Highly Migratory Species Division Shark Research Fishery Permits

Commercial fishermen interested in participating in the shark research fishery must submit an application and vessel/permit documentation for the Agency to consider. Annually, the Agency randomly selects participants from among applicants. The Atlantic shark research fishery is a program with 100% observer coverage that collects fishing and biological data on all sharks, including sandbar sharks (a species prohibited from being landed and sold), for stock assessments and other scientific purposes.

The database tracks applications for the shark research fishery. The shark research fishery provides an opportunity for research to be conducted on selected shark species to provide biological and other data as needed for stock assessments.

Data is accessed only by HMS staff, approved by the the database Point of Contact, Margo Schulze-Haugen. To access this database, potential users must complete an HQ access agreement form and submit it to the Point of Contact (Margo Schulze-Haugen) for consideration and approval. The access form lists what tables in database are available and if read/write permissions are justified.

This dataset contains data protected under data confidentiality clauses of Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Restrictions and legal prerequisites exist for accessing the data set, and Includes any access constraints applied to assure privacy or intellectual property and any special restrictions on the use of the data. Access to these data must be approved by the Point of Contact.

Data are checked for a variety of compliance aspects (reference tables for valid permits, accurate vessel information, completion and timeliness of submission, etc).

NOAA/NMFS/SF1 backs up the data and the datbase is password protected with password known to three staff members including POC.

Application-information (contact info, permit info, areas they would fish, gears used etc..) received from commercial fisherman wishing to participate in the SRF are stored in an oracle database where they are run through several compliance checks (valid USCG safety decal, compliance with observer program, shark landings etc) to determine if they qualify for the SRF. Data is QA/QC by staff members.