Schedules for Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops, 64664-64666 [E9-29258]
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64664
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 8, 2009 / Notices
the preliminary results are published.
However, if it is not practicable to
complete the review within this time
period, section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act
allows the Department to extend the
time period to a maximum of 180 days.
We determine that it is not practicable
to complete the final results of this
review within the extended time limit
because the Department requires
additional time to analyze issues raised
in parties’ briefs and rebuttal briefs,
which were also discussed in meetings
with counsel for the parties, such as,
surrogate values and third–country
processing. Therefore, given the
complexity of the issues in this case, we
are extending the time limit for
completion of the final results by an
additional 21 days.
An extension of 21 days from the
current deadline of December 5, 2009,
would result in a new deadline of
December 26, 2009. However, since
December 26, 2009, falls on a Saturday,
a non–business day, the final results
will now be due no later than December
28, 2009, the next business day.
This notice is published pursuant to
sections 751(a) and 777(i) of the Act.
Dated: December 1, 2009.
John M. Andersen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Operations.
[FR Doc. E9–29097 Filed 12–7–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–533–825]
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Film,
Sheet, and Strip From India: Extension
of Time Limit for Final Results of
Countervailing Duty Administrative
Review
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Effective Date: December 8, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elfi
Blum, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6,
Import Administration, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department
of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0197.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 7, 2009, the Department of
Commerce (the Department) published
the preliminary results of the
administrative review of the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:16 Dec 07, 2009
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countervailing duty order on
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film,
sheet, and strip from India. See
Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet,
and Strip from India: Preliminary
Results of Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review, 74 FR 39631
(August 7, 2009). This administrative
review covers the period January 1,
2007 through December 31, 2007. The
current deadline for the final results of
review is December 5, 2009. This review
covers one producer/exporter of the
subject merchandise to the United
States, Jindal Poly Films Ltd. (Jindal), as
well as the Government of India (GOI).
Extension of Time Limit for Final
Results
Pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act),
and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(1), the
Department shall issue final results in
an administrative review of a
countervailing duty order within 120
days after the date on which notice of
the preliminary results was published in
the Federal Register. However, if the
Department determines that it is not
practicable to complete the review
within the aforementioned specified
time limits, section 751(a)(3)(A) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2) allow the
Department to extend the 120-day
period to 180 days.
Pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2), we
determine that it is not practicable to
complete the results of this review
within the original time limit. The
Department needs additional time to
analyze the supplemental questionnaire
responses, which were recently
submitted, and to determine whether
any additional information is required.
In accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A)
of the Act, the Department has decided
to extend the time limit for the final
results from 120 days to 180 days; the
final results will now be due no later
than February 3, 2010.
This notice is issued and published in
accordance with sections 751(a)(3)(A)
and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: December 1, 2009.
John M. Andersen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Operations.
[FR Doc. E9–29244 Filed 12–7–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XS88
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: NMFS announces free
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops
and Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshops
to be held in January, February, and
March of 2010. 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 have also been issued shark or
swordfish limited access permits.
Additional free workshops will be held
in 2010 and announced in the Federal
Register.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops will be held January 14,
February 11, and March 24, 2010.
The Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshops
will be held January 13, January 27,
February 17, February 24, March 10,
and March 24, 2010.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops will be held in
Manahawkin, NJ; Charleston, SC; and
San Juan (Rio Piedras), Puerto Rico.
The Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshops
will be held in Clearwater, FL;
Manahawkin, NJ; Key Largo, FL; Boston,
MA; Galveston, TX; and Ocean City,
MD.
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
E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM
08DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 8, 2009 / Notices
workshops are posted on the internet at:
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/
workshops/.
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops
Since December 31, 2007, 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 40 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 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. January 14, 2010, from 12 p.m. - 5
p.m., Ocean County Library - Stafford
Branch, 129 N. Main Street,
Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
2. February 11, 2010, from 12 p.m. 5 p.m., Center for Coastal
Environmental Health and Biomolecular
Research, 219 Fort Johnson Road,
Charleston, SC 29412.
3. March 24, 2010, from 10 a.m. - 3
p.m., Puerto Rico Department of Natural
and Environmental Resources, Cruz A.
Matos Building Auditorium, State Road
8838 km 6.3, Sector El Cinco, Rio
Piedras, Puerto Rico 00936.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:16 Dec 07, 2009
Jkt 220001
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 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 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
before 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
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64665
certificate before either of the permits
will be issued. Approximately 76 free
Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshops
have been conducted since 2006.
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 and receive a certificate. The
certificate(s) are valid for three years.
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 onboard at all
times.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. January 13, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5
p.m., Holiday Inn, 3535 Ulmerton Road,
Clearwater, FL 33762.
2. January 27, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5
p.m., Holiday Inn, 151 Route 72 East,
Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
3. February 17, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5
p.m., Holiday Inn, 99701 Overseas
Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037.
4. February 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5
p.m., Embassy Suites (at Logan airport),
207 Porter Street, Boston, MA 02128.
5. March 10, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5
p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 8628 Seawall
Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554.
6. March 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5
p.m., Princess Bayside Hotel, 4801
Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD
21842.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Protected
Species Safe Handling, Release, and
Identification Workshop, please contact
Angler Conservation Education at (386)
852–9137.
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 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.
E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM
08DEN1
64666
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 8, 2009 / Notices
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. The proper 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 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.
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 was valid for three years. These
workshop certificates have expired, or
will be expiring in 2010. Vessel owners
and operators whose certificates expire
prior to the next permit renewal must
attend a workshop, successfully
complete the course, and obtain a new
certificate in order to renew their
limited access shark and limited access
swordfish permits. Failure to provide a
valid NOAA workshop certificate could
result in a permit denial.
Dated: December 2, 2009.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–29258 Filed 12–7–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark
Office
[Docket No. PTO–P–2009–0038]
WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
Pilot Program for Green Technologies
Including Greenhouse Gas Reduction
AGENCY: United States Patent and
Trademark Office, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) is
implementing a pilot program in which
an applicant may have an application
advanced out of turn (accorded special
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:16 Dec 07, 2009
Jkt 220001
status) for examination, for applications
pertaining to green technologies
including greenhouse gas reduction
(applications pertaining to
environmental quality, energy
conservation, development of renewable
energy resources or greenhouse gas
emission reduction). Currently, an
application pertaining to environmental
quality, or energy conservation,
development of renewable energy
resources or greenhouse gas reduction
will not be advanced out of turn for
examination unless it meets the
requirements of the accelerated
examination program. Under the Green
Technology Pilot Program, applications
pertaining to environmental quality,
energy conservation, development of
renewable energy, or greenhouse gas
emission reduction, will be advanced
out of turn for examination without
meeting all of the current requirements
of the accelerated examination program
(e.g., examination support document).
The USPTO will accept only the first
3,000 petitions to make special in
previously filed new applications,
provided that the petitions meet the
requirements set forth in this notice.
DATES: Effective Date: December 8, 2009.
Duration: The Green Technology Pilot
Program will run for twelve months
from its effective date. Therefore,
petitions to make special under the
Green Technology Pilot Program must
be filed before December 8, 2010. The
USPTO may extend the pilot program
(with or without modifications)
depending on the feedback from the
participants and the effectiveness of the
pilot program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Pinchus M. Laufer and Joni Y. Chang,
Senior Legal Advisors, Office of Patent
Legal Administration, Office of the
Associate Commissioner for Patent
Examination Policy, by telephone at
571–272–7726 or 571–272–7720; by
facsimile transmission to 571–273–
7726, marked to the attention of Pinchus
M. Laufer; or by mail addressed to: Mail
Stop Comments Patents, Commissioner
for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
VA 22313–1450.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: New
patent applications are normally taken
up for examination in the order of their
United States filing date. See section
708 of the Manual of Patent Examining
Procedure (8th ed. 2001) (Rev. 7, July
2008) (MPEP). The USPTO has a
procedure under which an application
will be advanced out of turn (accorded
special status) for examination if the
applicant files a petition to make special
with the appropriate showing. See 37
CFR 1.102 and MPEP § 708.02. The
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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USPTO revised its accelerated
examination program in June of 2006,
and required that all petitions to make
special, except those based on
applicant’s health or age or the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot
program, comply with the requirements
of the revised accelerated examination
program. See Changes to Practice for
Petitions in Patent Applications To
Make Special and for Accelerated
Examination, 71 FR 36323 (June 26,
2006), 1308 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 106
(July 18, 2006) (notice); see also MPEP
§ 708.02(a). Applications that are
accorded special status are generally
placed on the examiner’s special docket
throughout its entire course of
prosecution before the examiner, and
have special status in any appeal to the
Board of Patent Appeals and
Interferences (BPAI) and also in the
patent publication process. See MPEP
§ 708.01 and 1309.
The USPTO is implementing a pilot
program to permit applications
pertaining to ‘‘green technologies’’ (i.e.,
applications pertaining to
environmental quality, energy
conservation, development of renewable
energy resources, or greenhouse gas
emission reduction) to be advanced out
of turn without meeting all of the
current requirements of the accelerated
examination program set forth in item
VIII of MPEP § 708.02(a) (e.g.,
examination support document). The
USPTO will accept the first 3,000
petitions to make special under the
Green Technology Pilot Program in
previously filed new applications,
provided that the petitions meet all of
the requirements set forth in this notice.
Upon receipt of more than 3,000
petitions, the USPTO may reevaluate
the workload and resources needed to
extend the pilot program.
Applications that are accorded special
status under the Green Technology Pilot
Program will be placed on an
examiner’s special docket prior to the
first Office action, and will have special
status in any appeal to the BPAI and
also in the patent publication process.
Applications accorded special status
under the Green Technology Pilot
Program, however, will be placed on the
examiner’s amended docket, rather than
the examiner’s special docket, after the
first Office action (which may be an
Office action containing only a
restriction requirement).
Applicant may participate in the
Green Technology Pilot Program by
filing a petition to make special that
meets all of the requirements set forth
in this notice in a previously filed
application. No fee is required. The
$130.00 fee for a petition under 37 CFR
E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM
08DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64664-64666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29258]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XS88
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: NMFS announces free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops
and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops to be held in January, February, and March of 2010. 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 have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits.
Additional free workshops will be held in 2010 and announced in the
Federal Register.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held January
14, February 11, and March 24, 2010.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held January 13, January 27, February 17, February
24, March 10, and March 24, 2010.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in
Manahawkin, NJ; Charleston, SC; and San Juan (Rio Piedras), Puerto
Rico.
The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held in Clearwater, FL; Manahawkin, NJ; Key Largo,
FL; Boston, MA; Galveston, TX; and Ocean City, MD.
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
[[Page 64665]]
workshops are posted on the internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/workshops/.
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops
Since December 31, 2007, 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 40 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 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. January 14, 2010, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Ocean County Library -
Stafford Branch, 129 N. Main Street, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
2. February 11, 2010, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Center for Coastal
Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, 219 Fort Johnson Road,
Charleston, SC 29412.
3. March 24, 2010, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Puerto Rico Department of
Natural and Environmental Resources, Cruz A. Matos Building Auditorium,
State Road 8838 km 6.3, Sector El Cinco, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
00936.
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
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 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 before 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 76 free
Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops
have been conducted since 2006.
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 and receive
a certificate. The certificate(s) are valid for three years. 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 onboard at all times.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. January 13, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 3535
Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, FL 33762.
2. January 27, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 151 Route
72 East, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.
3. February 17, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 99701
Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037.
4. February 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Embassy Suites (at
Logan airport), 207 Porter Street, Boston, MA 02128.
5. March 10, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 8628
Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554.
6. March 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Princess Bayside Hotel,
4801 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshop, please contact Angler
Conservation Education at (386) 852-9137.
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
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.
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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. The proper 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 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.
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 was valid for three years.
These workshop certificates have expired, or will be expiring in 2010.
Vessel owners and operators whose certificates expire prior to the next
permit renewal must attend a workshop, successfully complete the
course, and obtain a new certificate in order to renew their limited
access shark and limited access swordfish permits. Failure to provide a
valid NOAA workshop certificate could result in a permit denial.
Dated: December 2, 2009.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-29258 Filed 12-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
