[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR229.4]

[Page 600-602]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 229_AUTHORIZATION FOR COMMERCIAL FISHERIES UNDER THE MARINE 
 
                      Subpart A_General Provisions
 
Sec. 229.4  Requirements for Category I and II fisheries.

    (a) General. (1) For a vessel owner or crew members to lawfully 
incidentally take marine mammals in the course of a commercial fishing 
operation in a Category I or II fishery, the owner or authorized 
representative of a fishing vessel or nonvessel fishing gear must have 
in possession a valid Certificate of Authorization. The owner of a 
fishing vessel or nonvessel fishing gear is responsible for obtaining a 
Certificate of Authorization.
    (2) The granting and administration of Authorization Certificates 
under this part will be integrated and coordinated with existing fishery 
license, registration, or permit systems and related programs wherever 
possible. These programs may include, but are not limited to, state or 
interjurisdictional fisheries programs. If the administration of 
Authorization Certificates is integrated into a program, NMFS will 
publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the integrated 
program and summarizing how an owner or authorized representative of a 
fishing vessel or non-fishing gear may register under that program or 
how registration will be achieved if no action is required on the part 
of the affected fisher. NMFS will make additional efforts to contact 
participants in the affected fishery via other appropriate means of 
notification.
    (b) Registration. (1) The owner of a vessel, or for nonvessel gear 
fisheries, the owner of gear, who participates in a Category I or II 
fishery is required to be registered for a Certificate of Authorization.
    (2) Unless a notice is published in the Federal Register announcing 
an integrated registration program, the owner of a vessel, or for 
nonvessel fishery, the owner of the gear must register for and receive 
an Authorization Certificate. To register, owners must submit the 
following information using the format specified by NMFS:
    (i) Name, address, and phone number of owner.
    (ii) Name, address, and phone number of operator, if different from 
owner, unless the name of the operator is not known or has not been 
established at the time the registration is submitted.
    (iii) For a vessel fishery, vessel name, length, home port; U.S. 
Coast Guard documentation number or state registration number, and if 
applicable; state commercial vessel license number and for a nonvessel 
fishery, a description of the gear and state commercial license number, 
if applicable.

[[Page 601]]

    (iv) A list of all Category I and II fisheries in which the fisher 
may actively engage during the calendar year.
    (v) A certification signed and dated by the owner of an authorized 
representative of the owner as follows: ``I hereby certify that I am the 
owner of the vessel, that I have reviewed all information contained on 
this document, and that it is true and complete to the best of my 
knowledge.''
    (vi) A check or money order made payable to NMFS in the amount 
specified in the notice of the final List of Fisheries must accompany 
each registration submitted to NMFS. The amount of this fee will be 
based on recovering the administrative costs incurred in granting an 
authorization. The Assistant Administrator may waive the fee requirement 
for good cause upon the recommendation of the Regional Director.
    (3) If a notice is published in the Federal Register announcing an 
integrated registration program, the owner of a vessel, or for nonvessel 
fishery, the owner of the gear may register by following the directions 
provided in that notice. If a person receives a registration to which he 
or she is not entitled or if the registration contains incorrect, 
inaccurate or incomplete information, the person shall notify NMFS 
within 10 days following receipt. If a fisher participating in a 
Category I or II fishery who expects to receive automatic registration 
does not receive that registration within the time specified in the 
notice announcing the integrated registration program, the person shall 
notify NMFS as directed in the notice or may apply for registration by 
submitting the information required under paragraph (b)(1)(i) through 
(b)(1)(vi) of this section.
    (c) Address. Unless the granting and administration of 
authorizations under this part 229 is integrated and coordinated with 
existing fishery licenses, registrations, or related programs pursuant 
to paragraph (a) of this section, requests for registration forms and 
completed registration and renewal forms should be sent to the NMFS 
Regional Offices as follows:
    (1) Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 709 West 9th Street, 
Juneau, AK 99802; telephone: 907-586-7235;
    (2) Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 
98115-0070; telephone: 206-526-4353;
    (3) Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; telephone: 562-980-4001;
    (4) Northeast Region, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; 
telephone: 978-281-9254; or
    (5) Southeast Region, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702; telephone: 727-570-5312.
    (d) Issuance. (1) For integrated fisheries, an Authorization 
Certificate or other proof of registration will be issued annually to 
each fisher registered for that fishery.
    (2) For all other fisheries (i.e., non-integrated fisheries), NMFS 
will issue an Authorization Certificate and, if necessary, a decal to an 
owner or authorized representative who:
    (i) Submits a completed registration form and the required fee.
    (ii) Has complied with the requirements of this section and 
Sec. Sec. 229.6 and 229.7
    (iii) Has submitted updated registration or renewal registration 
which includes a statement (yes/no) whether any marine mammals were 
killed or injured during the current or previous calender year.
    (3) If a person receives a renewed Authorization Certificate or a 
decal to which he or she is not entitled, the person shall notify NMFS 
within 10 days following receipt.
    (e) Authorization Certificate and decal requirements. (1) If a decal 
has been issued under the conditions specified in paragraph (e)(2) of 
this section, the decal must be attached to the vessel on the port side 
of the cabin or, in the absence of a cabin, on the forward port side of 
the hull, and must be free of obstruction and in good condition. The 
decal must be attached to the Authorization Certificate for nonvessel 
fisheries.
    (2) The Authorization Certificate, or a copy, must be on board the 
vessel while it is operating in a Category I or II fishery, or, in the 
case of nonvessel fisheries, the Authorization Certificate with decal 
attached, or copy must be in the possession of the person in charge

[[Page 602]]

of the fishing operation. The Authorization Certificate, or copy, must 
be made available upon request to any state or Federal enforcement agent 
authorized to enforce the Act, any designated agent of NMFS, or any 
contractor providing observer services to NMFS.
    (3) Authorization Certificates and decals are not transferable. In 
the event of the sale or change in ownership of the vessel, the 
Authorization Certificate is void and the new owner must register for an 
Authorization Certificate and decal.
    (4) An Authorization Certificate holder must notify the issuing 
office in writing:
    (i) If the vessel or nonvessel fishing gear will engage in any 
Category I or II fishery not listed on the initial registration form at 
least 30 days prior to engaging in that fishery; and,
    (ii) If there are any changes in the mailing address or vessel 
ownership within 30 days of such change.
    (f) Reporting. Any Authorization Certificate holders must comply 
with the reporting requirements specified under Sec. 229.6.
    (g) Disposition of marine mammals. Any marine mammal incidentally 
taken must be immediately returned to the sea with a minimum of further 
injury, unless directed otherwise by NMFS personnel, a designated 
contractor or an official observer, or authorized otherwise by a 
scientific research permit that is in the possession of the operator.
    (h) Monitoring. Authorization Certificate holders must comply with 
the observer or other monitoring requirements specified under Sec. 
229.7.
    (i) Deterrence. When necessary to deter a marine mammal from 
damaging fishing gear, catch, or other private property, or from 
endangering personal safety, vessel owners and crew members engaged in a 
Category I or II fishery must comply with all deterrence provisions set 
forth in the Act and all guidelines and prohibitions published 
thereunder.
    (j) Self defense. When imminently necessary in self-defense or to 
save the life of a person in immediate danger, a marine mammal may be 
lethally taken if such taking is reported to NMFS in accordance with the 
requirements of Sec. 229.6.
    (k) Take reduction plans and emergency regulations. Authorization 
Certificate holders must comply with any applicable take reduction plans 
and emergency regulations.
    (l) Expiration. Authorization Certificates expire at the end of each 
calendar year.

[60 FR 45100, Aug. 30, 1995, as amended at 62 FR 46, Jan. 2, 1997; 64 FR 
9086, Feb. 24, 1999]