[Federal Register: December 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 234)]
[Notices]
[Page 68860-68862]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de07-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE16
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.
[[Page 68861]]
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 2008. Fishermen
and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet new
regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. The Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops are mandatory for all federally permitted
Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release,
and Identification Workshops are 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 2008 and announced in the
Federal Register.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held January
10 and March 13, 2008.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held January 9, 16, February 20, and March 19, 2008.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in
Fairhope, AL, and South Boston, MA.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held in Myrtle Beach, SC; Houston, TX; Key West, FL;
and Boston, MA.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details on workshop
locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Fairclough 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 Workshop
Effective December 31, 2007, an Atlantic shark dealer may not
receive, purchase, trade, or barter for Atlantic shark unless a valid
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop certificate is on the premises
of each business listed under the shark dealer permit (71 FR 58057;
October 2, 2006). Dealers who attend and successfully complete a
workshop will be issued a certificate for each place of business that
is permitted to receive sharks.
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. 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. Additionally, after December 31,
2007, an Atlantic shark dealer may not renew a Federal shark dealer
permit unless a valid Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop
certificate for each business location has been submitted with the
permit renewal application. Sixteen free Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops were held in 2007.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. January 10, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fairhope Public
Library, 501 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope, AL 36532.
2. March 13, 2008, from 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. South Boston Public
Library, 646 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop,
please contact Eric Sander by email at esander@peoplepc.com 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
individual is an 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
shark dealer acknowledging that the proxy is attending the workshop on
behalf of the Atlantic shark dealer, a copy of the appropriate 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 Workshop
Effective January 1, 2007, shark limited access and swordfish
limited access permit holders must 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). As
such, vessel owners who have not attended a workshop and received a
NMFS certificate must attend one of the workshops offered in January,
February, or March 2008 to fish with or renew either permit.
Additionally, new shark and swordfish limited access permit applicants
must attend a Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and
Identification Workshop and must submit a copy of their workshop
certificate before such permits will be issued.
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. 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. Vessel operators must possess on
board the vessel valid workshop certificates for both the vessel owner
and the operator at all times. Seven free Protected Species Safe
Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops were held in 2006, and
34 were held in 2007.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. January 9, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Myrtle Beach
Resort, 10000 Beach Club Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572.
2. January 16, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Houston Airport Marriott
, 18700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, TX 77032.
3. February 20, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Doubletree Grand Key
Resort, 3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West, FL 33040.
4. March 19, 2008, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Doubletree Guest Suites
Boston, 400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact
[[Page 68862]]
Aquatic Release Conservation ((877) 411-4272), 1870 Mason Ave., Daytona
Beach, FL 32117.
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
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 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. 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 for these workshops is to provide participants 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 is valid for three years.
Grandfathered permit holders must include a copy of this certificate
when renewing limited access shark and limited access swordfish permits
each year. Failure to provide a valid NOAA workshop certificate may
result in a permit denial.
Dated: December 3, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23697 Filed 12-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S