Northeast Multispecies Reporting Requirements

OMB Control No: 0648-0605	ICR Reference No: 202602-0648-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202308-0648-003
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Northeast Multispecies Reporting Requirements
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 02/12/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2026
Responses	251,010	247,935
Time Burden (Hours)	72,532	78,139
Cost Burden (Dollars)	9,068,907	7,686,072

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Abstract: This is a request for a rule-related (0648-BN23) revision and extension of OMB Control No. 0648-0605. This revision request makes the following changes: ● Removal of weekly annual catch entitlement (ACE) reporting requirements for sectors (50 CFR 648.87(b)(1)(v)(B)); ● Removal of the option to increase the frequency of ACE reporting requirements for sectors when the balance of remaining ACE is low, as specified in the sector operations plan and approved by NMFS (50 CFR 648.87(b)(1)(v)(B)); ● Removal of the requirement for sectors to include in their operations plan a list of all Federal and state permits held by persons participating in the sector, including an indication for each permit whether it is enrolled and will actively fish in a sector, or will be subject to the provisions of the common pool (50 CFR 648.87(b) (2) (ii)). These collections are necessary to carry out the requirements of the groundfish fishery as specified by the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Removal of the above requirements is intended to reduce the administrative burden on sectors, without negatively affecting the availability of information for analyzing the impacts of sectors, monitoring against the objectives of the FMP, or evaluating current management programs and future management proposals.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BN23	Final or interim final rulemaking	91 FR 11141	03/09/2026

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 18

IC Title Form No. Form Name Area and DAS Declaration - groundfish vessels fishing under any NE Multispecies DAS At-Sea monitoring and reporting requirements - notifications and database requirements and monitoring costs Catch reporting requirements: US/Canada Area and CA II SAPs, Closed Area I SAP and Regular B Program DAS Downgrade Request NA DAS Leasing Downgrade Form DAS Leasing Request Form NA DAS Leasing Request Form Daily observer catch report information Days-at-sea (DAS) Transfer Program NA DAS Transfer Form Electronic Monitoring Program Requirements NA Electronic Monitoring Equipment Reimbursement Request Monitoring & Reporting Service Providers Application / Response to Denial Monitoring system (database) for discards, sector manager weekly catch reports and annual reports NE Fishery Observer Notification Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Reporting Requirements Notification of ejection from sector Sector operations plan and annual membership list updates Submission of Proposed Special Access Program (SAP) Transfer of Annual Catch Entitlement between Sectors NA ACE Transfer Conversion Form Trip Start / End Hails VMS Trip Catch Reports - 1 Day or Less Trips VMS daily catch reports average 5 day length trips

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	251,010	247,935	0	-750	3,825	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	72,532	78,139	0	-5,607	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	9,068,907	7,686,072	0	-2,953	1,385,788	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: This renewal request adjusts costs for reports that are now submitted via electronic mail, rather than U.S. mail. It also adjusts costs for those information collections that are still submitted via mail to account for the increase in the price of stamps since the last renewal. In addition, Framework Adjustment 69 to the FMP removes regulations requiring certain components of Sector Operations Plans and Sector weekly reports. This revision and extension request revised the burden hours for Sector Operations Plan & Annual Membership List Updates and the Monitoring System (database) for Discards, Sector Manager Weekly Reports & Annual Reports information collections to reflect the components of these reports, which were removed.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,257,133

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Liz Sullivan 978 282-8493

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(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;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date: 02/12/2026

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