[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64664-64666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29258]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XS88


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 of 2010. 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. 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 swordfish limited access permits. 
Additional free workshops will be held in 2010 and announced in the 
Federal Register.

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held January 
14, February 11, and March 24, 2010.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held January 13, January 27, February 17, February 
24, March 10, and March 24, 2010.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in 
Manahawkin, NJ; Charleston, SC; and San Juan (Rio Piedras), Puerto 
Rico.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held in Clearwater, FL; Manahawkin, NJ; Key Largo, 
FL; Boston, MA; Galveston, TX; and Ocean City, MD.
    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

[[Page 64665]]

workshops are posted on the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/workshops/.

Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops

    Since December 31, 2007, Atlantic shark dealers have been 
prohibited from receiving, purchasing, trading, or bartering for 
Atlantic sharks 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 are issued a certificate for each place of business that is 
permitted to receive sharks. These certificate(s) are valid for three 
years. Approximately 40 free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops 
have been conducted since January 2007.
    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. Atlantic shark dealers are prohibited from renewing 
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. 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.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. January 14, 2010, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Ocean County Library - 
Stafford Branch, 129 N. Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
    2. February 11, 2010, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Center for Coastal 
Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson Road, 
Charleston, SC 29412.
    3. March 24, 2010, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Puerto Rico Department of 
Natural and Environmental Resources, Cruz A. Matos Building Auditorium, 
State Road 8838 km 6.3, Sector El Cinco, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 
00936.

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 
attendee is an owner or 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 
permitted 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 valid 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 Workshops

    Since January 1, 2007, shark limited access and swordfish limited 
access permit holders who fish with longline or gillnet gear, have been 
required to 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). These certificate(s) are 
valid for three years. As such, vessel owners who have not already 
attended a workshop and received a NMFS certificate, or vessel owners 
whose certificate(s) will expire before the next permit renewal, must 
attend a workshop to fish with, or renew, their swordfish and shark 
limited access permits. Additionally, new shark and swordfish limited 
access permit applicants who intend to fish with longline or gillnet 
gear must attend a Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and 
Identification Workshop and submit a copy of their workshop certificate 
before either of the permits will be issued. Approximately 76 free 
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops 
have been conducted since 2006.
    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 onboard at all times.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. January 13, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 3535 
Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, FL 33762.
    2. January 27, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 151 Route 
72 East, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
    3. February 17, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 99701 
Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037.
    4. February 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Embassy Suites (at 
Logan airport), 207 Porter Street, Boston, MA 02128.
    5. March 10, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 8628 
Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554.
    6. March 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Princess Bayside Hotel, 
4801 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.

Registration

    To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling, 
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact Angler 
Conservation Education at (386) 852-9137.
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 
swordfish and/or shark 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 swordfish and/or shark 
permit(s), and proof of identification.
    Vessel operators must bring proof of identification.

[[Page 64666]]

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. The proper 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 of these workshops is to provide participants with 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 was valid for three years. 
These workshop certificates have expired, or will be expiring in 2010. 
Vessel owners and operators whose certificates expire prior to the next 
permit renewal must attend a workshop, successfully complete the 
course, and obtain a new certificate in order to renew their limited 
access shark and limited access swordfish permits. Failure to provide a 
valid NOAA workshop certificate could result in a permit denial.

    Dated: December 2, 2009.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-29258 Filed 12-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S