[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10217-10219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4682]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XU40


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.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops 
and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops to be held in April, May, and June 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 April 
8, May 20, and June 10, 2010.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held April 7, April 28, May 20, May 26, June 16, and 
June 30, 2010.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in 
Stuart, FL; Foxborough, MA; and Alvin, TX.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held in Daytona Beach, FL; Kenner, LA; Kitty Hawk, 
NC; Warwick, RI; Charleston, SC; and Manahawkin, NJ.
    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 Workshops

    Since January 1, 2008, 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 3 years. Approximately 43 
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

[[Page 10218]]

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. April 8, 2010, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Florida Oceanographic Coastal 
Center, 890 NE Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34996.
    2. May 20, 2010, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Boyden Library - Fuller Room, 10 
Bird Street, Foxborough, MA 02035.
    3. June 10, 2010, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Alvin Library, 105 South Gordon 
Street, Alvin, TX 77511.

Registration

    To register for a scheduled Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop, 
please contact Eric Sander at [email protected] or at (386) 852-
8588.

Registration Materials

    To ensure that workshop certificates are linked to the correct 
permits, participants will need to bring specific 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 3 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 prior to 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 82 free 
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops 
have been conducted since 2006.
    In addition to certifying vessel owners, at least one operator on 
board vessels issued a limited-access swordfish or shark permit that 
uses longline or gillnet gear is required to attend a Protected Species 
Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop and receive a 
certificate. Vessels that have been issued a limited-access swordfish 
or shark permit and that use longline or gillnet gear may not fish 
unless both the vessel owner and operator have valid workshop 
certificates onboard at all times. The certificate(s) are valid for 3 
years. As such, vessel operators who have not already attended a 
workshop and received a NMFS certificate, or vessel operators whose 
certificate(s) will expire prior to their next fishing trip, must 
attend a workshop to operate a vessel with swordfish and shark limited-
access permits that uses with longline or gillnet gear.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. April 7, 2010, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 137 Automall 
Circle, Daytona Beach, FL 32124.
    2. April 28, 2010, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Hotel (at Louis 
Armstrong New Orleans airport), 901 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062.
    3. May 20, 2010, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 5353 Virginia 
Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949.
    4. May 26, 2010, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn (at T. F. Green 
Providence airport), 1 Thurber Street, Warwick, RI 02886.
    5. June 16, 2010, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Town & Country Inn, 2008 
Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407.
    6. June 30, 2010, 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 Angler 
Conservation Education at (386) 290-8955.

Registration Materials

    To ensure that workshop certificates are linked to the correct 
permits, participants will need to bring specific 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.

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 3 years. These 
workshop certificates have expired.
    Vessel owners and operators whose certificates expire prior to the 
next permit renewal or fishing trip must attend a workshop, 
successfully complete the course, and obtain a new certificate in order 
to fish with or renew their limited-access shark and limited-access 
swordfish permits. Failure to

[[Page 10219]]

provide a valid NOAA workshop certificate could result in a permit 
denial.

    Dated: March 1, 2010.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-4682 Filed 3-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S