In 1996, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) began collecting on a voluntary basis, economic information from Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fishermen using the pelagic logbook. Initial response to this collection was relatively high (approximately 24 percent of all trips); however, within one year the overall response rate fell to approximately 11 percent.

NOAA Fisheries needs this economic information to better achieve resource conservation goals while mitigating economic impact on the fishermen, the vessel services sector, and dependent communities. However, given the low voluntary response rate, NOAA Fisheries could not be sure that the information provided could be used to represent the whole fleet. Thus, NOAA Fisheries proposed mandatory cost-earning reporting to assess more accurately the economic impacts of fishery management regulations on fishermen and their communities as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and National Standards 7 and 8 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved collection of this economic data for selected vessels in all HMS fisheries (OMB No. 0648-0371, Expiration date 6/30/2005). As a result, mandatory collection of this information will begin on January 1, 2003, for those selected to report.

Owners and operators of selected vessels are required to maintain and submit a trip expense and payment summary within 30 days of completing a fishing trip and an annual expenditures form by January 31 of the following year. The information collected includes, but is not limited to the price and amount of fuel, the total cost of the trip, the shares the owner, captain, crew obtained from the trip, and cost of repairs/maintenance, all fishing supplies, insurance, purchase of capital, and boat dockage. Collection of this economic data will be mandatory for selected vessels although all other vessels are encouraged to submit the information on a voluntary basis.

Fishermen will be randomly selected across all statistical areas based upon holding a current permit and reporting fishing activity in the previous year's logbooks. Selection letters are tentatively scheduled to be mailed in November 2002.

This FAX notice is a courtesy to HMS fishing interests to keep you informed about your fisheries. Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register. For further information, regarding this economic collection contact Heather Stirratt or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at 301-713-2347 or go to the NOAA Paperwork Reduction Act Home page at: http://www.cio.noaa.gov/itmanagement/prasubs.htm.

_Bruce Morehead for___________ November 15, 2002
John H. Dunnigan
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries