Applications are due by December 3, 2008. Full information is in the links at the end of this post.
We got an email notice today about 2009 Shark Research Fishery permits. If you want to be able to catch any sandbar sharks at all in 2009, you must have one of these permits. They come with a boat-load of restrictions and added regulation, but they did allow a small number of shark boats to catch enough sandbar sharks this year (a little bit more than 2000 lbs per trip) to maybe pay a few bills.
Maybe.
NMFS announces its request for applications for the 2009 shark research fishery from commercial shark fishermen with a directed or incidental permit. The shark research fishery allows for the collection of fishery– dependent data for future stock assessments while also allowing NMFS and commercial fishermen to conduct cooperative research to meet the shark research objectives for the Agency. The only commercial vessels authorized to land sandbar sharks are those participating in the shark research fishery.
Copy of email notice (in pdf format)
Shark Research Fishery Notice 73 FR 65294.pdf