NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service manages the grouper and tilefish fisheries in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This amendment (Reef Fish FMP Amendment 29) proposes to implement a transferable Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program in the Gulf of Mexico commercial grouper and tilefish fisheries (RIN 0648-AX39). The Gulf of Mexico grouper and tilefish fisheries are overcapitalized. This overcapitalization has led to increasingly restrictive management measures, which in turn has led to derby fishery conditions. The IFQ program proposed is intended to reduce overcapacity and eliminate derby fishing conditions. This collection-of-information addresses IFQ share certificate and allocation debits and transfers, as well as effort information in the grouper and tilefish fisheries.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
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.