Fishermen Must Attend Free Shark ID Workshops or Lose Permits!
Published Date: 9/17/2025
Notice
Summary
If you’re a fisherman or shark dealer with a federal permit, you’ll need to attend free shark ID or safe handling workshops in late 2025 to keep your permit valid. These fun, hands-on sessions help you learn how to identify sharks and handle them safely. Plus, if you’ve already trained in person, you can now recertify online—making it easier to stay up to date without extra travel or cost.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Dealers Must Attend Shark ID Training
If you are a federally permitted Atlantic shark dealer, you must attend the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop to keep your federal permit valid. These workshops are free and are scheduled in October, November, and December of 2025.
Vessel Owners Must Take Safe-Handling Workshop
If you are a vessel owner or operator using bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear and you hold a shark or swordfish limited access permit, you must attend the Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop to keep your permit valid. These workshops are free and are scheduled in October, November, and December of 2025.
Workshops Scheduled Oct–Dec 2025
Free shark identification and safe-handling workshops will be held in October, November, and December of 2025. Additional free workshops will be conducted in 2025 and will be announced in a future notice.
Online Recertification Now Available
If you already completed an in-person workshop, you can now recertify online through NOAA Fisheries instead of attending another in-person session. This online recertification option reduces the need for extra travel or related costs.
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