National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the International Pacific Halibut Commission, and the State of Alaska/Department of Fish and Game jointly manage the sport charter halibut fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska. This information collection is necessary to monitor and enforce the area specific annual catch limits among Pacific halibut fishery participants in the waters in and off of the coast of Alaska. A specified guideline harvest level serves as a benchmark for monitoring the guided sport charter vessel fishery relative to the commercial and other recreational halibut fisheries. The information collected will be used to ensure that the guideline harvest level is not exceeded. The requested change is to revise Federal requirements to match revisions made by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to the ADF&G Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Trip Logbook data sheets. The revised ADF&G logbook has also been uploaded.
US Code:
16 USC 773
Name of Law: Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982
This is a new program, with burden due to changing regulations. However, the burden has decreased since the first submission, due to the option chosen by NMFS (in the first submission, two options were presented, and the higher burden of Option A was requested). Since Option B was chosen, the burden is lower by 1,899 hours than in the initial ICR.
$655,000
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Patsy Bearden 907 586-7008
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.