[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12574-12575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4990]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB037
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
Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be
held in April, May, and June of 2012. 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 2012 and
will be announced in a future notice.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held April
5, May 3, and June 7, 2012.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held on April 3, April 5, May 9, May 16, June 6, and
June 20, 2012.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in
Bohemia, NY; Panama City Beach, FL; and Wilmington, NC.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held in Wilmington, NC; Panama City, FL; Boston, MA;
Kenner, LA; Port St. Lucie, FL; and Ronkonkoma, NY.
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 three years. Approximately
71 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
[[Page 12575]]
certificate for each business location which 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. April 5, 2012, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., LaQuinta Inn & Suites (at Islip
MacArthur Airport), Meeting Room B, 10 Aero Road, Bohemia, NY 11716.
2. May 3, 2012, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., LaQuinta Inn & Suites, 7115 Coastal
Palms Boulevard, Panama City Beach, FL 32408.
3. June 7, 2012, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 1989
Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC 28403.
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 three 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 130 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 permits that uses longline or gillnet gear.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. April 3, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 6745 Rock
Spring Road, Wilmington, NC 28405.
2. April 5, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn Select, 2001 Florida
77, Panama City, FL 32405.
3. May 9, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Inn (at Logan airport), 1
Hotel Drive, Boston, MA 02128.
4. May 16, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Inn (at Armstrong airport),
901 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062.
5. June 6, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 10120 Northwest
Federal Highway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952.
6. June 20, 2012, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 3845 Veterans
Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.
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. 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 may prevent additional regulations on these
fisheries in the future.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 24, 2012.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-4990 Filed 2-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P