SNAPPER GROUPER AMENDMENT 15B - SAFMC.net

For vessels with a freeboard height of four feet or less:• a dipnet,• a tire (or other comparable cushioned, elevated surface that immobilizes boated sea turtles),• a short-handled dehooker,• long-nose or needle-nose pliers,• bolt cutters,• monofilament line cutters,• 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-L) with thefollowing modifications: the dipnet handle can be of variable length, only one NMFS approvedshort-handled dehooker is required (i.e., 50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(G or H)); any other comparable,cushioned, elevated surface that allows boated sea turtles to be immobilized, may be used as analternative to the requirement in 50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(F) to have a tire on board.For vessels with a freeboard height of greater than four feet:• a dipnet,• a tire (or other comparable cushioned, elevated surface that immobilizes boated sea turtles),• a long-handled line clipper,• a long-handled device for pulling an inverted “V”• a short-handled dehooker• a long-handled dehooker,• long-nose or needle-nose pliers,• bolt cutters,• monofilament line cutters,• 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-L) with thefollowing modifications: only one NMFS approved long-handled dehooker (50 CFR635.21(c)(5)(i)(B or C)) and one NMFS approved short-handled dehooker (50 CFR635.21(c)(5)(i)(G or H)) are required; any other comparable, cushioned, elevated surface thatallows boated sea turtles to be immobilized, may be used as an alternative to the requirement in50 CFR 635.21(c)(5)(i)(F) to have a tire on board.SOUTH ATLANTIC SNAPPER GROUPERPUBLIC HEARING SUMMARYAMENDMENT 15B 8 NOVEMBER 2007