Area Endorsement Application

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

OMB No. 0648-0595
Expires: 11/30/2021

WCPFC AREA ENDORSEMENT APPLICATION
(Please print legibly or type)
SECTION 1. VESSEL INFORMATION
USCG DOC. OR
STATE REG. NO

VESSEL NAME

TOTAL FISH HOLD CAPACITY
cubic meters
or
short tons

RADIO CALL SIGN (Indicate whether an International Radio Call Sign has been assigned to the vessel, and if yes,
specify the call sign.)

□ No

□ Yes:

REFRIGERATION/FREEZER TYPE AND CAPACITY (Check and provide numbers for all that apply. See instructions
for details.)

□ ICE
□ BRINE
□ RSW
□ BLAST
□ PLATE
□ TUNNEL
□ OTHER:

No. ice-making units:

Ice-making capacity:

tons/24hr

No. chiller units:

Nominal size of each unit:

tons

No. chiller units:

Nominal size of each unit:

tons

No. freezer units:

Nominal size of each unit:

tons

No. freezer units:

Fish-freezing capacity:

tons/24hr

No. freezer units:

Fish-freezing capacity:

tons/24hr

No. units:

Fish-freezing capacity:

tons/24hr

SECTION 2. FISHING METHODS (Check each fishing gear type used or intended to be used on the
vessel. Check as many boxes as apply. Check at least one box unless the vessel is a carrier, bunker, or
other support vessel and is not used to harvest fish. Your responses under this section are for informational
purposes only; they will not be used to place conditions on the WCFPC Area Endorsement, if issued.)

□ Purse Seines
□ Driftnets
□ Drifting Longlines

□ Vertical Lines – Hand-operated (non-squid) □ Trolling lines
□ Vertical Lines – Mechanized (non-squid) □ Poles and lines
□ Vertical Lines – Squid Jigs
□ Harpoons

□ Other type(s) of gears (specify:)

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

OMB No. 0648-0595
Expires: 11/30/2021

SECTION 3. VESSEL COMMUNICATION TYPES AND NUMBERS (For each communication type
listed, check the “yes” or “no” box to indicate whether the communication type is available on the vessel. If
yes, provide the number/address, and check or write in the Inmarsat service.)
Yes

No

□ □

Voice Inmarsat mobile number:
Inmarsat service:

□ □

□B □C □M □Mini-M □F

Other:

□B □C □M □Mini-M □F

Other:

Email Inmarsat address:
Inmarsat service:

□ □

Other:

Fax Inmarsat mobile number:
Inmarsat service:

□ □

□B □C □M □Mini-M □F

Telex Inmarsat mobile number:
Inmarsat service:

□B □C □M □Mini-M □F

□ □

Satellite telephone number (other than Inmarsat):

□ □

Single sideband radio

Other:

SECTION 4. VESSEL OPERATOR INFORMATION
(Provide the name(s) and citizenship of vessel operator(s) (i.e., the master on board the vessel.)
Last name

First name

Middle name

Suffix

Country of citizenship

1.
2.
3.
4.

SECTION 5. COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF VESSEL (Provide a photograph of the vessel in its current
form and appearance. Indicate whether an electronic or paper photograph is being provided or indicate that
a photograph has already been provided. If an electronic or paper photograph is being provided, enter the
date the photograph was taken. If the vessel’s form or appearance materially changes (including, but not
limited to, the vessel is painted another color, the vessel is renamed, or the vessel undergoes a structural
modification) or if the photograph becomes more than five years old, you must submit to NMFS a new
photograph of the vessel within 15 days of the change or of the photograph becoming five years old).

□ Electronic photograph
□ Paper photograph

□

Date photograph taken:
(mm/dd/yyyy)

2

Photograph already provided with
application for high seas fishing permit

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

OMB No. 0648-0595
Expires: 11/30/2021

SECTION 6. SIGNATURE (All applications must be signed and dated)
By signing this application, the undersigned owner or operator of the vessel identified above declares under penalty of
law that all information in this application is true, accurate, and complete. A non-refundable application fee of $46.00 in
the form of a check or money order made payable to “U.S. Department of Commerce – NOAA” must accompany each
application.

Signature

Name (Print legibly or type)

Date (mm/dd/yyyy)

Submission of this application information is mandatory. The information will be used for determining eligibility for a
WCPFC Area Endorsement as well as for recordkeeping and reporting under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Convention Implementation Act, the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act, the South Pacific Tuna Act, and other
applicable law. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 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: Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building
176, Honolulu, HI 96818. 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.

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

OMB No. 0648-0595
Expires: 11/30/2021

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
WCPFC AREA ENDORSEMENT APPLICATION
Any fishing vessel of the United States used for commercial fishing for highly migratory species on
the high seas in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Area must have on board a
valid high seas fishing permit that has a valid WCPFC Area Endorsement. Note that “fishing”
includes receiving fish in the course of a transshipment or supporting fish-harvesting vessels, such
as by bunkering or providing supplies.
For the definition of “high seas”, see the regulations at 50 CFR Part 300 Subpart B. For the
definitions of “commercial”, “fishing”, “highly migratory species”, Western and Central Pacific
Fisheries “Convention Area”, “high seas fishing permit”, and “WCPFC Area Endorsement”, see the
regulations at 50 CFR Part 300 Subpart O.
The owner or operator of a U.S. fishing vessel may apply for a WCPFC Area Endorsement by
completing this application form, providing the required vessel photograph, and paying the required
application fee.
In order to obtain a WCPFC Area Endorsement, a high seas fishing permit for the vessel must have
already been issued or applied for in accordance with 50 CFR Part 300 Subpart B. You may obtain
an application form and instructions for a high seas fishing permit by contacting any National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Administrator or by visiting the website at
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/services/highseas.htm
If there are any changes to the information provided after this form has been submitted, you
must inform NMFS in writing of the changes within 15 days of the changes. This may be done
by submitting to NMFS another copy of this form that indicates the updated information.
If there are any material changes to the form or appearance of the vessel after this form has
been submitted, such as being painted another color, being renamed, or undergoing a
structural modification, you must inform NMFS and submit a new photograph of the vessel
within 15 days of the changes.
SECTION 1. VESSEL INFORMATION
Enter the U.S. Coast Guard Official Documentation Number assigned to the vessel. If the vessel is
not USCG-documented, enter the vessel’s current state or tribal registration number.
Enter the current name of the vessel.
Enter the vessel’s total fish hold capacity, in either cubic meters or short tons.
Indicate whether or not an International Radio Call Sign (IRCS) has been assigned to the vessel (by
the Federal Communications Commission), and if so, write in the IRCS.
Indicate all the refrigeration/freezer type(s) on board the vessel that are used for the catch (ignore
freezers and refrigerators used only for bait and other non-catch items). For each type used, enter
the number of units on board and their capacity, as follows:
If the vessel uses an ice system (including ice slurry), indicate the number of ice-making units on
board and the total ice-making capacity, expressed as the number of short tons of ice that can

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

OMB No. 0648-0595
Expires: 11/30/2021

be produced per 24-hour period. If the vessel uses ice produced shoreside and does not have
an ice-maker on board, the “ice” box should be checked and “0” should be entered for number of
ice-making units and ice-making capacity.
If the vessel uses a brine system, indicate the number of chiller units on board and the nominal
size of each chiller unit, expressed in short tons.
If the vessel uses an RSW (refrigerated seawater) system, indicate the number of chiller units on
board and the nominal size of each chiller unit, expressed in short tons. If seawater is cooled
with ice to make an ice slurry, check the “ice” box, not the “RSW” box.
If the vessel uses a blast freezer system, indicate the number of freezer units on board and the
nominal size of each chiller unit, expressed in short tons.
If the vessel uses a plate freezer system, indicate the number of freezer units on board and the
total fish-freezing capacity of the system, expressed as the number of short tons of fish that can
be frozen per 24-hour period.
If the vessel uses a tunnel freezer system, indicate the number of freezer units on board and the
total fish-freezing capacity of the system, expressed as the number of short tons of fish that can
be frozen per 24-hour period.
If the vessel uses a refrigeration/freezer type not listed above, indicate the refrigeration/freezer
type, the number of units on board, and the total fish-freezing capacity of the system, expressed
as the number of short tons of fish that can be chilled or frozen per 24-hour period.
SECTION 2. FISHING METHODS
Check the boxes for all the fishing gears used or intended to be used. Check at least one box unless
the vessel is a carrier, bunker, or other support vessel and it is not used to harvest fish. If the fishing
gear(s) is not included in the list provided, check the box for “Other type(s) of gears” and describe
the fishing gear(s). Your responses are for informational purposes only; they will not be used to
place conditions on the WCFPC Area Endorsement, if issued.
SECTION 3. VESSEL COMMUNICATION TYPES AND NUMBERS
For each communication type listed, check the “yes” or “no” box to indicate whether the
communication type is available on the vessel. For each available communication type except
“single sideband radio”, enter the mobile number, email address, or satellite telephone number, as
appropriate. For each available communication type other than “satellite telephone number (other
than Inmarsat)” and “single sideband radio”, circle the Inmarsat service used (B, C, M, Mini-M, F, or
other), and in the case of “other”, specify the service.
SECTION 4. VESSEL OPERATOR INFORMATION
Enter the full name and country of citizenship of the vessel operator or operators. “Operator” means
the master or other individual aboard and in charge of the vessel. If it is anticipated that the vessel
will be operated by more than one individual during the period of validity of the WCPFC Area
Endorsement, as many as four individuals may be listed.

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

OMB No. 0648-0595
Expires: 11/30/2021

SECTION 5. COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF VESSEL
This application must be accompanied by a full-color photograph of the vessel in its current form and
appearance, in either electronic or paper format. If a photograph has already been provided to
NMFS as part of an application for a high seas fishing permit, an additional photograph does not
have to be submitted with this application, provided that the photograph meets the specifications
described below. If the appearance of the vessel materially changes after this form and the
photograph have been submitted (including, but not limited to, the vessel is painted another color,
the vessel is renamed, or the vessel undergoes a structural modification) or if the photograph
becomes more than five years old, you must inform NMFS and submit a new photograph of the
vessel within 15 days of the change or of the photograph becoming five years old.
The photograph must meet the following specifications:
The photograph must show a bow-to-stern side-view of the vessel, clearly and legibly displaying
the vessel name and markings, and such markings must be in accordance with the vessel
identification requirements of 50 CFR Part 300 Subpart O.
The photograph must have been taken within the last five years.
Paper photographs must be at least 5 by 7 inches and no greater than 8½ by 11 inches in size.
Electronic photographs must: (1) be in either jpg or tiff file formats; (2) have a resolution of at
least 300 pixels per inch at a size of 5 by 7 inches; and (3) be of a file size no greater than 2
megabytes (MB).
Paper photographs may be submitted together with this form, or if the form is being submitted online
or by other electronic means, paper photographs may be sent to: NMFS Pacific Islands Regional
Office; International Fisheries Program; 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176; Honolulu, HI 96818. In that
case, write clearly on the back of the photograph or a separate piece of paper the following
information: “WCPFC Area Endorsement”, name of applicant (for WCPFC Area Endorsement),
name of vessel, vessel’s documentation or registration number, and date photograph was taken
(mm/dd/yyyy).
Electronic photographs may be sent via email to [email protected]. Identify the message
subject as: “Vessel photograph for WCPFC Area Endorsement” and include in the message body
the following information: name of the applicant (for WPCFC Area Endorsement), name of vessel,
vessel’s documentation or registration number, and date photograph was taken (mm/dd/yyyy).
SECTION 6. SIGNATURE
Sign and print your name and enter the date the application was signed. Be sure to include your
application fee of $46.00 in the form of a check or money order made payable to the “U.S.
Department of Commerce – NOAA.”

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Privacy Act Statement
Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under the Western and Central
Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.).
Purpose: In order to fulfill obligations under the WCPFCIA, the NOAA National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) requires the submission of information for NMFS, the U.S. Coast
Guard, and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (Commission) to monitor the
size and composition of the fleets fishing for highly migratory species in the Commission’s area
of competence for compliance-related and scientific purposes. Knowing such information as the
number of vessels, the specifics of the vessels and their ownership, and the types of gear
employed enables effective monitoring of vessel activity for enforcement and assessment
purposes.
Routine Uses: The Department will use this information to determine permit eligibility and to
identify fishery participants. Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of
1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a), to be shared within NMFS offices, in order to coordinate
monitoring and management of sustainability of fisheries and protected resources, as well as with
the applicable State or Regional Marine Fisheries Commissions and International Organizations.
Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in
the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/NOAA-19, Permits and Registrations
for the United States Federally Regulated Fisheries.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is mandatory. Failure to provide complete information
may affect permit status.