This information collection consists of a mandatory annual vessel permit program for commercial, recreational, and charter/headboat highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries, and mandatory dealer permits for purchase of HMS from vessels and international trade of several HMS. These permits provide the basis for catch monitoring and collection of catch and effort statistics in these fisheries as required under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Such information is essential for the United States to meet its reporting obligations to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Several permits and their burdens have been removed with this request, as they were found to duplicate information in OMB Control No. 0648-0205, Southeast Region Permit Family of Forms, and it was decided that the latter was the best home for the information.
US Code:
16 USC 971
Name of Law: Atlantic Tuna Conventions Act
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
Program changes:
Since the last action under this OMB Control No., NMFS has removed two dealer permits (Shark and Swordfish Dealer permits) and five vessel permits (Shark Directed and Incidental and Swordfish Directed, Incidental, and Handgear) from this collection. These permits were removed because they are currently covered under OMB Control No. 0648-0205, Southeast Region Permit Family of Forms. The total respondents and responses removed are 1,476; hours, 359; and recordkeeping/reporting costs $100,388.
Two information collections that are no longer applicable have been removed: a separate charter vessel permit application and a permit termination notice. This accounts for 20 responses, 8 hours and $8 in recordkeeping/reporting costs.
Changes in permit fees: Previously, the Atlantic Tunas, Atlantic HMS and Angler permit fee was $28; it has been changed to $20. For the 32,430 requested permits, total cost is reduced by $259,440.
Program Changes  Total Decreases: Responses, 1,496; hours, 367, recordkeeping/reporting Costs: $359,836.
Adjustments:
In the last iteration of this information collection, a fee of $113 was included for Atlantic Tunas dealer permits; in reality, per the Northeast Regional Office, there has never been a fee for these permits. The inclusion must have been based on a discussion conducted at some point, with an erroneous conclusion drawn. For the requested 427 permits, this reduces costs by $48,251.
For permits now in this collection, there are net decreases in Atlantic tunas vessel permits and dealer permits; the two new permits retain their initial estimates. The total decreases related to permit number decreases are: 6,000 responses, 408 hours and $168,665.
Adjustments  Total Decreases: Responses, 6,000; hours, 408; recordkeeping/reporting costs: $216,916.
$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.
Initial vessel permit application - Atlantic tunas, HMS charter/headboat