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US-Flag Vessel Fishery Endorsement Eligibility Information Collection Renewal

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Detected March 31st, 2026
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Summary

MARAD is seeking public comments on renewing OMB Control Number 2133-0530, an information collection used to determine if US-flag vessels of 100 feet or greater are owned and controlled by US citizens and eligible for fishery endorsements under the American Fisheries Act. Affected parties include vessel owners, charterers, mortgagees, and vessel managers who must submit comments by May 29, 2026.

What changed

MARAD is requesting public comments to renew an existing information collection (OMB 2133-0530) without changes. The collection verifies US citizenship ownership and control requirements for vessels of 100 feet or greater seeking fishery endorsements under the American Fisheries Act. The information also helps MARAD assess compliance with harvesting and processing caps under Section 210(e)(1) and (2) of the AFA. This is a standard Paperwork Reduction Act extension, not a new regulatory requirement.

Vessel owners, charterers, mortgagees, and financial institutions affected by this collection should review the proposed renewal and submit comments by May 29, 2026. No new obligations are being added—existing approved collection procedures remain in place. No penalties are associated with this notice; it is purely administrative to maintain an existing reporting mechanism.

What to do next

  1. Review the proposed information collection renewal (OMB 2133-0530) if your organization owns, operates, or holds mortgages on US-flag vessels of 100 feet or greater seeking fishery endorsements
  2. Submit comments through regulations.gov under Docket No. MARAD-2026-0463 by May 29, 2026
  3. Contact Michael C. Pucci at 202-366-5167 for questions about the collection requirements

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

MARAD invites public comments on its intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information
collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection OMB 2133-0530 (Eligibility of US-flag
Vessels of 100 Feet or Greater in Registered Length to Obtain a Fishery Endorsement), is necessary for MARAD to determine
if a particular vessel is owned and controlled by United States citizens and is eligible to receive a fishery endorsement
to its documentation. MARAD is required to publish this notice in the
Federal Register
to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 29, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MARAD-2026-0463 through one of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Search using the above DOT docket number and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington,
DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking.

Note:

All comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided.

Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is reasonable for the Department's performance;
(b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the Department to enhance the quality,

  utility, and clarity of the information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be lessened without reducing the quality
  of the collected information. The agency will summarize or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this
  information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael C. Pucci, 202-366-5167, Division of Maritime Programs, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC 20590, Email: michael.pucci@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Requirements for Eligibility of U.S.-Flag Vessels of 100 Feet or Greater in Registered Length to Obtain a Fishery Endorsement.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0530.

Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: The parties subject to this information collection include vessel owners, charterers, preferred mortgagees, mortgage trustees,
vessel managers, and parties involved in long- term contracts for the sale of all or a significant portion of a vessel's catch.
The information collected will be used by MARAD to determine if a vessel is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, in accordance
with the requirements of the American Fisheries Act (AFA), and is eligible to be documented with a fishery endorsement to
its documentation. The information collected in the Affidavit of United States Citizenship and other supporting documentation
may also be used by MARAD to determine whether the vessel owner, charterer, processor, or other entity has violated harvesting
and processing caps imposed under Section 210(e)(1) and (2) of the AFA. In addition, the information may be used to determine
whether there is a conflict with an international treaty or agreement, that would result in an exemption from the requirements
of the rule for a particular vessel owner or mortgagee.

Respondents: Certain vessel owners, vessel operators, mortgagees, and financial institutions.

Affected Public: Vessel owners, charterers, mortgagees, mortgage trustees and managers of vessels of 100 feet or greater, who seek a fishery
endorsement for the vessel.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Number of Responses: 500.

Estimated Hours per Response: 5-6.

Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,950.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.49.)

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr., Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 2026-06110 Filed 3-27-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-81-P

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Named provisions

Requirements for Eligibility of U.S.-Flag Vessels of 100 Feet or Greater in Registered Length to Obtain a Fishery Endorsement Affidavit of United States Citizenship

Classification

Agency
MARAD
Comment period closes
May 29th, 2026 (59 days)
Instrument
Consultation
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Consultation
Change scope
Minor
Document ID
Docket No. MARAD-2026-0463
Docket
MARAD-2026-0463

Who this affects

Applies to
Transportation companies Government agencies
Industry sector
4831 Maritime & Shipping
Activity scope
Vessel Documentation Maritime Licensing US Citizenship Verification
Threshold
Vessels of 100 feet or greater in registered length seeking fishery endorsement
Geographic scope
United States US

Taxonomy

Primary area
Maritime
Operational domain
Compliance
Topics
Transportation Environmental Protection

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