West Coast Region Groundfish Trawl Fishery Electronic Monitoring Program
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
12/12/2025
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2026
8,636
11,316
3,651
5,123
711,242
1,722,070
This is a request for the renewal of an approved information collection. Under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Pacific coast groundfish fishery is managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) by the National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region. One sector of the groundfish fishery has limited entry permits endorsed for trawl gear and is managed under a catch share program. The catch share program implemented requirements for 100- percent observer coverage at-sea and dockside to ensure full accountability for catch of allocated species and a level playing field for all participants. To provide a cost-effective alternative to human observer coverage, vessels may choose to use electronic monitoring (EM). EM uses video cameras and integrated sensors (e.g., GPS, motion sensor, hydraulic pressure sensor) to passively monitor fishing activity at-sea. The video and sensor data can be reviewed after the trip by an analyst onshore to collect information about location and amount of catch and fishing effort. EM has the potential to reduce monitoring costs because it does not require deploying a person on the vessel and the logistical and travel expenses that generates. This information collection includes a permit application and associated documents for EM service provider companies, a permit application and associated documents for vessels participating in EM, and a logbook and video hard drive submissions for participating vessels. The information is used to allow vessels to utilize EM in lieu of the 100% human observer requirement and for fishery catch accounting to occur according to regulations in place at 50 CFR 660 subpart J.
US Code:
16 USC 1801 et seq
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Reauthorization Act
The number of respondents has decreased in most instances due to fewer entrants into the program. Burden hours have been updated to be consistent with the current data. This is a result of having a better understanding of burden response times based on respondent feedback since implementation of the program.
Additionally, burden response time has been inconsistently calculated, with some collections using minutes versus other collections using fractions of an hour. All collections have been updated to use fractions of an hour.
Finally, some information collections (ICs) in ROCIS are made up of several rows. Previous Supporting Statements did not accurately account for the multiple rows that made up a single IC. This Supporting Statement has shaded those rows that make up a single IC, and the proper total for that single IC has been shown above the shaded rows.
$88,740
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Melissa Hooper 206 526-4357
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.
Electronic Monitoring System Certification Form
0648-0785 30-Day 90 FR 57732 2025-1212.pdf
0648-0785 Supporting Statement A FINAL.docx
Vessel Owner - Self-Enforcing Agreement