[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12574-12575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4990]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB037


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: Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected 
Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be 
held in April, May, and June of 2012. 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 who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access 
permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2012 and 
will be announced in a future notice.

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held April 
5, May 3, and June 7, 2012.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held on April 3, April 5, May 9, May 16, June 6, and 
June 20, 2012.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in 
Bohemia, NY; Panama City Beach, FL; and Wilmington, NC.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held in Wilmington, NC; Panama City, FL; Boston, MA; 
Kenner, LA; Port St. Lucie, FL; and Ronkonkoma, NY.
    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 three years. Approximately 
71 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 who 
fills out dealer reports. Atlantic shark dealers are prohibited from 
renewing a Federal shark dealer permit unless a valid Atlantic Shark 
Identification Workshop

[[Page 12575]]

certificate for each business location which first receives Atlantic 
sharks has been submitted with the permit renewal application. 
Additionally, trucks or other conveyances that 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. April 5, 2012, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., LaQuinta Inn & Suites (at Islip 
MacArthur Airport), Meeting Room B, 10 Aero Road, Bohemia, NY 11716.
    2. May 3, 2012, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., LaQuinta Inn & Suites, 7115 Coastal 
Palms Boulevard, Panama City Beach, FL 32408.
    3. June 7, 2012, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 1989 
Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC 28403.

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 the following 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 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 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 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 130 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. 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 longline or gillnet gear.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. April 3, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 6745 Rock 
Spring Road, Wilmington, NC 28405.
    2. April 5, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn Select, 2001 Florida 
77, Panama City, FL 32405.
    3. May 9, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Inn (at Logan airport), 1 
Hotel Drive, Boston, MA 02128.
    4. May 16, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Inn (at Armstrong airport), 
901 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062.
    5. June 6, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 10120 Northwest 
Federal Highway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952.
    6. June 20, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 3845 Veterans 
Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.

Registration

    To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling, 
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact Angler 
Conservation Education at (386) 682-0158.

Registration Materials

    To ensure that workshop certificates are linked to the correct 
permits, participants will need to bring the following 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. In an effort to improve reporting, the proper 
identification of protected species will also be taught at these 
workshops. 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.

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

    Dated: February 24, 2012.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-4990 Filed 2-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P