View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202405-0648-007
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No: 0648-AKM
Title: Alaska Mariculture Economic Benchmark Survey
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 05/17/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	80	0
Time Burden (Hours)	60	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Abstract: This is a request for a new collection of information. Alaska was recently named an Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) under NOAA Fisheries to determine geographic areas that are environmentally, socially, and economically suitable to support commercial aquaculture operations. The purpose of this data collection is to gather economic data from current growers that hold an Aquatic Farming permit under the Alaska Department of Fish & Game to establish a benchmark economic report that presents economic measures (profitability, breakeven price, etc.) and operations (average stocking density, kelp line depth and separation, etc.) spatially. The data collected from this survey will be used by NOAA economists to generate a benchmark report that states spatial economic information, internal reports on the spatial economic suitability of an Alaskan mariculture operation, and external publications on the financial and environmental risks. These reports will be published on NOAA’s website and be publicly accessible for stakeholders, researchers, and other members of the public. Stakeholders (current and prospective growers) are requesting economic information to help secure small business loans to establish new growing operations and expand current production and describe the economics of opening and operating a mariculture farm in Alaska. Additionally, the economic data provided from this collection will help determine the spatial economic suitability requested from the AOA project. NOAA will use the information provided in the survey to generate a bio economic model that can be simulated under various financial and environmental scenarios. Examples of financial and environmental scenarios include the impact to profitability from subsidies for reductions in seed costs, price floors, and reduced transportation costs from a new production facility and impact to growth and mortality rates from increasing surface water temperatures, dissolved oxygen (DO), and other water parameters and other environmental events such as harmful algae blooms (HAB) or severe storms.

Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 13049	02/21/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 43384	05/17/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Alaska Mariculture Survey	N/A	Alaskan Mariculture Benchmark Survey

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	80	80
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	60	60
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new information collection.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,258

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: Russel Dame 206 526-4432 russel.a.dame@noaa.gov

View ICR - Agency Submission