Section 600.1415 - Procedures for designating exempted states-general provisions(a) States with an exempted state designation must:(1) Submit state angler and for-hire vessel license holder data to NMFS for inclusion in a national or regional registry database; or(2) Participate in regional surveys of recreational catch and effort and make the data from those surveys available to NMFS.(b) Process for getting an exempted state designation:(1) To apply for exempted state designation, a state must submit:(i) A complete description of the data it intends to submit to NMFS;(ii) An assessment of how the data conforms to the requirements of §§ 600.1416 or 600. 1417;(iii) A description of the database in which the data exists and will be transmitted; and(iv) The proposed process, schedule and frequency of submission of the data.(2) If NMFS determines the submitted material meets the requirements of §§ 600.1416 or 600.1417 , NMFS will initiate negotiations with the state on a Memorandum of Agreement. The Memorandum of Agreement must include the terms and conditions of the data-sharing program. The Memorandum of Agreement and state designation may be limited to data-sharing related to only anglers or only for-hire fishing vessels.(3) Following execution of a Memorandum of Agreement, NMFS will publish a notice of the exempted state designation in the FEDERAL REGISTER.