[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 110 (Friday, June 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32309-32310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12711]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XI22
Schedules for Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public workshops.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops
and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops to be held in July, August, and September 2008. Certain
fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet
new regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. The Atlantic
Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted
Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release,
and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and
operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear,
and have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits.
Additional free workshops will be held in 2008 and announced in the
Federal Register.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held July
31, August 28, and September 16 and 30, 2008.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held July 22 and 29, August 27, and September 3,
2008.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in
Charleston, SC; Richmond, TX; and South Daytona, FL.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held in Panama City, FL; Bohemia, NY; Port Aransas,
TX; and Ocean City, MD.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details on workshop
locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Fairclough by phone:(727) 824-
5399, or by fax: (727) 824-5398.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The workshop schedules, registration
information, and a list of frequently asked questions regarding these
workshops are posted on the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/workshops/.
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop
Effective December 31, 2007, an Atlantic shark dealer may not
receive, purchase, trade, or barter for Atlantic shark unless a valid
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop certificate is on the premises
of each business listed under the shark dealer permit (71 FR 58057;
October 2, 2006). Dealers who attend and successfully complete a
workshop will be issued a certificate for each place of business that
is permitted to receive sharks.
Dealers may send a proxy to an Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshop, however, if a dealer opts to send a proxy, the dealer must
designate a proxy for each place of business covered by the dealer's
permit. Only one certificate will be issued to each proxy. A proxy must
be a person who: is currently employed by a place of business covered
by the dealer's permit; is a primary participant in the identification,
weighing, and/or first receipt of fish as they are offloaded from a
vessel; and fills out dealer reports. Additionally, after December 31,
2007, an Atlantic shark dealer may not renew a Federal shark dealer
permit unless a valid Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop
certificate for each business location has been submitted with the
permit renewal application. Sixteen free Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops were held in 2007.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. July 31, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Center for Coastal
Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson Road,
Charleston, SC 29412.
2. August 28, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., George Memorial
Library, 1001 Golfview Drive, Richmond, TX 77649.
3. September 16, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Piggotte Community
Center, 504 Big Tree Road, South Daytona, FL 32119.
4. September 30, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Piggotte Community
Center, 504 Big Tree Road, South Daytona, FL 32119.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop,
please contact Eric Sander by email at [email protected] or by phone
at (386) 852-8588.
Registration Materials
To ensure that workshop certificates are linked to the correct
permits, participants will need to bring the following items to the
workshop:
Atlantic shark dealer permit holders must bring proof that the
individual is an agent of the business (such as articles
[[Page 32310]]
of incorporation), a copy of the applicable permit, and proof of
identification.
Atlantic shark dealer proxies must bring documentation from the
shark dealer acknowledging that the proxy is attending the workshop on
behalf of the Atlantic shark dealer, a copy of the appropriate permit,
and proof of identification.
Workshop Objectives
The shark identification workshops are designed to reduce the
number of unknown and improperly identified sharks reported in the
dealer reporting form and increase the accuracy of species-specific
dealer-reported information. Reducing the number of unknown and
improperly identified sharks will improve quota monitoring and the data
used in stock assessments. These workshops will train shark dealer
permit holders or their proxies to properly identify Atlantic shark
carcasses.
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop
Effective January 1, 2007, shark limited access and swordfish
limited access permit holders must submit a copy of their Protected
Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop certificate
in order to renew either permit (71 FR 58057; October 2, 2006). As
such, vessel owners who have not attended a workshop and received a
NMFS certificate must attend one of the workshops offered in July,
August, or September 2008 to fish with or renew either permit.
Additionally, new shark and swordfish limited access permit applicants
must attend a Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and
Identification Workshop and must submit a copy of their workshop
certificate before such permits will be issued.
In addition to certifying permit holders, all longline and gillnet
vessel operators fishing on a vessel issued a limited access swordfish
or limited access shark permit are required to attend a Protected
Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop. Vessels
that have been issued a limited access swordfish or limited access
shark permit may not fish unless both the vessel owner and operator
have valid workshop certificates. Vessel operators must possess on
board the vessel valid workshop certificates for both the vessel owner
and the operator at all times. Seven free Protected Species Safe
Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops were held in 2006, and
34 were held in 2007.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. July 22, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 1101
North Highway 231, Panama City, FL 32405.
2. July 29, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., La Quinta Inn and Suites,
Islip MacArthur Airport, 10 Aero Road, Bohemia, NY 11716.
3. August 27, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 727
South 11\th\ Street, Port Aransas, TX 78373.
4. September 3, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Oceanfront,
67\th\ Street Oceanside, Ocean City, MD 21842.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact Aquatic Release
Conservation ((877) 411-4272), 1870 Mason Ave., Daytona Beach, FL
32117.
Registration Materials
To ensure that workshop certificates are linked to the correct
permits, participants will need to bring the following items with them
to the workshop:
Individual vessel owners must bring a copy of the appropriate
permit(s), a copy of the vessel registration or documentation, and
proof of identification.
Representatives of a business owned or co-owned vessel must bring
proof that the individual is an agent of the business (such as articles
of incorporation), a copy of the applicable permit(s), and proof of
identification.
Vessel operators must bring proof of identification.
Workshop Objectives
The protected species safe handling, release, and identification
workshops are designed to teach longline and gillnet fishermen the
required techniques for the safe handling and release of entangled and/
or hooked protected species, such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and
smalltooth sawfish. Identification of protected species will also be
taught at these workshops in an effort to improve reporting.
Additionally, individuals attending these workshops will gain a better
understanding of the requirements for participating in these fisheries.
The overall goal for these workshops is to provide participants the
skills needed to reduce the mortality of protected species, which may
prevent additional regulations on these fisheries in the future.
Grandfathered Permit Holders
Participants in the industry-sponsored workshops on safe handling
and release of sea turtles that were held in Orlando, FL (April 8,
2005) and in New Orleans, LA (June 27, 2005) were issued a NOAA
workshop certificate in December 2006 that is valid for three years.
Grandfathered permit holders must include a copy of this certificate
when renewing limited access shark and limited access swordfish permits
each year. Failure to provide a valid NOAA workshop certificate may
result in a permit denial.
Dated: June 2, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-12711 Filed 6-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S