National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration October 31, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Dr. James H.W. Hain, Associated Scientists at Woods Hole, Box 721, Woods Hole, MA 02543 to conduct research on North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

NMFS announces its request for applications for the 2012 shark research fishery from commercial shark fishermen with a directed or incidental limited access permit. The shark research fishery allows for the collection of fishery-dependent data for future stock assessments while also allowing NMFS and commercial fishermen to conduct cooperative research to meet the shark research objectives of the Agency. The only commercial vessels authorized to land sandbar sharks are those participating in the shark research fishery. Shark research fishery permittees may also land non-sandbar large coastal sharks (LCS), small coastal sharks (SCS), and pelagic sharks. Commercial vessels not participating in the shark research fishery may only land non-sandbar LCS, SCS, and pelagic sharks. Commercial shark fishermen who are interested in participating in the shark research fishery need to submit a completed Shark Research Fishery Permit Application in order to be considered.