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DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-AX48 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: Revision of Shoreside Processor and Stationary Floating Crab Processor Crab Economic Data Reports (EDRs) 
Abstract: Crab economic data reports (EDRs) were created to aid the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NMFS to assess the success of the Crab Rationalization (CR) Program. An EDR contains cost, revenue, ownership, and employment data. These data are collected annually from the crab harvesting and processing sectors, including owners and lessees of catcher vessels, catcher/processors, shoreside processors, and stationary floating crab processors. The data are used to study the economic impacts of the CR Program on harvesters, processors, and communities. With limited exceptions, participation in the data collection program is mandatory for all participants in the crab fisheries. Payment of fees and submission of an EDR are application requirements that must be completed before a processor quota share or quota share (QS) holder may receive individual processor quota (IPQ) or individual fishing quota (IFQ). This action would amend regulations in 50 CFR part 680 that govern the requirements for an annual EDR. Currently, the 680 regulations state that on or before June 28 of each year, any owner or leaseholder of a stationary floating crab processor (SFCP) or shoreside processor that processed crab from a CR fishery must submit an EDR for annual data for the previous calendar year. A problem exists with this regulatory language that results in exempting a few crab processors from the EDR requirement that shouldn't be exempt. A few SFCP or shoreside processor owners or leaseholders with substantial shares of crab IPQ "purchase" crab but do not "process" the crab; they have it all custom processed. These participants incur a number of substantial costs and revenues, which go unreported because they avoid the "processing" trigger in the regulations. This rule would correct this by replacing the word "processed" with "purchased" in paragraphs 680.6(f)(1) and 680.6(h)(1). 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 680   
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1862    PL 109-479    PL 109-241   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  To Be Determined    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Robert D. Mecum
Deputy Acting Administrator
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Room 420, 709 West Ninth Street,
Juneau, AK 99802
Phone:907 586-7221
Fax:907 586-7249
Email: robert.mecum@noaa.gov