HSFCA Permit Application

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

OMB No. 0648-0304
Expires: 01/31/2012

HIGH SEAS FISHING PERMIT APPLICATION
Please print legibly or type
SECTION 1. VESSEL INFORMATION
USCG Doc. or State Registration No.

Crew Size (including officers)

Vessel Name

Shaft Horsepower

Radio Call Sign

Refrigeration Type (Check only one or write in)

… ICE

… BRINE

… BLAST

… RSW

OTHER: _______________________________

† PLATE

† TUNNEL

SECTION 2. VESSEL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION
Managing Owner as shown on U.S. Coast Guard Form 1270 or State Registration
Owner’s Name, Last

First

Company Name, if vessel is owned by a business entity

Business Address

Middle

Suffix Taxpayer Identification No.

State and Date of Formation
(mm/dd/yyyy)

Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)

Phone No.

City and State

Zip code

Fax No.

Email Address (optional)

SECTION 3. VESSEL OPERATOR INFORMATION
Operator’s Name, Last

First

Company Name, if vessel is operated by a business entity

Business Address

Middle

Suffix Taxpayer Identification No.

State and Date of Formation
(mm/dd/yyyy)

Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)

Phone No.

City and State

Zip code

Fax No.

Email Address (optional)

SECTION 4. VESSEL STATUS
Has the vessel identified above flown the flag of another nation within the last three years? … YES

… NO

If yes, provide the following information for each period during which the vessel operated under other than the U.S flag:
period beginning and end dates (mm-dd-yyyy); vessel name, flag, international radio call sign, and homeport; owner
name, date of birth, address, phone, and fax; and operator name, date of birth, address, phone, and fax. Provide the
information on a separate sheet of paper.
Has the vessel identified above, under its current name/flag or any previous names/flags,
had any permit or license suspended or revoked within the past three years?

… YES

… NO

If yes, list and attach on a separate sheet of paper the circumstances surrounding each such instance and provide an
explanation of the current status of the suspension or revocation including whether there has been a change in
ownership of the vessel.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Date Received:

Check/Money Order Number:

Reviewer:

SECTION 5. VESSEL TYPE
Check the box for the vessel type that best describes your vessel. Check only one.
TRAWLERS

0120 – Stern Trawler
0121 – Stern trawlers wet-fish
0122 – Stern trawlers freezer

GILL NETTERS

… 0410 – Drift Netter
… 0490 – Gill Netter, Other

0123 – Stern trawlers factory

LONGLINERS

0190 – Trawler, Other

PURSE SEINERS

… 0228 – Tuna Purse Seiner
… 0229 – Purse Seiner, Other

OTHER LINERS

… 0705 – Squid Jigging Line
Vessel

… 0710 – Handliner
… 0720 – Pole and Line Vessel
… 0730 – Troller

623 – Freezer Longliner
0624 – Factory Longliner
0626 – Tuna Longliner
0627 – Longliner, Other

SECTION 6. AUTHORIZED HIGH SEAS FISHING ACTIVITIES
Using as a reference the list of Authorized High Seas Fishing Activities in the instructions, check those under which you
intend to fish on the high seas. You must select at least one; however, check only those under which you will actually
fish. You are responsible for meeting the reporting requirements for all you select.

Pacific Highly Migratory Species Fisheries – 50 CFR 660, Subpart K
Pacific Tuna Fisheries – 50 CFR 300, Subpart C
South Pacific Albacore Troll Fishing
Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries – 50 CFR 665, Subpart C
South Pacific Tuna Fisheries – 50 CFR 300, Subpart D
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species – 50 CFR 635
Antarctic Marine Living Resources – 50 CFR 300, Subpart G
Northwest Atlantic Trawl Fishery

SECTION 7. SIGNATURE
All applications must be signed and dated.
A non-refundable application fee of $67.00 in the form of a check or money order made payable to “U.S.
Department of Commerce – NOAA” must accompany each application. Mail the application and copies of the
vessel’s U.S. Coast Guard documentation or state registration to the Regional Administrator with whom you
normally interact on fisheries matters. Addresses are provided in the application instructions.
By signing this application, the undersigned owner or operator of the vessel identified above states, under
penalty of perjury, that all information set forth within this application is true and correct.

Signature

Name (print legibly or type)

Date

Submission of application information is mandatory in order to be considered for a permit and is used to determine if a permit should
be issued. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining data needed, and completing and
reviewing the information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or suggestions for reducing this burden to: NMFS, Office of
International Affairs, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Disclosure of your Taxpayer Identification Number [Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number] is mandatory.
Statutory provisions enacted by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134) require that persons doing
business with the Federal Government, including those applying for licenses or permits, must present their Taxpayer Identification
Number. SSNs will remain confidential and will be protected from disclosure in accordance with applicable law.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
PERMIT APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING ON THE HIGH SEAS

GENERAL INFORMATION
This information is being collected by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to ensure timely and
accurate records are available concerning the fishing vessels of the U.S. that participate in fishing on the high
seas, consistent with the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act.
A permit is required for commercial fishing vessels that harvest species on the high seas. Consult the U.S.
Code of Federal Regulations (Title 50 CFR Part 300 Subpart B) for application requirements, permit eligibilities,
and related information.
Complete all sections of the application form. Applications should be typed or hand written in ink. Incomplete or
illegible applications will not be accepted.
The non-refundable application fee is $67. A check or money order payable to the “U.S. Department of
Commerce – NOAA” must accompany each application.
Mail the application, payment, and all required supporting information to one of the offices noted in Section 6
below. Submit your application to the Regional Administrator with whom you normally interact on fisheries
matters.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION 1. VESSEL INFORMATION
Enter the U.S. Coast Guard Official (USCG) Documentation Number assigned to the vessel. Attach a photocopy
of the vessel’s current documentation (Form CG-1270). If the vessel is not USCG documented, enter the vessel’s
current state registration number and attach a copy of the vessel’s current state registration. Insure that all
photocopies are completely legible.
Enter the current name of the vessel.
Enter the radio call sign currently assigned to the vessel.
Enter the total number of crew members and officers the vessel normally carries.
Enter shaft horsepower.
Indicate refrigeration type. If selecting “OTHER,” write in the refrigeration type.

SECTION 2. VESSEL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION
If the vessel is owned by a corporation or limited liability company, enter the company name and the jurisdiction
(state) where the company was formed and the date of formation (such as the date the articles of incorporation
or registration documents were filed), taxpayer identification number, business address, and phone and fax
numbers.
If the vessel is owned by individual(s) or a partnership, provide each owner’s full legal name, date of birth,
business address, telephone number, and fax number. Inclusion of an email address is optional.
If there is more than one owner, attach the required information for each additional owner on a separate paper.

1

SECTION 3. VESSEL OPERATOR INFORMATION
Enter the name, date of birth, business address, telephone number, and fax number for the individual or
partnership that has control over the operation of the vessel. If the vessel operator is a corporation or a limited
liability company, enter the company name and the jurisdiction (state) where the company was formed and the
date of formation (such as the date the articles of incorporation or registration documents were filed), and the
taxpayer identification number. Inclusion of an email address is optional.

SECTION 4. VESSEL STATUS
Indicate whether the vessel has flown the flag of another nation within the last three years. Also indicate if the
vessel, under its current or any previous names/flags, had any permit or license suspended or revoked within
the past three years. Provide the additional information concerning the circumstances regarding the suspension
or revocation. Indicate whether the suspension or revocation was related to a failure to comply with
conservation and management measures.

SECTION 5. FISHING VESSEL TYPE
Check the box for the principal vessel type of your vessel. Only one type may be selected.

SECTION 6. AUTHORIZED HIGH SEAS FISHING ACTIVITIES
Fishing on the high seas must generally be associated with at least one fishery that is authorized by a Fishery
Management Plan or an international regional fisheries organization. Indicate those fisheries for which you
already hold a permit or have applied for a permit and under which you will actually fish. You are responsible
for meeting the reporting requirements for all you select. Below are the laws and regulations that apply to
the fisheries. The NMFS office to which you submit the application for a high seas permit is also listed below.
Pacific HMS Fisheries (50 CFR 660, Subpart K): Albacore troll fishing conducted in the North Pacific Ocean,
tuna purse seine fishing, and tuna longline fishing (i.e., deep set fishing) by vessels with permits issued pursuant
to 50 CFR 660, Subpart K – Pacific HMS Fisheries; Fishery Management Plan for West Coast HMS.
Pacific Tuna Fisheries (50 CFR 300, Subpart C): Tuna purse seine fishing in the eastern tropical Pacific
Ocean regulated pursuant to 50 CFR 300, Subpart C – Pacific Tuna Fisheries and 50 CFR 216.24 – Taking and
related acts incidental to commercial fishing operations by tuna purse seine vessels in the eastern tropical
Pacific Ocean; Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC),
1949; Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (16 U.S.C. 951-961) as amended by the International Dolphin
Conservation Act (IDCA) of March 3, 1999 (16 U.S.C. 1413).
South Pacific Albacore Troll Fishery: Albacore troll fishing conducted in the South Pacific Ocean.
The following office accepts High Seas Fishing Permit Applications for Pacific HMS Fisheries, Pacific
Tuna Fisheries, and South Pacific Albacore Troll Fishery and can provide additional information on
these fisheries, including information about reporting requirements:
Regional Administrator, Southwest Region
National Marine Fisheries Service
501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213
Phone: (562) 980-4030; Fax: (562) 980-4047
Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries (50 CFR 665, Subpart C): Fishing using troll, handline, or longline for
Pacific pelagic management unit species regulated pursuant to 50 CFR 665, Subpart C – Western Pacific
Pelagic Fisheries; FMP for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region.

2

South Pacific Tuna Fisheries (50 CFR 300, Subpart D): Tuna purse seine fishing in the South Pacific Ocean
regulated pursuant to 50 CFR 300, Subpart D – South Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Treaty on Fisheries Between the
Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America (SPTT),
1987; South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 973 et seq.).
The following office accepts High Seas Fishing Permit Applications for Western Pacific Pelagic
Fisheries and South Pacific Tuna Fisheries and can provide additional information on these fisheries,
including information about reporting requirements:
National Marine Fisheries Service
Pacific Islands Regional Office
ATTN: Permits
1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700
Phone: (808) 944-2200; Fax: (808) 973-2941
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (50 CFR 635): Fishing in the Atlantic Ocean for Atlantic tunas, swordfish
and sharks by vessels (on the high seas, the vessels are primarily longline) with permits issued pursuant to Title
50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 635 – Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS); Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks; International Convention for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), 1969; Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
Applications for High Seas Fishing Permits to fish for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and sharks should be
sent to one of the following two offices:
Regional Administrator, Southeast Region
Regional Administrator, Northeast Region
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Marine Fisheries Service
Constituency Services Branch
55 Great Republic Drive
263 13th Avenue South
Gloucester, MA 01930-2276
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (978) 281-9300; Fax: (978) 281-9333
Phone: (727) 824-5326; Fax: (727) 551-5747
For additional information on Atlantic HMS, including information about reporting requirements,
contact:
National Marine Fisheries Service
Office of Sustainable Fisheries
Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1)
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 713-2347; Fax: (301) 713-1917
Northwest Atlantic Trawl Fishery: Trawl fishing in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean for species managed
pursuant to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (NAFO)
(1978) (16 U.S.C. 5601).
The following office accepts High Seas Fishing Permit Applications for the Northwest Atlantic Trawl
Fishery and can provide additional information on this fishery, including information about reporting
requirements:
Regional Administrator, Northeast Region
National Marine Fisheries Service
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930-2276
Phone: (978) 281-9300; Fax: (978) 281-9333
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (50 CFR 300, Subpart G): Fishing for species specified in a valid
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) harvesting permit, issued in accordance with 50 CFR 300.112, within
the area of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources outside of Exclusive
Economic Zones in the Southern Ocean. Fishing must be conducted only for the species specified in a valid
AMLR harvesting permit, which will also specify the area(s) of Convention waters authorized for fishing, validity
3

period of the AMLR harvesting permit and any other requirements and conditions of fishing deemed necessary.
Once the validity period of an AMLR permit has ended, no further fishing may be conducted in Convention
waters until another valid AMLR harvesting permit authorizes additional fishing in Convention waters;
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources, 1982; Antarctic Marine Living Resources
Act of 1984, (16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.).
The following office accepts High Seas Fishing Permit Applications for Antarctic Marine Living
Resource fisheries and can provide additional information on these fisheries, including information
about reporting requirements:
National Marine Fisheries Service
Office of International Affairs
1315 East West Highway (F/IA)
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 713-9090; Fax: (301) 713-9106

SECTION 7. SIGNATURE
The application must be signed by the owner or operator of the vessel. Sign and print your name and enter the
date the application was signed. Be sure to include the non-refundable application fee of $67.00 in the form of a
check or money order made payable to the “U.S. Department of Commerce – NOAA” along with the vessel’s
USCG documentation or state registration.

2