vessel Registration No.:	3. USCG Documentation No.:			4. LLP Groundfish License No. :
5. Gross Tons:	6. Net Tons (U.S, tons):			7. Shaft Horsepower:
8. Registered Length (feet):		9. Current Length Overall (feet):
10. Vessel Owner Name(s):
11. Business Mailing Address:			12. Business Telephone Number:
			13. Business Fax Number:
			14. Business E-mail Address:

BLOCK D – ASSIGNMENT OF POLLOCK CATCH HISTORY OF REMOVED VESSEL
Identify vessel(s) to which the owner of the removed AFA catcher vessel, listed in Block B, wishes to permanently assign the Pollock catch history of the removed vessel and the percentage of the Pollock catch history assigned to each vessel. The Pollock catch history of the removed vessel may only be assigned to vessel or vessels that were in the same inshore cooperative to which the removed vessel belonged.
Vessel Name	USCG No.	AFA Permit No.	Percentage of Pollock Catch History of Removed Vessel Assigned to Each Vessel

BLOCK E - CERTIFICATION OF APPLICANT
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. I further certify that if this application is for replacement or rebuilding of an AFA vessel, the purpose of rebuilding or replacement of vessel is to improve safety, improve efficiency (including fuel efficiency), or both.
1. Signature of Vessel Owner:	2. Date:
3. Printed Name of Vessel Owner:

Instructions

AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT (AFA) PERMIT: REBUILT, REPLACEMENT OR REMOVED VESSEL APPLICATION

An American Fisheries Act (AFA) vessel is a vessel that is designated on an AFA catcher vessel permit, an AFA catcher/processor vessel permit or an AFA mothership permit.

In order to improve vessel safety and operational efficiency (including fuel efficiency), the owner of an AFA vessel may rebuild or replace that vessel with a vessel documented with a fishery endorsement under section 12113 of Title 46 of the U.S. Code. For the provisions of the AFA regulations on rebuilding, replacing and removing AFA vessels, see 50 CFR 679.4(l), available at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/regs/679a4.pdf. For information on Federal fishery endorsements for documented vessels, see https://www.maritime.dot.gov/ports/american-fisheries-act/46-usc-12113-2006-fishery-endorsement.

An AFA rebuilt or replacement vessel shall be eligible in the same manner to participate in fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska and subject to the same restrictions and limitations as the vessel being rebuilt or replaced. An AFA vessel that was rebuilt or replaced after October 15, 2010, is exempt from the maximum length overall (MLOA) on a License Limitation Program ( LLP) groundfish license with a Bering Sea and/or Aleutian Islands area endorsement when the vessel is fishing pursuant to that license, whether the vessel before rebuilding or replacement was exempt.

The owner of an AFA catcher vessel that is a member of an inshore cooperative may remove that vessel from the Bering Sea directed Pollock fishery. If the owner applies to do that, the owner must direct NMFS to assign the Pollock catch history of the vessel being removed to other vessel or vessels in the cooperative of the removed vessel. The catcher vessel(s) receiving the Pollock catch history of the removed vessel must remain in the fishery cooperative for at least one year after the date on which NMFS approves the application for removal of the catcher vessel.

NOTICE:

Pursuant to the AFA amendments in section 602 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, P. L. 111-281, a vessel that leaves the AFA fishery by being replaced or removed is ineligible for a Federal fishery endorsement unless such a vessel reenters the AFA fishery as a replacement vessel.

DEADLINES:

• If the owner of an AFA vessel rebuilds an AFA vessel, the owner shall notify NMFS and provide USCG documentation for the rebuilt vessel within 30 days of the issuance of the documentation.

• In the event of the total or constructive loss of an AFA vessel, the owner of the AFA vessel shall notify NMFS in writing within 120 days of the date of the vessel loss. The AFA permit on the lost vessel shall remain valid from the date of the vessel loss until five years from December 31 of the year of the vessel loss, unless the AFA permit on the lost vessel is revoked before that date because the lost vessel was replaced or removed. For example, if an AFA vessel sinks on June 15, 2015, the AFA permit on the lost vessel will be valid until December 31, 2018, unless the AFA permit on the lost vessel was revoked before that date.

After December 31, 2018, if the AFA permit has not been revoked, the AFA permit will be suspended until the owner of the AFA vessel replaces or removes the lost vessel.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Use this application to:

• Notify NMFS that an AFA vessel has been rebuilt

• Request an AFA permit for a replacement catcher vessel, catcher/processor, or mothership

• Request removal of an AFA catcher vessel that is a member of an inshore cooperative and assignment of the catch history of that vessel to other vessel or vessels in the same inshore cooperative

Please allow at least 10 working days for this application to be processed. It is important that all blocks are completed and any required attachments are provided. Failure to answer any of the questions, provide any of the required documents, or to have signatures could result in delays in the processing of your application.

Forms are available on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska.

Print information in the application legibly in ink or type information.

Retain a copy of completed application for your records.

When completed, submit the application —

By mail to: NMFS Alaska Region

Restricted Access Management (RAM)

P.O. Box 21668

Juneau, AK 99802-1668

By delivery to: Room 713, Federal Building

709 West 9th Street

Juneau, AK 99801

Or, by fax to: 907-586-7354

If you need additional information please contact RAM as follows:

Telephone (toll Free): 1-800-304-4846 (press “2") or (Juneau): 907-586-7202

E-Mail Address: RAM.Alaska@noaa.gov Web Site: www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

BLOCK A – PURPOSE OF APPLICATION

Indicate the reason for submission of the application:

If Notification of Rebuilt AFA Vessel, complete Block B and sign Block E.

If Replacement of AFA Vessel, complete Block B and Block C and sign Block E.

If Removal of AFA Catcher Vessel and Assignment of Catch History of Removed Vessel, complete Block B and Block D, and sign Block E.

BLOCK B –AFA PERMITTED VESSEL

Identify existing AFA permitted vessel being rebuilt, replaced, or removed from AFA fishery. If owner is notifying NMFS of the rebuilding of an AFA vessel, please attach USCG Documentation for Rebuilt Vessel.

1. Vessel Name as displayed in official documentation

2. Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Vessel Registration Number

3. U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Official Documentation Number

4. AFA Permit Number

5. LLP Groundfish License Number to which vessel is currently assigned

6. Gross Tons of the vessel

7. Shaft Horsepower of the vessel

8. Registered length of the vessel

9. Owner Name. List all owners of the vessel as shown on the USCG vessel documentation or abstract of title.

10. Permanent business mailing address of primary vessel owner

11. Business telephone number of the primary vessel owner

12. Business fax number of the primary vessel owner

13. Business e-mail address of the primary vessel owner

BLOCK C – IDENTIFICATION & OWNERSHIP OF REPLACEMENT VESSEL

Only one vessel may be identified as a “replacement vessel” for the vessel listed in Block B. Attach the current USCG documentation for this vessel showing a valid fishery endorsement.

1. Vessel Name as displayed in official documentation

2. ADF&G Vessel Registration Number

3. USCG Official Documentation Number

4. LLP Groundfish License Number

5. Gross Tons of the vessel

6. Net tons (U.S. tons) of the vessel

7. Shaft horsepower of the vessel

8. Registered Length (feet) of the vessel

9. Current Length Overall (feet) of the vessel

10. Owner Name. List all owners of the vessel as shown on the USCG vessel documentation or abstract of title.

11. Permanent business mailing address of primary vessel owner

12. Business telephone number of the primary vessel owner

13. Business fax number of the primary vessel owner

14. Business e-mail of the primary vessel owner

BLOCK D – ASSIGNMENT OF POLLOCK CATCH HISTORY OF REMOVED VESSEL

NOTE: This Block may only be used if the vessel listed in Block B is being permanently removed from the AFA fishery.

Identify vessel(s) to which the owner of the removed AFA catcher vessel, listed in Block B, wishes to permanently assign the Pollock catch history of the removed vessel and the percentage of the Pollock catch history assigned to each vessel. The Pollock catch history of the removed vessel may only be assigned to vessel or vessels that were in the same inshore cooperative to which the removed vessel belonged.

Identify vessel(s) that the owner of the removed vessel in Block B wishes to permanently assign the catch history of the removed vessel by entering the following:

• Vessel Name.

• USCG Official Documentation Number

• AFA Permit Number

• Percentage of the Pollock catch history that the owner of the removed vessel is assigning to each listed vessel

BLOCK E - CERTIFICATION OF APPLICANT

Enter printed name and signature of the primary vessel owner and date signed.

Public Burden Statement

A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0648-0393. Without this approval, we could not conduct this information collection. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 60 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are mandatory and are required to manage the AFA Limited Access Programs under 50 CFR part 679 and under section 402(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.). Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.

Purpose: Submission of this information is required of persons seeking to participate in groundfish fisheries under authority of the AFA. NMFS is collecting this information to manage the AFA Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pollock fishery. NMFS collects this information to identify the AFA-permitted vessel to be rebuilt, replaced, or removed from the AFA fishery; and to identify the vessel that is replacing a vessel being replaced. For a vessel being removed, NMFS collects information provided on this application to identify the vessel(s) to which its Pollock catch history will be assigned.

Routine Uses: NMFS will use this information to identify an AFA-permitted vessel being rebuilt, replaced, or removed from the AFA fishery; to permit a replacement vessel; and to permanently assign a removed vessel’s Pollock catch history.

Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) to be shared among authorized staff for work-related purposes. Disclosure of this information is also subject to the published routine uses identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/NOAA-19, Permits and Registrations for the United States Federally Regulated Fisheries. NMFS posts AFA-permitted vessels on its website (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/).

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is mandatory. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay or prevent participation in the AFA groundfish fisheries.

Application for AFA Permit: Rebuilt, Replacement or Removed Vessel Page 1 of 6