Fishermen Must Attend Free Shark School This Summer
Published Date: 6/9/2026
Notice
Summary
If you’re a fisherman or shark dealer with a federal permit, you’ve got to attend free workshops this summer and fall to keep your permits valid. These workshops teach how to identify sharks and safely handle protected species, with in-person sessions in July, August, and September plus new online recertification options. No fees, just important dates and locations to remember so you stay on the right side of the rules!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Shark dealers must hold ID certificates
If you are a federally permitted Atlantic shark dealer, you must have a valid Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop certificate at each business location that first receives sharks to renew your federal shark dealer permit. Certificates are valid for 3 years (certificates issued in 2023 expire in 2026); workshops are scheduled July 13, 2026 (Dania Beach, FL) and September 2, 2026 (Manahawkin, NJ), and a copy of a valid certificate must be kept at business locations and in any trucks or conveyances that are extensions of the dealer’s business.
Vessel owners/operators must be certified
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 (and at least one operator) must have a valid Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop certificate to be issued or to renew those permits. Certificates are valid for 3 years (2023 certificates expire in 2026); workshops are scheduled July 1, 2026 (Ocean City, MD), August 17, 2026 (Vero Beach, FL), and September 16, 2026 (Kenner, LA), and vessels may not fish with those permits unless both owner and operator have valid certificates on board at all times.
Online recertification option available
NMFS offers free online recertification workshops for shark dealers and vessel owners/operators who previously attended an in-person workshop; the online option has been available since December 2021 and can be accessed at https://hmsworkshop.fisheries.noaa.gov/start. To be eligible for online recertification you must have previously completed an in-person training.
Dealers may send a proxy with limits
Permitted Atlantic shark dealers may send a proxy to an Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop, but the dealer must designate a proxy for each business location that first receives sharks and each proxy receives only one certificate. A proxy must be employed at that business location, be a primary participant in identification/weighing/first receipt of fish, and fill out dealer reports.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-05599 — Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256 — Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-11859 — Fisheries of the Gulf of America; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review; Public Meeting
Fishermen, environmental groups, and fishery managers in the Gulf and South Atlantic are invited to join a free webinar on June 29, 2026, kicking off a big review of Black Sea Bass fish stocks. This review will help decide how to keep fishing fair and fish populations healthy, with no immediate cost changes but important future management decisions ahead. Everyone’s input counts in this step-by-step process to protect our ocean friends and fishing jobs.
2026-11780 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NOAA Teacher at Sea Program
NOAA is asking for public feedback on their Teacher at Sea program’s info collection, which helps teachers join scientists on research ships for 2-4 weeks. This update keeps the program running smoothly and ensures it meets legal requirements, with comments due by August 10, 2026. Teachers and the public benefit from this hands-on ocean science adventure, with no new costs involved.
2026-11788 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program
NOAA is asking for public feedback on the paperwork needed for the Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program, which helps manage how much tilefish fishermen can catch each year. This affects tilefish fishermen who hold special permits and ensures the rules stay fair and clear. Comments are open until August 10, 2026, with no new costs expected—just a chance to weigh in!
2026-11787 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; American Lobster-Annual Trap Transfer Program
The government is asking lobster fishers and the public to comment on continuing the annual trap transfer program, which helps lobster fishers trade their lobster traps to fish smarter and protect lobster populations. This program affects lobster fishers along the Atlantic coast and aims to balance fishing limits with economic flexibility. Comments are open until August 10, 2026, and there’s no new cost, just a chance to share your thoughts!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-11474 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Nautical Discrepancy and Data Reporting System
NOAA is updating its Nautical Discrepancy and Data Reporting System, which helps keep U.S. coastal waters safe by improving nautical charts. This affects anyone involved in marine navigation and environmental protection. They’re asking for public comments by August 10, 2026, to make sure the system stays effective without adding extra paperwork or costs.
Next: 2026-11477 — National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Notice of Meeting
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is holding a public meeting on June 22, 2026, to discuss updates on AIDS research. Anyone interested can watch online or send in comments before the meeting. This is a great chance for researchers, advocates, and the public to stay informed and involved in important health decisions.