The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (Council) passed a motion in February 2014 requesting that each sector in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) groundfish fisheries voluntarily provide a report to the Council on progress for implementing measures in their cooperative and inter-cooperative agreements to minimize the incidental catch of Pacific halibut. These progress reports are to be provided to the Council at its June 2014 meeting. Current regulations do not require BSAI sector participants to report measures to the Council or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in their cooperative and/or inter-cooperative agreements to minimize Pacific halibut incidental catch. Therefore, the Council requested that sector participants provide the Council with this information voluntarily. Receiving this information from groundfish sector participants will enable the Council to make informed decisions about the most effective regulatory management measures to reduce Pacific halibut incidental catch.
During its June 2014 meeting, the Council requested voluntary, non-regulatory reports from these same five groundfish fishing sectors on actions taken to reduce halibut mortalities in the BSAI from the use of halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC), as well as discards in the directed halibut fishery. Each of the sectors is to report to the Council at the February 2015 Council meeting. Current regulations do not require BSAI sector participants to report measures to the Council or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in their cooperative and/or inter-cooperative agreements to minimize Pacific halibut incidental catch. Therefore, the Council requested that sector participants provide the Council with this information voluntarily. Receiving this information from groundfish sector participants will enable the Council to make informed decisions about the most effective regulatory management measures to reduce Pacific halibut incidental catch.
At its June 2015 meeting, the Council requested that Amendment 80 cooperatives voluntarily provide their 2016 halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) management plans at the December 2015 Council meeting. They and the other five cooperatives will continue to submit the voluntary BSAI Halibut Bycatch Avoidance Progress Report.
US Code:
16 USC 1801 et seq.
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
This revision includes a program change. The Council requested the addition of 2016 halibut PSC management plans from Amendment 80 cooperatives.
Amendment 80 Halibut PSC Management Plan
an increase of 2 respondent and response, 2 instead of 0
an increase of 24 hr burden, 24 instead of 0 hr
an increase of $888 personnel costs, $888 instead of $0
an increase of $1 miscellaneous costs, $1 instead of $0
This revision includes an adjustment, a correction to number of cooperatives.
â
Cooperative Halibut PSC Progress Report
an increase of 1 respondent and response, 6 instead of 5
an increase of 40 hr burden, 240 instead of 200 hr
an increase of $1,480 personnel costs, $8,880 instead of $7,400
a decrease of $5 miscellaneous costs, $3 instead of $8
$0
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.
0697 Council June2015 newsletter.pdf
0697 SS Revision 081115_rev.docx
Amendment 80 plans