[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 231 (Monday, December 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72775-72777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28471]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XL98


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 January, February, and March 2009. Certain 
fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet 
regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. Specifically, the 
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally 
permitted Atlantic shark dealers. Also, 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

[[Page 72776]]

swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be 
held in 2009 and announced in the Federal Register.

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held January 
7, February 11, and March 11, 2009.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held January 13, February 25, March 11, and March 18, 
2009.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in 
Manahawkin, NJ; Madeira Beach, FL; and Greenville, NC.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held in Wilmington, NC; Warwick, RI; Corpus Christi, 
TX; and Fort Pierce, FL.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details on workshop 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard A. Pearson 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 which first 
receives Atlantic sharks (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. The certificate(s) are valid for three years.
    Currently permitted 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 which first receives Atlantic sharks. 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. As of 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 
which first receives Atlantic sharks has been submitted with the permit 
renewal application. The certificate(s) are valid for three years. 
Additionally, trucks or other conveyances which are extensions of a 
dealer's place of business must possess a copy of a valid dealer or 
proxy Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop certificate. Twelve free 
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops were held in 2008.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. January 7, 2009, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ocean County Library - 
Stafford Branch, 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
    2. February 11, 2009, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Madeira Beach City 
Hall, 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708.
    3. March 11, 2009, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Walter L. Stasavich 
Science and Nature Center, River Park North, 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 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 permitted Atlantic shark dealer for a specific business 
location, 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 who fish with longline or gillnet gear, 
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). The certificate(s) are valid for three 
years. As such, vessel owners who have not already attended a workshop 
and received a NMFS certificate, or if the certificate(s) are due to 
expire in 2009, must attend one of the workshops offered in 2009 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 and receive 
a certificate. The certificate(s) are valid for three years. 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, 34 
were held in 2007, and 16 were held in 2008.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. January 13, 2009, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn at 
Mayfaire, 6745 Rock Spring Road, Wilmington, NC 28405.
    2. February 25, 2009, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn at 
Providence Airport, 1 Thurber Street, Warwick, RI 02886.
    3. March 11, 2009, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 6717 
South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412.
    4. March 18, 2009, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hampton Inn and Suites, 
1985 Reynolds Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34945.

[[Page 72777]]

Registration

    To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling, 
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact Angler 
Conservation Education at (877) 411-4272, 1640 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. 
These workshop certificates may be expiring in 2009. Vessel owners and 
operators whose certificates expire prior to permit renewal in 2009 
must attend a workshop, successfully complete the course, and obtain a 
new certificate to renew their limited access shark and limited access 
swordfish permits. Failure to provide a valid NOAA workshop certificate 
may result in a permit denial.

    Dated: November 21, 2008.
Alan D. Risenhoover
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-28471 Filed 11-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S