NOAA Requests Comments on Fishery Vessel Monitoring Forms
Published Date: 8/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory VMS for Pacific Coast Groundfish Vessels
If you operate a commercial fishing vessel in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, you are required to install and use a vessel monitoring system (VMS) that automatically sends position reports every 15 minutes. Exemptions exist for inactive vessels or vessels operating outside the monitored area, and vessels must submit gear-declaration reports; the VMS pilot began January 1, 2004, coverage expanded January 1, 2007, and declaration reports were expanded in 2010.
Estimated Annual Reporting Burden and Cost
The information collection covers an estimated 650 respondents with an Estimated Total Annual Burden of 929 hours and an Estimated Total Annual Cost to the public of $22,877. The notice lists time-per-response estimates: VMS installation 4 hours, VMS maintenance 4 hours, installation/exemption/activation reports 5 minutes each, and declaration reports 4 minutes.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
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