[Federal Register: December 18, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 242)]
[Notices]
[Page 75714-75716]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18de06-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112206A]
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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops
to be held in January, February, and March of 2007. Additional
workshops will be held throughout 2007 and will be scheduled at a later
date.
The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops are mandatory for all
federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. As of 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. Additionally, after December 31, 2007, Atlantic shark
dealers may not renew a Federal shark dealer permit unless a valid
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop certificate has been submitted
with the permit renewal application. Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops will be held throughout 2007, at no charge to the
participant.
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. Vessel
[[Page 75715]]
owners and operators whose permits expire in January, February, or
March 2007 must attend one of these free workshops in order to renew
their permit.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held on
January 26, February 22, and March 16, 2007.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held on January 8, 12, and 24, February 1, 22, and
27, and on March 7, 15, and 21, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in
Madeira Beach, FL; Dania Beach, FL; and Manahawkin, NJ.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held in Coconut Grove, FL; Charleston, SC;
Providence, RI; Ft. Pierce, FL; Houston, TX; Panama City, FL; Dedham,
MA; St. Petersburg, FL; and Ronkonkoma, NY. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for further details on workshop locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding
workshop requirements, contact Greg Fairclough by phone:(727) 824-5399,
or by fax: (727) 824-5398.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 2, 2006, NMFS published a final
rule (71 FR 58057) that, among other things, requires certain dealers
and fishermen to attend mandatory workshops prior to renewing their
permits.
Shark Identification Workshops for Dealers
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. 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 a 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 listed on
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 has been submitted with the permit renewal application.
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops
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. As such, vessel owners whose permits
expire in early 2007 must attend one of the free workshops offered in
January, February, or March 2007. 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 owners, all longline and gillnet vessel operators
fishing with a limited access swordfish or limited access shark permit
are required to attend the Protected Species Safe Handling, Release,
and Identification Workshops. 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.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
Additional workshops will be scheduled throughout the year.
Fishermen should try to go to workshops that are close to the
expiration date of their permit.
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops
1. January 26, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Madeira Beach Town Hall,
300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708.
2. February 22, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Nova Southeastern
University Oceanographic Center, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach,
FL 33004. The Park entrance fee will be waived for participants
attending the workshop at the university.
3. March 16, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ocean County Library
(Stafford Branch), 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops
1. January 8, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hampton Inn Coconut Grove,
2800 SW 28th Terrace, Coconut Grove, FL 33133.
2. January 12, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Town & Country Inn &
Conference Center, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407.
3. January 24, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hotel Providence, 311
Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903.
4. February 1, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hampton Inn & Suites, 1985
Reynolds Drive, Ft. Pierce, FL 34945.
5. February 22, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hampton Inn, 8620 Airport
Blvd., Houston, TX 77061.
6. February 27, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 1101
U.S. Highway 231, Panama City, FL 32405.
7. March 7, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Holiday Inn, Dedham, 55
Ariadne Road, Dedham, MA 02026.
8. March 15, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton, St. Petersburg
Bayfront, 333 First Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
9. March 21, 2007 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn, Islip
MacArthur Airport, 3485 Veterans Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY
11779.
Registration
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/.
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.
To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact Aquatic Release
Conservation ((877) 411-4272), 1870 Mason Ave., Daytona Beach, FL
32117.
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) will be issued a workshop
certificate in December 2006 that will be 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 workshop certificate may result
in a permit denial.
[[Page 75716]]
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:
Atlantic Shark Identification 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.
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 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 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.
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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 12, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9755 Filed 12-13-06; 3:25 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S