[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11335-11337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4560]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030507D]


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 Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and 
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops 
to be held in April, May, and June of 2007. These workshops provide 
certification opportunities and are required for fishermen and shark 
dealers to meet new regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. 
The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops are mandatory for all 
federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe 
Handling,

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Release, and Identification Workshops are 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 throughout 2007.

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop will be held April 
26, May 24, and June 14, 2007.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshop will be held April 11, 18, 25, May 2, 22, 23, and June 6, 20, 
28, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop will be held in 
Charleston, SC; Richmond, TX; and, Foxboro, MA.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshop will be held in Ocean City, MD; Norfolk, VA; Wilmington, NC; 
Marathon, FL; New Orleans, LA; Moss Point, MS; Naples, FL; Manahawkin, 
NJ; and, Daytona Beach, FL. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further 
details on workshop locations.
    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/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Fairclough by phone:(727) 824-
5399, or by fax: (727) 824-5398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 a 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 has been submitted 
with the permit renewal application.
    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 whose permits expire in mid-2007 must attend one of 
the free workshops offered in April, May, or June 2007. 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 the Protected 
Species 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.

Workshop Dates, Times, And Locations

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop

    1. April 26, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Center for Coastal 
Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson Drive, 
Charleston, SC 29412.
    2. May 24, 2007, from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. George Memorial 
Library, 1001 Golfview Drive, Richmond, TX 77469.
    3. June 14, 2007, from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Boyden Library, 10 Bird 
Street, Foxboro, MA 02035.
    Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshop
    1. April 11, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn, 6600 Coastal 
Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.
    2. April 18, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Norfolk Airport, 
1500 North Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502.
    3. April 25, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn at 
Mayfaire, 6745 Rock Spring Road, Wilmington, NC 28405.
    4. May 2, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sombrero Cay Club Resort & 
Marina, 19 Sombrero Blvd., Marathon, FL 33050.
    5. May 22, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal 
Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.
    6. May 23, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pelican Landing Conference & 
Convention Center, 6217 Highway 613, Moss Point, MS 39563.
    7. June 6, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Doubletree Guest Suites 
Naples, 12200 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34110.
    8. June 20, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn, 151 Route 72 
East, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
    9. June 28, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Shores Resort & Spa, 
2637 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118.

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.
    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.

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 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 NOAA workshop 
certificate may result in a permit denial.

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:

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop

    Atlantic shark dealer permit holders must bring proof that the 
individual is an agent of the business (such as articles 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.

Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop

    Individual vessel owners must bring a copy of the appropriate 
permit(s), a

[[Page 11337]]

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 Atlantic 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.
    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.

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

    Dated: March 8, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4560 Filed 3-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S