West Coast Groundfish Trawl Economic Data

This is a request for revision and extension of an existing information collection. Revisions to three forms - the quota share owner form, the first receiver and shorebased processor form, and the catcher vessel form - are proposed. The purpose of the changes are fourfold: remove requests for information that are not used in development of a Pacific Fishery Management Council Fishery Management Plan, consolidate questions where additional detail is no longer required, clarify handling of intercompany transfers and inventory, and collect more accurate information about hourly wages. In 2011, NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) implemented a catch shares program for the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery. To monitor the impact of this new program, the PFMC proposed the implementation of the mandatory collection of economic data. The Economic Data Collection (EDC) Program is a mandatory component of the West Coast groundfish trawl catch share program, collecting information annually from all catch share participants: catcher-processors, catcher vessels, motherships, first receivers, shorebased processors, and quota share owners. The EDC information is used to monitor the economic effects of the catch share program, and consists of data on operating costs, revenues, and vessel and processing facility characteristics. The EDC Program is intended to help meet the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requirement for regular reviews of catch share programs. The information created by the EDC Program was fundamental to the formal 5-year review of the catch share program required under the MSA, finalized in early 2018; and will be essential to the next review, scheduled to commence in 2023. The data collected allow for evaluation of program goals including: provide for a viable, profitable, and efficient groundfish fishery; increase operational flexibility; minimize adverse effects from an IFQ program on fishing communities and other fisheries to the extent practical; promote measurable economic and employment benefits through the harvesting, processing, distribution, and support sectors of the industry; provide quality product for the consumer; and, increase safety in the fishery.

The latest form for West Coast Groundfish Trawl Economic Data expires 2027-05-31 and can be found here.

Mothership

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Natural Resources - Conservation, Marine and Land Management

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