Vessels fishing for Atlantic tuna and swordfish that use pelagic longline gear and vessels fishing for sharks with bottom longline or gillnet gear are required to have a qualified marine electrician install an Enhanced Mobile Transmitting Unit Vessel Monitoring System unit (E-MTU VMS). Automatic position reports are submitted on an hourly basis whenever the vessel is at sea. Vessel operators must declare target species and fishing gear onboard two hours prior to leaving port and report to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) three hours in advance of their returning to port. A qualified marine electrician must install and then submit an installation checklist to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which provides information on the hardware and communications service selected by each vessel when the VMS unit is initially installed. NMFS will use the returned checklists to ensure that position reports are received and to aid NMFS in troubleshooting problems.
US Code:
16 USC 971
Name of Law: Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975
Adjustment(s): The number of affected vessels has changed from 292 to 329.
Program changes: The hours and costs are changed to reflect changes to VMS equipment, maintenance, and installation costs and reporting requirements.
1. Purchase and installation of 329 new VMS units.
2. Removal of $500 annual repair/maintenance responses and expenses for 292 current VMS units.
3. Addition of $0.12 data transmission costs per trip for 292 units and $1.12 for the additional 37.
4. Addition of cost estimates ($400) for having a qualified marine electrician install E-MTU VMS units.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Margo Schulz-Haugen 301 713-0234
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.
Vessel Monitoring System for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species - Installation, installation and activation checklist, annualized
0372 SS 9-19-11 final rule update.pdf
Vessel Monitoring System for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species - Installation, installation and activation checklist, annualized