Protected Species Workshops to Cover Safe Handling, Release and Identification NOAA Fisheries has scheduled a series of Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops for November and December 2006. Participation is these workshops is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or shark gillnet gear, and have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Vessel owners and operators whose permits expire in January 2007 must attend a workshop in 2006. Additional workshops will be held throughout 2007. The workshops are designed to teach longline and gillnet fishermen the required techniques for safe handling and release of entangled and/or hooked protected species, such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and smalltooth sawfish. Identification of protected species will also be taught at these workshops in an effort to improve reporting. Individuals attending these workshops will also gain a better understanding of the requirements for participating in these fisheries. The overall goal 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. The workshops will be held in Dedham, MA; Manahawkin, NJ; Manteo, NC; Seminole, FL; Daytona Beach, FL; and Kenner, LA. Dates and times, along with answers to frequently asked questions, are posted
Protected Species Workshops to Cover Safe Handling, Release and Identification
NOAA Fisheries has scheduled a series of Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops for November and December 2006. Participation is these workshops is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or shark gillnet gear, and have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Vessel owners and operators whose permits expire in January 2007 must attend a workshop in 2006. Additional workshops will be held throughout 2007.
The workshops are designed to teach longline and gillnet fishermen the required techniques for safe handling and release of entangled and/or hooked protected species, such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and smalltooth sawfish. Identification of protected species will also be taught at these workshops in an effort to improve reporting. Individuals attending these workshops will also gain a better understanding of the requirements for participating in these fisheries. The overall goal 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.
The workshops will be held in Dedham, MA; Manahawkin, NJ; Manteo, NC; Seminole, FL; Daytona Beach, FL; and Kenner, LA. Dates and times, along with answers to frequently asked questions, are posted
online. To sign up, please contact Aquatic Release Conservation at (877) 411-4272.