[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57588-57590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26308]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF820


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

[[Page 57589]]

Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be 
held in January, February, and March of 2018. Certain fishermen and 
shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory 
requirements and to 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 2018 and 
will be announced in a future notice.

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held on 
January 11, February 15, and March 15, 2018.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held on January 12, January 24, February 6, February 
22, March 7, and March 13, 2018.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in 
Kenner, LA; Corpus Christi, TX; and Fort Pierce, FL.
    The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshops will be held in Key Largo, FL; Portsmouth, NH; Wilmington, 
NC; Gulfport, MS; Palm Coast, FL; and Houston, TX.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details on workshop 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick 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/compliance/workshops/index.html.

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 that 
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 139 
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 certificate for each business location that 
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. January 11, 2018, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Double Tree Hotel, 2150 
Veteran's Memorial Boulevard, Kenner, LA 70062.
    2. February 15, 2018, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., LaQuinta Inn, 546 South Padre 
Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78405.
    3. March 15, 2018, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Hampton Inn, 1985 Reynolds 
Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34945.

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 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 268 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

[[Page 57590]]

permits that uses longline or gillnet gear.

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations

    1. January 12, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 99701 Overseas 
Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037.
    2. January 24, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury 
Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801.
    3. February 6, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 6745 Rock 
Spring Road, Wilmington, NC 28405.
    4. February 22, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 9515 U.S. 49, 
Gulfport, MS 39503.
    5. March 7, 2018, 9 a.m.--5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center 
Boulevard, Palm Coast, FL 32164. 6. March 13, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 
Holiday Inn Express, 9300 South Main Street, Houston, Texas 77025.

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, and prohibited sharks. In an effort to improve 
reporting, the proper identification of protected species and 
prohibited sharks 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 and prohibited 
sharks, which may prevent additional regulations on these fisheries in 
the future.

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

    Dated: December 1, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26308 Filed 12-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P