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Pacific Islands Protected Species Workshops

Online webinars are replacing classroom workshops for owners and operators of Hawai‘i and American Samoa permitted longline vessels.

Registration

Screen shot of the Protected Species Workshop guide cover of a fisherman handling fish on a boat.
Download Guideline (PDF, 22 pages)

Classroom Workshop Registration

Until further notice, online webinars will replace classroom workshops. To register for an online webinar workshop, call (808) 725-5178 or send an email to piropsw@noaa.gov. Provide your:

  • Full name
  • Vessel name
  • Mailing address
  • Phone number

You must register at least one business day before the scheduled workshop.

Online Workshop Registration

An online course is available for owners and operators who have already completed a classroom workshop.

  • Owners may take the online course every year after attending at least one in-person workshop.
  • Operators (captains) may take the online course for two years in a row after completing an in-person workshop. This requirement is to periodically refresh captains on their understanding of protected species handling techniques.

To register for the online course, send an email to piropsw@noaa.gov. Provide your full name, vessel name, whether you are a vessel owner or operator, mailing address, and phone number.

After we receive your email, we will provide you with instructions on how to access the online course.


Owners and operators of pelagic longline vessels working in the Pacific Islands Region must complete the Protected Species Workshop each year. A certificate of completion is required for renewing a longline fishing permit.

Each year, over 300 fishermen and vessel owners attend the Protected Species Workshop in Hawai‘i, and almost 100 are trained in American Samoa.

During the workshop, fishermen learn from presentations, hands-on demonstrations, videos, and printed reference materials.

The workshop training includes:

  • Regulatory requirements
  • Handling and release techniques
  • Protected species identification (sea turtles, seabirds, marine mammals, sharks/ray, biology, and migration)

The objective of mandatory annual protected species workshop certifications are to ensure that longline fishing vessel owners and operators are well versed on the most up-to-date interaction mitigation techniques for protected species.

Resources

Last updated by Pacific Islands Regional Office on May 24, 2022

Protected Species