[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68860-68862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23697]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE16


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.

[[Page 68861]]


ACTION: Notice of public workshops.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops 
and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops to be held in January, February, and March 2008. 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 in 2008 and announced in the 
Federal Register.

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held January 
10 and March 13, 2008.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held January 9, 16, February 20, and March 19, 2008.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in 
Fairhope, AL, and South Boston, MA.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held in Myrtle Beach, SC; Houston, TX; Key West, FL; 
and Boston, MA.
    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. January 10, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fairhope Public 
Library, 501 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532.
    2. March 13, 2008, from 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. South Boston Public 
Library, 646 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127.

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 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 January, 
February, or March 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. January 9, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Myrtle Beach 
Resort, 10000 Beach Club Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572.
    2. January 16, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Houston Airport Marriott 
, 18700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, TX 77032.
    3. February 20, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Doubletree Grand Key 
Resort, 3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040.
    4. March 19, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Doubletree Guest Suites 
Boston, 400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134.

Registration

    To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling, 
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact

[[Page 68862]]

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: December 3, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23697 Filed 12-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S