[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 113 (Monday, June 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34209-34211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14622]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA450
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected
Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be
held in July, August, and September of 2011. 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 2011.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held July
14, July 21, August 11, September 8, and September 22, 2011.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held on July 13, July 20, August 17, August 24,
September 14, and September 21, 2011.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in
Wilmington, NC; Port Orange, FL; Dania Beach, FL; Panama City, FL; and
Port Orange, FL.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held in Manahawkin, NJ; Gulfport, MS; Myrtle Beach,
SC; Daytona Beach, FL; Panama City, FL; and Warwick, RI.
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 3 years. Approximately 60
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
[[Page 34210]]
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 which first receives Atlantic
sharks has been submitted with the permit renewal application.
Additionally, trucks or other conveyances which 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. July 14, 2011, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Comfort Inn University, 151 South
College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403.
2. July 21, 2011, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., LaQuinta Inn & Suites, 1791
Dunlawton Avenue, Port Orange, FL 32127.
3. August 11, 2011, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Nova Southeastern Oceanographic
Center, Modular Classroom 1, 8000 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL
33004.
4. September 8, 2011, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., National Marine Fisheries
Service Laboratory, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408.
5. September 22, 2011, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., La Quinta Inn & Suites, 1791
Dunlawton Avenue, Port Orange, FL 32127.
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 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 112 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. These certificate(s) are valid for 3
years. As such, 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 with longline or gillnet gear.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. July 13, 2011, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 151 Route 72 East,
Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
2. July 20, 2011, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 9515 Highway 49,
Gulfport, MS 39503.
3. August 17, 2011, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Embassy Suites, 9800 Queensway
Boulevard, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572.
4. August 24, 2011, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 137 Automall
Circle, Daytona Beach, FL 32124.
5. September 14, 2011, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn Select, 2001 Cove
Boulevard, Panama City, FL 32405.
6. September 21, 2011, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 1 Thurber
Street, Warwick, RI 02886.
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 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
[[Page 34211]]
may prevent additional regulations on these fisheries in the future.
Dated: June 8, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-14622 Filed 6-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P