The information collections which are a result of Amendment 13 and Frameworks 19 and 24 are reporting requirements used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP). Amendment 13 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop (scallop) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) implemented an industry funded observer program which included reporting requirements for both observer service providers, as well as the scallop fishing industry. Frameworks 19 and 24 further revised the scallop observer program and implemented additional information collection requirements to allow for more effective administration of the program.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act
General changes to burden and costs:
Changes in the costs and burdens from the previous extension are due to the increased cost of postage (i.e., the cost of stamps increased from $0.44 to $0.49, and the cost of mailing an express package increased from $13 to $20.)
Changes to the number of providers:
As the time of this extension there are 3 providers that support the scallop observer program (i.e., no change from what was estimated in the previous extension). Conversations with NEFOP staff indicated that it is unlikely that more service providers will enter the scallop observer program within the three years before this information collection is extended.
Changes to the number of vessels:
The previous extension estimated 628 vessels subject to reporting requirements as a part of this information collection: 347 limited access scallop vessels and 281 limited access general category scallop vessels with individual fishing quota (IFQ) permits. Since the last extension, a few IFQ permitted vessels have sold their quota to other IFQ permit holders and have permanently relinquished their empty permits. In addition, because IFQ can be leased from permits that are not on active vessels, about 30% of permit holders do not actively fish any of their IFQ and therefore do not have to call in to the observer program. We now estimate that there are 215 active limited access general category IFQ vessels to which these reporting requirements apply. As a result, the number of affected vessels has decreased to 562 permitted limited access and limited access general category scallop vessels.
Updates to this information collection resulted in the following changes:
Change in Burden and Cost from 2011 to 2014
2011 Extension 2014 Extension Change
Number of Respondents 628 562 -66
Number of Responses 35,841 32,409 - 3,432
Total annual hours 6,236 5,675 - 561
Total annual costs $44,716 $46,601 + $1,885
$619,917
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Emily Gilbert 978 281-9244
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.
NE 6-13-14-pp.docx
NE 04-18-14_status of action.pdf
0546 Supporting Statement 070114.doc
Observer deployment report