[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 204 (Monday, October 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62095-62096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17697]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101106F]


Schedule for Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and 
Identification Workshops

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the first round of Protected Species Safe 
Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops. The workshops will be 
held in November and December 2006 and are mandatory for vessel owners 
and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or shark 
gillnet gear, and have also been issued shark or swordfish limited 
access permits. Vessel owners and operators whose permits expire in 
January 2007 must attend a workshop in 2006. Additional workshops will 
be held throughout 2007; however, vessel owners and operators whose 
permits expire in the winter or spring of 2007 are welcome to attend 
the first round of workshops in 2006.

DATES: Six workshops will be held between November 6, 2006, and 
December 14, 2006. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The workshops will be held in Dedham, MA; Manahawkin, NJ; 
Manteo, NC; Seminole, FL; Daytona Beach, FL; and Kenner, LA. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details on workshop locations.
    The workshop schedule and a list of frequently asked questions 
regarding these workshops are posted on the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/workshops/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
workshop requirement, please contact Greg Fairclough by phone: (727) 
824-5399, or by fax: (727) 824-5398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective January 1, 2007, shark limited 
access and swordfish limited access permit holders must submit a copy 
of their Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop 
certificate in order to renew either permit (71 FR 58057; October 2, 
2006). As such, vessel owners whose permits expire in January 2007 must 
attend one of the six free workshops offered in 2006. Vessel owners and 
operators whose permits expire in the winter or spring of 2007 may 
attend a workshop in 2007 or one of the six workshops offered in 2006 
(see schedule below). New shark and swordfish limited access permit 
applicants must attend a Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshop and submit a copy of their workshop certificate before such 
permits will be issued.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. November 6, 2006 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn- Terrace Room, 
55 Ariadne Rd. (US 1a and I95/128), Dedham, MA 02026.
    2. November 8, 2006 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn- Main 
Ballroom, 151 Route 72 East, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
    3. November 15, 2006 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Outer Banks Welcome 
Center on Roanoke Island- Curtis H. Creech Memorial Boardroom. One 
Visitor's Circle Center, Manteo, NC 27954.
    4. December 6, 2006 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Seminole Community Library 
at St. Petersburg College, Seminole Campus, 9200 113\th\ Street N., 
Seminole, FL 33772.
    5. December 8, 2006 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Aquatic Release 
Conservation, 1870 Mason Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32117.
    6. December 14, 2006 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. New Orleans Airport 
Garden Inn. 4535 Williams Blvd., Kenner, LA 70065.

Registration

    To sign up for a scheduled workshop, please contact Aquatic Release 
Conservation (877) 411-4272, 1870 Mason Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32117.
    In addition to certifying permit holders, all longline and gillnet 
vessel operators fishing with a limited access swordfish or limited 
access shark permit are required to attend the Safe Handling, Release, 
and Identification workshops. 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.
    To ensure the workshop certificate is linked to the correct permit, 
you will need to bring the following items with you to the workshop:
    Individual vessel owners must bring: proof of identification, a 
copy of the appropriate permit(s), and a copy of the vessel 
registration or documentation.
    Representatives of a business owned or co-owned vessel must bring: 
proof that the individual is an agent of the business, a copy of the 
applicable permit(s), and proof of identification.
    Vessel operators must bring proof of identification.

[[Page 62096]]

    Participants in the industry-sponsored workshops on safe handling 
and release of sea turtles that were held in Orlando, FL (April 8, 
2005) and New Orleans, LA (June 27, 2005) will be issued a workshop 
certificate in December 2006 that will be 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 workshop certificate may result 
in a permit denial.
    The 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.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 18, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-17697 Filed 10-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S