In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. Prior to publication of the final rule, the agency must submit to OMB a summary of all comments related to the information collection contained in the proposed rule and the agency response. The agency should clearly indicate any changes made to the information collection as a result of these comments.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2017
04/30/2017
04/30/2017
7,350
0
7,350
1,225
0
1,225
9,800
0
9,800
Fishermen have proposed using longline pot gear to protect captured sablefish from whale depredation. Depredation negatively impacts the sablefish IFQ fleet through reduced catch rates and increased operating costs. Depredation negatively impacts whales through increased risk of vessel strike, gear entanglement, and altered foraging strategies. Depredation also increases sablefish mortality and the uncertainty of sablefish abundance indicies. Potential benefits of longline pot gear for sablefish fishing include: mitigation of whale interaction with fishing gear, reduced mortality of seabirds, reduced bycatch of non-target fish species, reduced overall halibut mortality when targeting sablefish, and better accounting of total sablefish fishing mortality.
Using longline pots versus single pots will maximize fishing efficiency and ex-vessel value of the fishery. Single pots are heavy and their deployment results in lost gear and resultant ghost fishing. Handling of lighter pot longline gear enhances crew safety, particularly on smaller vessels. Fishermen who voluntarily adopt the use of pot longline gear will face some additional recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The owners of vessels on which pot longline gear is used must register to receive pot tags and must submit an affidavit in order to receive a replacement for lost tags.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006
Program changes
Request for Pot Tags [new]
an increase of 4 respondents, 4 instead of 0
an increase of 4 responses, 4 instead of 0
an increase of 1 hour, 1 hr instead of 0 hr
an increase of $ 37 personnel cost, $37 instead of $ 0
an increase of $ 1,470 miscellaneous cost, $ 1,470 instead of $ 0
Replace Pot Tags [new]
an increase of 2 respondents and responses, 2 instead of 0
an increase of 1 hour, 1 hr instead of 0 hr
an increase of $37 personnel cost, $37 instead of $ 0
Longline Pot Marker Buoys [new]
an increase of 4 respondents and responses, 4 instead of 0
an increase of 1 hour, 1 hr instead of 0 hr
an increase of $ 37 personnel cost, $ 37 instead of $ 0
an increase of $ 40 miscellaneous cost, $ 40 instead of $ 0
Adjustment
Groundfish Marker Buoys
an increase of 613 hours, 1,838 hr instead of 1,225 hr
an increase of $ 15,320 personnel cost, $ 27,570 instead of $ 12,250
$185
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.