High Seas Fishing Permit Application and Instructions

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

OMB No.
0648-0304
Expires: 12/31/2021

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HIGH SEAS FISHING PERMIT APPLICATION

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Submit this application to the NMFS Regional Administrator with whom you normally interact on fisheries
matters or to the Director of the Office of International Affairs. Addresses are contained herein. Include payment
of $56, copy of the vessel’s U.S. Coast Guard documentation or state registration, and a color photograph of the
fishing vessel.

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)

 ICE

 BRINE

 BLAST

 RSW

OTHER (please specify): __________________________

 PLATE

 TUNNEL

SECTION 2. VESSEL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION
Managing Owner as shown on U.S. Coast Guard Form 1270 or State Registration (person or company). If more
than one, please attach required information for each owner on a separate paper.
Owner’s Name, Last

First

Middle

Suffix Taxpayer Identification No.

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Company Name, if vessel is owned by a business entity

Business Address

Company State and Date of
Formation (mm/dd/yyyy)
Phone No.

City and State

Zip code

Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)

Fax No.

Email Address (optional)

SECTION 3a. VESSEL MANAGER INFORMATION
If a business is in charge of managing the operations of the vessel, enter the information for the business
below.
Company Name,

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

Business Address

Phone No.

City and State

Zip code

Taxpayer Identification No.

Fax No.

Email Address (optional)

SECTION 3b. VESSEL OPERATOR INFORMATION
Enter information for the master on board the vessel. Use additional sheets if there are more than one vessel operators.
Operator’s Name, Last
First
Middle
Suffix Taxpayer Identification No.

Business Address

Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)

City and State

Zip code

Phone No.

Fax No.

Email Address (optional)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Date Received:

Check/Money Order Number:

Reviewer:

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SECTION 4. VESSEL STATUS If yes, please refer to additional instructions below.
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.

SECTION 5. VESSEL TYPE
Check ONE box that best describes your vessel's type when fishing on the high seas.
OTHER LINERS
TRAWLERS

GILL NETTERS







 0410 – Drift netter
 0490 – Gill netter, other

0110 – Stern trawler
0122 – Stern trawlers wet-fish
0121 – Stern trawlers freezer
0120 – Stern trawlers factory
0199 – Trawler, other

PURSE SEINERS

 0228 – Tuna purse seiner
 0229 – Purse Seiner, other






0705 – Squid Jigging Line Vessel
0710 – Handliner
0720 – Pole and Line Vessel
0730 – Troller

LONGLINERS






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

OTHER VESSELS

 Bunker
 Fish Carrier
 Support Vessel, Other*
Write support vessel type here: ______________

SECTION 6. AUTHORIZED HIGH SEAS FISHING ACTIVITIES
Select the fishery(ies) for which you will actually fish. You are responsible for obtaining any permits associated
with the authorized fisheries and meeting the reporting requirements. This form must be sent to the office
corresponding with the fishery(ies) you select.

Fishery
 Pacific Highly Migratory Species
Fisheries – 50 CFR 660, Subpart K

Submit form to

NMFS Address

National Marine Fisheries Service
West Coast Regional Office
ATTN: Permits
National Marine Fisheries Service

501 West Ocean Blvd. Suite 4200
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213
Email:[email protected]
Phone: (562) 980-4001;
Fax: (562) 980-4047

National Marine Fisheries Service
Pacific Islands Regional Office
ATTN: Permits

1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg 176
Honolulu, HI 96818
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (808) 725-5000;
Fax: (808) 725-5215

National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Region
Constituency Services Branch
Can also be sent to the Northeast
Region (see below address)

263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 824-5326;
Fax: (727) 551-5747

 Antarctic Marine Living Resources
– 50 CFR 300, Subpart G

National Marine Fisheries Service
Office of International Affairs and
Seafood Inspection

 Northwest Atlantic Fishery

National Marine Fisheries Service
Greater Atlantic Region

1315 East-West Hwy (F/IS)
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 427-8350;
Fax: (301) 713-2313
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930-2276
Phone: (978) 281-9300;
Fax: (978) 281-9333

 Eastern Pacific Tuna Fisheries – 50
CFR 300, Subpart C

 South Pacific Albacore Troll Fishing
 Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries –
50 CFR 665, Subpart F

 South Pacific Tuna Fisheries – 50
CFR 300, Subpart D
 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species –
50 CFR 635

SECTION 7. COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF VESSEL
Provide a photograph of the vessel in its current form and appearance, following the attached instructions.
Indicate whether an electronic or paper photograph is being provided. Enter the date the photograph was
taken. Photographs of the vessel can be emailed to the email address in Section 6 above.
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), you must submit to
NMFS a new photograph of the vessel within 15 days of the change).
Date photograph taken: ___________________(mm/dd/yyyy)

 Electronic photograph emailed separately

 Paper photograph enclosed with this application

SECTION 8. SIGNATURE
A non-refundable application fee of $56.00 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, payment, copy of
the vessel’s U.S. Coast Guard documentation or state registration, and a color vessel photograph to the
Regional Administrator identified in Section 6 above.
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 and Seafood Inspection, 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.
Public Burden Statement
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this
information collection is 0648-0304. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey/information collection. Public reporting
for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary/mandatory/required to obtain benefits. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this
burden to the National Marine Fisheries Service Name, Attn: Foreign Affairs Specialist Kent Laborde at [email protected].

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
PERMIT APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING ON THE HIGH SEAS
GENERAL INFORMATION
A permit is required for commercial fishing vessels that operate on the high seas. Consult the U.S. Code of
Federal Regulations (Title 50 CFR Part 300 Subparts A and R) for application requirements, permit eligibilities,
and related information. Complete all sections of the application form. This information is being collected by the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to ensure accurate records are available concerning U.S. fishing
vessels participating in fishing on the high seas, consistent with the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act.
The owner or operator of a vessel issued a permit under this Act, or for which such permit is required, must have
a NMFS type-approved enhanced mobile transceiver unit (EMTU) installed on board the vessel, and must
ensure that the EMTU is operational and properly reporting positions to NMFS as required.
Applications should be typed or hand written in ink. Incomplete or illegible applications will not be accepted. The
non-refundable application fee is $56. 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 to the Regional Administrator with whom you normally interact, as noted in Section 6 below.
Owners or operators of U.S. vessels used for commercial fishing for highly migratory species (HMS) on the high
seas in the convention area of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) are required to
obtain a NMFS-issued fishing authorization called a “WCPFC Area Endorsement” in addition to the permit for
fishing on the high seas. The application for the WCPFC Area Endorsement can be obtained from NMFS
Pacific Islands Regional Office (address is below under Section 6). The WCPFC Area Endorsement is issued
by the Regional Administrator of NMFS Pacific Islands Region as an endorsement on the permit issued under
the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act. Any vessels receiving fish from another fishing vessel or bunkering or
otherwise supplying or supporting a vessel that is harvesting HMS, as well as those vessels harvesting HMS,
are subject to this requirement.
COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VESSEL
Include with this application a full-color photograph of the vessel in its current form and appearance, in either
electronic or paper format. 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), you must inform NMFS and submit a new
photograph of the vessel within 15 days of the change.
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 R. 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. Write clearly on the back of the photograph or a
separate piece of paper the following information: “High Seas Fishing Permit,” name of applicant, 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 the addresses noted in Section 6 of the application. Identify the
message subject as: “Vessel Photograph for High Seas Fishing Permit” and include in the message body the
following information: name of the applicant, name of vessel, vessel’s documentation or registration number,
and date photograph was taken (mm/dd/yyyy).
Bow-to-stern or stern-to-bow
photos are acceptable.

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APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
SECTION 1. VESSEL INFORMATION
Enter the U.S. Coast Guard Official (USCG) Documentation Number assigned to the vessel. Attach a copy 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.
SECTION 3. VESSEL MANAGER AND 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.

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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.
Eastern 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 – Eastern 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, Eastern
Pacific Tuna Fisheries, and South Pacific Albacore Troll Fishery and can provide additional information
on these fisheries, including information about reporting requirements:
Regional Administrator, West Coast Region National Marine Fisheries
Service
ATTN: Permits
501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213
Phone: (562) 980-4030; Fax: (562) 980-4047; Email: [email protected]
Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries (50 CFR 665, Subpart F): Fishing using troll, handline, or longline for
Pacific pelagic management unit species regulated pursuant to 50 CFR 665, Subpart F – Western Pacific
Pelagic Fisheries; FMP for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region.
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
1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176
Honolulu, HI 96818
Phone: (808) 725-5000; Fax: (808) 725-5215; Email: [email protected]
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, Greater Atlantic 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
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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) 427-8503; Fax: (301) 713-1917
Northwest Atlantic Fishery: Fishing in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean for species managed pursuant to the
Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (NAFO) (16 U.S.C. 5601).
The following office accepts High Seas Fishing Permit Applications for the Northwest Atlantic Fishery
and can provide additional information on this fishery, including information about reporting
requirements:
Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic 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 300.107, 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 vessel
permit, which will also specify the area(s) of Convention waters authorized for fishing, validity period of the
AMLR vessel permit and any other requirements and conditions of fishing deemed necessary; 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 and Seafood Inspection
1315 East West Highway (F/IS)
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 427-8350; Fax: (301) 713-2313
SECTION 7. COLOR PHOTOGRAPH OF VESSEL
Provide a photograph of the vessel in its current form and appearance, following the instructions on page 1.
Indicate whether an electronic or paper photograph is provided and enter the date the photograph was taken.
SECTION 8. 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 $56.00 in the form of
a check or money order made payable to the “U.S. Department of Commerce – NOAA” along with the copy of
the vessel’s USCG documentation or state registration.

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