Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops

Some shark and swordfish limited access permit holders must attend safe handling, release, and identification workshop.

This workshop is designed to educate longline and gillnet fishermen on the proper techniques for safe handling and release of entangled or hooked protected species, such as sea turtles, marine mammals, smalltooth sawfish, Atlantic sturgeon, and prohibited sharks. In an effort to improve reporting, identification of protected species and prohibited sharks is also taught at these workshops.

Instructors: Angler Conservation Education (ACE) | dehooker@gmail.com | (386) 682-0158

Requirements

Required Attendance

1. Are you a commercial vessel owner or operator?

2. Do you use longline or gillnet gear?

3. Do you hold one or more of the following permits?

   • Shark directed limited access permit

   • Shark incidental limited access permit

   • Swordfish directed limited access permit

   • Swordfish incidental limited access permit

If you answered "yes" to 1, 2, and 3, then you are required attend this workshop and obtain a workshop certificate before you can operate under any of these commercial shark or swordfish limited access permits. All workshop certificates must be renewed every three years, prior to renewing your permit. A copy of both a valid vessel owner and operator certificate must be possessed on board the vessel.

If you answered "no" but would still like to attend a workshop, please contact Angler Conservation Education at (386) 682-0158 to check for availability.

Workshop Certificate

1. Submit a copy of the workshop certificate with your shark or swordfish permit renewal application each year.

2. Keep a copy of the workshop certificates on board your vessel as proof of certification.

Dates and Locations

Upcoming workshops are listed below. Workshops are scheduled quarterly in many locations in the Atlantic and Gulf states. For more information please see the Federal Register Notice.

All workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

June 2021

June 29

Embassy Suites
9000 Bartram Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19153

July 2021

July 20

Hilton Hotel
5400 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, TX 77551

July 28

Holiday Inn
151 US Route 72
Manahawkin, NJ 08050

August 2021

August 3

Holiday Inn
3384 Ocean Drive
Vero Beach, FL 32963

August 31

Hampton Inn
678 Citadel Haven Drive
Charleston, SC 29414

September 2021

September 3

Marriott Courtyard
5000 Express Drive South
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

September 10

Holiday Inn
9515 US Route 49
Gulfport, MS 39503

Registration

Sign up for a Workshop

It is free to attend a workshop. Please contact Angler Conservation Education (ACE) by phone at (386) 682-0158 to reserve a space at a workshop. Pre-registration is highly recommended but not required. 

Prepare for a Workshop

To prepare for the workshop, please fill out the correct form below* and e-mail it to ACE, fax it to (386) 437-8115, or bring it to the workshop.

Vessel Owner

1. Proof of identification.

2. A copy of the permit(s).

3. A copy of the vessel registration or documentation.

Representative of a Business or Co-Owned Vessel

1. Proof of identification.

2. A copy of the permit(s).

3. Proof that the participant is a co-owner of the business or vessel.

Vessel Operator

1. Proof of identification.

*There are three ways you can fill out a form:

1. If you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat (Standard or Professional), you can download the form, type in the fields, save the form, and e-mail it to ACE.

2. If you only have Acrobat Reader you can type in the fields and send the form using Reader, or you can print the form and fax it to ACE or bring it to the workshop.

3. If you don't have  Adobe Acrobat Professional or Adobe Reader simply print out the form, write in the spaces, and either fax it to ACE or bring it to the workshop. 

Videos

Handouts

Sawfish and Sturgeon

• Sawfish Handling and Release Guidelines

  • English (PDF, 1 page)

  • Vietnamese (PDF, 1 page)

• Sturgeon Safe Handling & Release Guidelines

Sea Turtles

• Sea Turtle Handling and Release Placard for Atlantic Shark Gillnet Gear (PDF, 2 pages)

• Sea Turtle Handling and Release Placard for Hook and Line Fisheries

  • English (PDF, 1 page)

  • Spanish (PDF, 1 page)

  • Vietnamese (PDF, 1 page)

• Sea Turtle Handling and Resuscitation Requirements/Sea Turtles of the U.S. Atlantic Coast (PDF, 2 pages)

• Longline Required Safe Handling and Release Equipment List (PDF, 1 page)

• Table 1: NOAA Fisheries Approved Models for Equipment Needed for the Careful Release of Sea Turtles Caught in HMS Hook and Line Fisheries (PDF, 2 pages)

• NOAA Technical Memorandum 738: Design Standards and Equipment for Careful Release of Sea Turtles Caught in Hook and Line Fisheries (PDF, 76)

• NOAA Technical Memorandum 735: Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle Release with Minimal Injury (PDF, 74 pages)

Sharks and Rays

• Prohibited Shark Identification Placard
• Oceanic Whitetip Shark Handling and Release Procedures (PDF, 1 page)
• Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Handling and Release Procedures (PDF, 1 page)
• Giant Manta Ray Handling and Release Procedures (PDF, 1 page)

Marine Mammals

• Marine Mammal Handling and Release Guidelines and Species Fact Sheet

  • English (PDF, 2 pages)

  • Vietnamese (PDF, 1 page)

• Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan Compliance Guide (PDF, 4 pages)

• For More Information: Pelagic Longline and Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (PDF, 1 page)

• Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (PDF, 6 pages)

• Guide to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan: Southeast Gillnet Fisheries (PDF, 20 pages)

• Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Gear Guide Supplements (PDF, 25 pages)

• Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan Gillnet Summaries  (PDF, 2 pages)

• Compliance Guide for the Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Rule (PDF, 2 pages)

• Report a Right Whale Sighting

• Caution Boaters: Avoid Right Whales

• Right Whale Fact Sheet

Biological Opinions

• Pelagic Longline Fishery for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

• Operation of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Excluding Pelagic Longline