National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) At-Sea Hake Observer Program defines observer duties, trains and debriefs observers, and manages data and release. The observers, deployed aboard at-sea processing vessels in the US West Coast hake (a.k.a. whiting) fishery, are hired by observer providers who contract with the at-sea processors to provide the required observer coverage (50 CFR part, 660). This data collection relates to the response time for observer providers and observers to register for training, debriefing or that have been issued suspension or decertification.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Program Changes
On January 1, 2011, a portion of the west coast industry will transition to catch shares management. Under this new management structure, the model used to hire and pay for observers has changed. Historically, the Limited Entry trawl fishery was observed through a cooperative agreement with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). Under this agreement, PSMFC wrote a Request for Proposal and observer providers bid on the proposal. Only one observer provider was selected to employ all observers for the program. Under trawl catch shares, up to five observer providers can employ observers. In addition, NMFS has handled logistics for the Limited Entry trawl observers but under trawl catch shares, the observer providers will be handling all observer logistics. Due to these changes, the observer program must obtain information from the multiple providers on who they're hiring (so we can register them for training), what the observers are doing (so we know which vessels are covered) and how to contact the providers. These additional reporting requirements from the observer providers to the NMFS will ensure effective program management.
In the 2007 supporting statement, the weekly deployment/logistics reports were required only for the At-Sea Hake fishery, which is seasonal and has a consistent number of vessels and observers. The burden estimate of 90 responses was computed by estimating the number of observers it would require for the entire year (30) and the estimated assignment length of each contract (three weeks). In 2011, these reports will also be required for the trawl catch shares fishery. We estimate that this adds 170 responses.
Adjustments:
The details of observer physicals and physical appointments do not need to be reported to NMFS. They had previously been included in error. Also, debriefing is now included in the registration and briefing IC. NOTE: removal of these three ICs registers as a program change, because there is not an option to label a removal as an adjustment.
Reporting/recordkeeping costs are removed, due to e-mailing of virtually all response.
$6,840
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Janell Majewski 206 860-3293
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.
Observer provider contact information/change in ownership
0500 SS 111910rev.pdf
Observer provider contact information/change in ownership