Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
12/04/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2024
14
14
113
113
51
51
This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection.
On February 23, 2021, NMFS published in the Federal Register a final rule (86 FR 10857) allowing a Pacific whiting sector cooperative or group of vessels to develop a Salmon Mitigation Plan (SMP) to promote reduction in Chinook salmon bycatch. The SMP is a voluntary agreement by a Pacific whiting fishery Mothership (MS), Catcher/processor (C/P), or Pacific whiting individual fishing quota (IFQ) fishery group to manage Chinook salmon bycatch. The SMP would be approved by NMFS. Those groups with an approved SMP would be required to provide an annual postseason report to the Council and NMFS no later than March 31. The report would describe the groupâs use of Chinook salmon bycatch avoidance measures and an evaluation of the effectiveness of those measures. It would also describe any amendments to the terms of the SMP that were approved by NMFS during the fishing year in which the SMP was approved and the reasons that the amendments to the SMP were made. The rule also established that vessels with a NMFS-approved SMP have access to the Chinook salmon bycatch reserve regardless of NMFS implementing other inseason measures to minimize salmon bycatch. Participation in an SMP is voluntary; however, any vessel that chooses not to participate in an SMP would be subject to additional salmon bycatch minimization measures prior to being allowed access to the reserve. The associated regulations are found at 50 CFR part 660. OMB approved the collection-of-information requirements contained in the final rule on March 10, 2021, under OMB Control Number 0648â0794 (Pacific Coast Groundfish Salmon Bycatch Minimization).
US Code:
16 USC 1801
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
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.