[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 114 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32836-32838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11523]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA69


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 July, August, and September of 2007. Fishermen and shark 
dealers are required to attend a workshop 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, 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 July 12, 
August 9, and September 6, 2007.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshop will be held July 3, 10, 17, 25, August 1, 16, 30, and 
September 5, 11, 19, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further 
details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop will be held in

[[Page 32837]]

Vero Beach, FL; Westwego, LA; and, Greenville, NC.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshop will be held in North Charleston, SC; Panama City, FL; Daytona 
Beach, FL; Tampa, FL; Dedham, MA; Portsmouth, VA; Kenner, LA; 
Ronkonkoma, NY; Port Saint Lucie, FL; and, Manahawkin, NJ. 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:

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 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 valid Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop certificates 
for each business location have been submitted with the permit renewal 
application.

Workshop Dates, Times, And Locations

    1. July 12, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Leisure Square - TUFF Room; 
Vero Beach Recreation Dept.*, 3705 16th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960. 
*This activity is not sponsored by the City of Vero Beach.
    2. August 9, 2007, from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Jefferson Parish Public 
Library - Westwego Branch, 635 4th Street, Westwego, LA 70094.
    3. September 6, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Walter L. Stasavich 
Science and Nature Center, 1000 Mumford Road, Greenville, NC 27858.

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 with them 
to the 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.

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.

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 whose permits expire in mid-2007 must attend one of 
the free workshops offered in July, August, or September 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

    1. July 3, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn, 5264 
International BLVD., North Charleston, SC 29407.
    2. July 10, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn Select, 2001 
Martin Luther King Jr. BLVD., Panama City, FL 32405.
    3. July 17, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 189 
Midway Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.
    4. July 25, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 10309 
Highland Manor Drive, Tampa, FL 33610.
    5. August 1, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn, 55 Ariadne 
Road, Dedham, MA 02026.
    6. August 16, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hawthorn Hotel and Suites, 
506 Dinwiddie Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704.
    7. August 30, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton New Orleans 
Airport, 901 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062.
    8. September 5, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 3485 
Veterans Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.
    9. September 11, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn, 10120 S. 
Federal Highway, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952.
    10. September 19, 2007, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn, 151 Route 
72 East, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.

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.

[[Page 32838]]

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

    Dated: June 7, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-11523 Filed 6-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S