50 C.F.R. 50 CFR--PART 622
Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries
Effective Date(s): September 8, 2006 6. In subpart A, §622.10 is added to read as follows: (a) Atlantic dolphin and wahoo pelagic longliners. The owner or operator of a vessel for which a commercial permit for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo has been issued, as required under §622.4(a)(2)(xii), and that has on board a pelagic longline must post inside the wheelhouse the sea turtle handling and release guidelines provided by NMFS. Such owner or operator must also comply with the sea turtle bycatch mitigation measures, including gear requirements and sea turtle handling requirements, as specified in §635.21(c)(5)(i) and (ii) of this chapter, respectively. For the purpose of this paragraph, a vessel is considered to have pelagic longline gear on board when a power-operated longline hauler, a mainline, floats capable of supporting the mainline, and leaders (gangions) with hooks are on board. Removal of any one of these elements constitutes removal of pelagic longline gear. (b) Gulf reef fish commercial vessels and charter vessels/headboats—(1) Sea turtle conservation measures. The owner or operator of a vessel for which a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish or a charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, as required under §§622.4(a)(2)(v) and 622.4(a)(1)(i), respectively, must post inside the wheelhouse, or within a waterproof case if no wheelhouse, a copy of the document provided by NMFS titled, “Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle Release With Minimal Injury,” and must post inside the wheelhouse, or in an easily viewable area if no wheelhouse, the sea turtle handling and release guidelines provided by NMFS. Those permitted vessels with a freeboard height of 4 ft (1.2 m) or less must have on board a dipnet, short-handled dehooker, long-nose or needle-nose pliers, bolt cutters, monofilament line cutters, and at least two types of mouth openers/mouth gags. This equipment must meet the specifications described in 50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(E) through (L) with the following modifications: the dipnet handle can be of variable length, only one NMFS approved short-handled dehooker is required (i.e., CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(G) or (H)); and life rings, seat cushions, life jackets, and life vests may be used as alternatives to tires for cushioned surfaces as specified in 50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(F). Those permitted vessels with a freeboard height of greater than 4 ft (1.2 m) must have on board a dipnet, long-handled line clipper, a short-handled and a long-handled dehooker, long-nose or needle-nose pliers, bolt cutters, monofilament line cutters, and at least two types of mouth openers/mouth gags. This equipment must meet the specifications described in 50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(A) through (L) with the following modifications: only one NMFS approved long-handled dehooker (50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(B) or (C)) and one NMFS-approved short-handled dehooker (50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(G) or (H)) are required; and life rings, seat cushions, life jackets, and life vests may be used as alternatives to tires for cushioned surfaces as specified in 50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(F). (2) Smalltooth sawfish conservation measures. The owner or operator of a vessel for which a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish or a charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued, as required under §§622.4(a)(2)(v) and 622.4(a)(1)(i), respectively, that incidentally catches a smalltooth sawfish must— (i) Keep the sawfish in the water at all times; (ii) If it can be done safely, untangle the line if it is wrapped around the saw; (iii) Cut the line as close to the hook as possible; and (iv) Not handle the animal or attempt to remove any hooks on the saw, except for with a long-handled dehooker.
Amendment from August 09, 2006
50 CFR--PART 622
Amendment(s) published August 9, 2006, in 71 FR 45435
§ 622.10 Conservation measures for protected resources.
