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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 240 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80774-80776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27426]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA574]

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 Safe 
Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in 
January, February, and March of 2021. Certain fishermen and shark 
dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory 
requirements and to maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic 
Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted 
Atlantic shark dealers. The Safe Handling, Release, and Identification 
Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom

[[Page 80775]]

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 2021 and will be announced in a 
future notice.

DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held on 
January 21, February 18, and March 18, 2021. The Safe Handling, 
Release, and Identification Workshops will be held on January 7, 
January 22, February 4, February 18, March 5, and March 18, 2021. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.

ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in 
Norfolk, VA; Fort Pierce, FL; and Wilmington, NC. The Safe Handling, 
Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in Gulfport, MS; 
Charleston, SC; Portsmouth, NH; Largo, FL; Philadelphia, PA; and 
Houston, TX. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details on 
workshop locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Pearson by phone: (727) 824-5399, 
or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The workshop schedules, registration 
information, and a list of frequently asked questions regarding the 
Atlantic Shark Identification and Safe Handling, Release, and 
Identification workshops are posted online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/atlantic-shark-identification-workshops and https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highly-migratory-species/safe-handling-release-and-identification-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 that 
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. Thus, 
certificates that were initially issued in 2018 will be expiring in 
2021. Approximately 177 free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops 
have been conducted since October 2008.
    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 that 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 certificate for each business location that 
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. January 21, 2021, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., La Quinta Inn, 1387 North 
Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502.
    2. February 18, 2021, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Hampton Inn, 1985 Reynolds 
Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34945.
    3. March 18, 2021, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Hampton Inn, 124 Old 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. Pre-registration is highly recommended, but not required.

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; and
     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.

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 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. 
Certificates issued in 2018 will be expiring in 2021. 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 Safe Handling, Release, and 
Identification Workshop and submit a copy of their workshop certificate 
before either of the permits will be issued. Approximately 364 free 
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 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. January 7, 2021, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 9515 Highway 49, 
Gulfport, MS 39503.

[[Page 80776]]

    2. January 22, 2021, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hampton Inn, 678 Citadel Haven 
Drive, Charleston, SC 29414.
    3. February 4, 2021, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 300 Woodbury 
Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801.
    4. February 18, 2021, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 210 
Seminole Boulevard, Largo, Florida 33770.
    5. March 5, 2021, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Embassy Suites, 9000 Bartram 
Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153.
    6. March 18, 2021, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 9300 South 
Main Street, Houston, Texas 77025.

Registration

    To register for a scheduled Safe Handling, Release, and 
Identification Workshop, please contact Angler Conservation Education 
at (386) 682-0158. Pre-registration is highly recommended, but not 
required.

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; and
     Vessel operators must bring proof of identification.

Workshop Objectives

    The 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, smalltooth 
sawfish, Atlantic sturgeon, and prohibited sharks. In an effort to 
improve reporting, the proper identification of protected species and 
prohibited sharks 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 and prohibited 
sharks, which may prevent additional regulations on these fisheries in 
the future.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 9, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27426 Filed 12-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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