Permit Requirements - Vessel Permit Initial Application and Renewal

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
2019 Vessel Permit Renewal Instructions
Enclosed are the instructions for completing your renewal application for Federal Greater Atlantic
Region (GAR) fishing permits. These instructions do not contain all of the regulatory provisions
that pertain to each fishery, and are not a substitute for the regulations.
A copy of the regulations can be obtained through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) GAR web site: www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/regs/fr.html. If you have further
regulatory questions, please contact the Sustainable Fisheries Division at (978) 281-9315.
Completing the application:
Please use this checklist to help ensure that your application is correct and complete. Incomplete
applications will not be processed and will be returned to you.
To complete your application you must:
 Update or correct the information printed on your application, if necessary
 Include a current copy (not expired) of the vessel’s State Registration or U.S. Coast Guard
Documentation
 Ensure that your Fishing Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) have been submitted and accepted to be
eligible for permit renewal (contact the Vessel Reporting Office (978) 281-9246 for information)
 Complete and submit a NMFS Owner Form. Identify all officers, partners, and shareholders
(see page 3 for additional information)
 If you are renewing a charter/party permit, submit a copy of a valid state charter/party license,
USCG Documentation with a Coastwise endorsement, or copy of a Captain’s license (see page 3
for additional documents required)
 Sign and date the application
 Submit completed Gillnet Form (if applicable)
 VMS activation/current position data (if applicable)

Choose only one of following options to send us your application
Fax completed forms to:
or
Email scanned forms to:
or
Mail completed forms to:

(978) 281-9161 (fax) or (978) 281-9169 (fax)
[email protected]
NMFS Permit Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930

Important: If you email or fax your application, please do not mail the original.
When to submit: There is a 30-day processing period for all applications. This 30-day processing
period begins when a complete application package is received in the GAR Permit Office. Please
remember that you cannot fish unless you have a current and valid fishing permit.
If you would like to submit your application in person, you may visit our office at the address above
from 8–4:30 Mon–Fri. Please note we do not provide same-day application processing when you
visit our office.
Who to contact with questions: If you have any questions about your application or the
application process, please contact us at (978) 282-8438 or by email at
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[email protected]. Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations, permit data, permit
applications, and important announcements are available on our website at:
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/.
Section 1 - Vessel and Owner Information (all items must be filled in)
Please verify that all owner information is complete and correct. You can provide any new or
updated contact or vessel information on the back of the form in Section 4a. The new information
will replace the corresponding information on the front of the form. If your vessel is U.S. Coast
Guard documented, a change of vessel name must also be reflected on your U.S. Coast Guard
document in order for us to make that change.
Section 2 - Vessel Information
NMFS defines Home Port and Principal Port as:
Home Port:
City and State where your vessel is moored.
Principal Port: City and State where the majority of your landings occur.
Please make sure the phone number and area code are complete and correct. Cross out any
incorrect information on the front of the form and enter the correct information in the space
provided on the back of the form. If you have an additional phone number where you can be
reached, please include that number in the alternate telephone space in section 4a.
Section 3 - Fishery Information
Fishery information gives information about the Federal permits that were last issued to your
vessel. Please review the fisheries listed in this section because NMFS will consider that you have
applied for the fisheries indicated in this section unless you indicate, on the form, that they should
be cancelled. See section 4 below on instructions for adding a fishery that your vessel is qualified
for but is not listed in section 3. NMFS reserves the right to make a final determination on a
vessel’s eligibility for any permit.
How to cancel a fishery: To cancel a fishery, put an “X” in the column marked “Cancel” on the
front of the form in section 3. Please note that, except in certain specific cases, once you
relinquish (cancel) a limited access permit, you will lose your right to renew that limited access
permit in subsequent years. When cancelling a limited access permit, the application must be
accompanied by verification, in writing, that the applicant has requested cancellation of a specific
Federal limited access fishing permit(s) and understands that the vessel or any replacement
vessel will no longer be eligible for those limited access permits.
Section 4a & 4b – Corrections and Additions
Address Corrections and Fishery Additions/Corrections are to be made in Section 4a and
4b on the back of the form. Please cross out information you want to remove, or place an “X” in
the column marked “Cancel” for the permit you want to cancel on the front of the form.
Fishery Categories and Gears: You may add or change a fishery category or gear code by
entering new information in this section. Your vessel must be qualified to apply for limited
access fisheries. Contact Greater Atlantic Permit Office for further information. For each fishery
category you want to add, circle the category numbers or letters in this column. Note that
limited access permits require that you have met eligibility criteria. Selecting categories for
which your vessel is not eligible may delay the processing of your application. For each fishery
permit and category, you must select the applicable gear codes listed in section 4b. On your
application, write the gear code numbers in the column marked Gear Code(s). Please note
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that some fishery categories have restrictions on the type of gear that can be used as noted on
pages 4–10. You may select more than one gear code for a fishery category. If no gear code
is selected, the application cannot be processed and will be returned to you.
Section 5 – Signature of Owner or Authorized Agent
Sign and date the form. Unsigned, or otherwise incomplete applications, will be returned. Your
signature is an affirmation that, under penalty of perjury, all the information provided in order to
obtain this permit is true and correct. Submitting false information in connection with an
application could subject you to criminal/civil penalties or permit sanctions [18 U.S.C. 1001].
Additional Conditions and Documents Required
VMS Information
For further information on the Greater Atlantic Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
Program, go to: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/vms/index.html.
USCG Documentation/State Registration
With each application, submit a copy of your current (not expired) U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
Certificate of Documentation. If the vessel is not documented, send a copy of a valid (not
expired) state vessel registration for the vessel. Do not send your original. We cannot
accept a bill of sale or an application for renewal of the USCG Certificate of Documentation.
If your vessel's state registration does not list all owners of the vessel, also provide a copy
of the vessel's title, or other documentation from the appropriate state agency that
identifies all vessel owners. A permit application will not be accepted if the vessel
registration or documentation has expired before we receive it.
Owner/Shareholder/Officer Information
Attach a completed NMFS owner form listing and identifying all owners and shareholders.
Please provide the full name of all owners, officers, partners, and/or shareholders in the
corporation, LLC, partnership, or sole proprietorship regardless of their percentage of
ownership in the company/vessel.
Charter/Party/Headboat Vessels
If you are applying for a charter/party/headboat permit, submit a valid copy (not expired) of
at least one of the following:
• State license showing the vessel is authorized to carry charter/party passengers.
• Certificate of Documentation showing vessel is documented for “Coastwise” trade.
• USCG license to operate or navigate passenger-carrying vessels.
Gillnet Vessels applying for Limited Access NE Multispecies and Monkfish
If applying for a NE multispecies category A, E, or F permit with the intention of fishing with
gillnet gear, you must complete sections 1 and 3 of the NMFS Gillnet Form. If you wish to
order gillnet tags for either the NE multispecies or monkfish gillnet fishery, you must also
submit a completed NMFS Gillnet Form.

Gear Codes
330 – Other
Trawl
913
–
Tub
Trawl

120–Purse
Seine
410 – Dredge
1010–
Harpoons

Revised: January 3, 2018

210 – Beach Seine
700 – Gill/Entangling
Nets
920 – Longlines /
Setlines

220
–
Boat
Seines
800 – Pots &
Traps
1400 – Diving
Gear

310–Bottom
Trawl
911 – Hand Lines
1200 –
Gears

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320 – Midwater
Trawl
912 – Rod & Reel

Other

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Description of Northeast Fisheries Permits – Categories Are Shaded

 Atlantic Sea Scallop
Limited Access Permit Categories: These permits may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held them or to approved replacements of such vessels. All permits issued will be valid for
the entire fishing year. A vessel owner has 45 days from the first effective date of the permit within a
permit year to make a change to the limited access Sea Scallop permit category. Further restrictions
may apply. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
2*
3*
4
5*

Full-Time: This category is limited to dredge gear where the combined width in use or in
possession does not exceed 31 feet.
Part-Time: This category is limited to dredge gear where the combined width in use or in
possession does not exceed 31 feet.
Occasional: This category is limited to dredge gear where the combined width in use or
in possession does not exceed 31 feet.
Full-Time Small Dredge: Category 3 (Part-Time) vessel may elect this category for the
entire year if the vessel uses one dredge no larger than 10.5 ft. and with no more than five
people on board. This category is limited to dredge (gear code 410) gear only.

Part-Time Small Dredge: Category 4 (Occasional) vessel may elect this category for the
entire year if the vessel uses 1 dredge no larger than 10.5 ft. and with no more than five
people on board. This category is limited to dredge (gear code 410) gear only.
7*
Full-Time: Authorized to use trawl nets: This category is authorized to use bottom
trawl nets (gear code 310) to fish for scallops under a scallop DAS.
8*
Part-Time: Authorized to use trawl nets: This category is authorized to use bottom
trawl nets (gear code 310) to fish for scallops under a scallop DAS.
9
Occasional: Authorized to use trawl nets: This category is authorized to use bottom
trawl nets (gear code 310) to fish for scallops under a scallop DAS.
* An approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required as a condition of this permit.
6*

Limited Access General Category (LAGC) Scallop permit categories: These permits may only
be issued to qualified vessels or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may
apply. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations. Owners of vessels issued an NGOM or
Incidental scallop permit shall have one opportunity each fishing year to request a change in its permit
category by submitting an application within 45 days of the effective date of the vessel's permit. After
that date, the vessel must remain in that permit category for the duration of the fishing year.
A*
B*

LAGC – Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ permit)
LAGC – Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM permit)

C*

LAGC – Incidental Catch (Incidental permit)

* An approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required as a condition of this permit.
VMS Information
For further information on the Greater Atlantic Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program,
please go to this link: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/vms/index.html.

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Northeast Multispecies - “Regulated” species (NE multispecies requiring regulated mesh): Cod,
haddock, yellowtail flounder, pollock, redfish (ocean perch), winter flounder (blackback), American
plaice (dab), witch flounder (grey sole), windowpane flounder (sand dab), white hake, Atlantic
halibut, and Atlantic wolffish. Other NE multispecies: Silver hake (whiting), red hake (ling),
offshore hake, and ocean pout.
Limited Access Permit Categories: These permits may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held them or to approved replacements of such vessels. A vessel owner has 45 days from
the first effective date of his/her permit within a permit year to make a change to the NE multispecies
permit category. Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to Greater Atlantic
Fisheries Regulations.
A* Day-at-Sea (DAS): This category includes all gear types except dredge gear.
Small Vessel Exemption (less than or equal to 30 feet): This category includes all gear
C
types except dredge gear.
Hook Gear: (Vessels in this category may not change category) This category is limited to
D* handlines (gear code 911), rod and reel (gear code 912), tub trawl (gear code 913) and
longlines (gear code 920) gear only.
Combination Vessels: This category includes all gear types except dredge gear and is only
E* applicable for vessels that have a limited access scallop permit. Vessels in this category may
not change category.
Large Mesh Individual DAS: Category A (Individual DAS) or E (Combination) vessels may
elect this category for the entire year provided the vessels meet the following requirements.
Category A DAS for vessels fishing under this permit category will be increased by 36%.
These vessels must fish with either gillnets or trawl nets having a minimum of 8.5-inch
F*
square or diamond mesh when fishing in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, or Southern New
England Regulated Mesh Areas, and 7.5-inch diamond or 8.0-inch square mesh when fishing
in the Mid-Atlantic Regulated Mesh Area. This category is limited to gear types/codes 120,
210, 220, 310, 320, 330 and 700 only.
HA Handgear A: This category is limited to rod and reel (gear code 912), handline (gear code
** 911) or tub trawl (gear code 913) gear only. Vessels may not change category.
* An operational VMS is required to be on board the vessel to fish for groundfish under a
NE multispecies DAS or on a sector trip.
** A Handgear A vessel in the common pool must declare its trips using the Interactive
Voice Response (IVR) system, unless it intends to fish in more than one broad stock area
(BSA) on a single trip, in which case, it would need a VMS unit to declare its trips.
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Handgear B: This category includes rod and reel (gear code 912), handline (gear code
HB
911) or tub trawl (gear code 913) gear only.
Charter/Party: The vessel may possess and land multispecies in the EEZ when carrying
I
passengers for hire (See page 3, additional documents required). This category is limited
to rod and reel (gear code 912) and handline (gear code 911) gear only.
Scallop Multispecies Possession Limit: The vessel may possess and land up to 300 lb
of regulated species while fishing under a scallop DAS. Vessel must have a Limited
J
Access Scallop Permit (Categories 2 – 9) to qualify for this category. This
category includes all gear types.
Open Access Multispecies: The vessel may participate in an exempted fishing program
K
to fish for small-mesh multispecies such as silver hake (whiting), red hake (ling), or
offshore hake, among other species. This category includes all gear types.

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 Monkfish
Limited Access Permit Categories: These permits may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held them or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may
apply to specific categories. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Vessels may elect this category if they do not possess a limited access multispecies (with
A
the exception of a Handgear A) permit or a limited access scallop permit. This category
includes all gear types except dredge gear.
Vessels may elect this category if they do not possess a limited access multispecies (with
the exception of a Handgear A) permit or a limited access scallop permit, and that are
B
less than 51 Gross Registered Tons (GRT) and do not qualify for a Category A permit.
This category includes all gear types except dredge gear.
Vessels may elect this category if they possess a limited access multispecies permit or a
C
limited access scallop permit. This category includes all gear types except dredge gear.
Vessels may elect this category if they possess a limited access multispecies permit or a
D
limited access scallop permit, and are less than 51 GRT and do not qualify for a Category
C permit. This category includes all gear types except dredge gear.
Offshore Fishery Program: Vessels may elect this category if they are eligible for
monkfish limited access permit categories A, B, C, or D and have an operational Vessel
Monitoring System (VMS) installed on the vessel. Monkfish permit category A, B, C, and
D vessels may opt into this program for an entire fishing year, which begins on May 1
F* and ends on April 30. The request to opt into the offshore fishery must be completed
within 45 days of the effective date of the monkfish permit. Vessels in this program are
restricted to fishing under a monkfish Days At Sea during the specified season of October
1–April 30 each year and within the Offshore Fishery Program Area. This category
includes all gear types except dredge gear.
* An approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required as a condition of this permit.
Limited Access Permit Categories for Vessels Fishing in the Southern Fishery
Management Area (SFMA) – Vessels issued a limited access Category H permit are restricted to
fishing under a monkfish DAS in the monkfish SFMA.
Vessels may elect this category if they were issued permits in this category in the previous
fishing year and that did not qualify for a category G permit. This category includes all gear
types.
Area Declaration: Please note that vessels without an operational VMS unit fishing exclusively in
the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA) for monkfish must request a SFMA Exemption
Certificate in order to be exempt from the more restrictive management measures of the SFMA.
Contact the Permit Office at 978-282-8438. Vessels with an operational VMS unit must declare the
appropriate code to indicate they intend to fish exclusively in the NFMA.
Open Access Permit Categories: This permit may be issued to any vessel not issued a monkfish
limited access permit—to fish for, possess, or land monkfish. Further restrictions may apply to this
category. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Incidental Catch: Allows a vessel to possess and land a limited amount of monkfish,
E depending on fishing year, area fished, and gear fished. For specific limit amounts, contact
the Sustainable Fisheries Division at 978-281-9315. This category includes all gear types.

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 Surfclam/Ocean Quahog/Maine Mahogany Quahog
Surfclam and ocean quahog vessels, as well as Maine mahogany quahog vessels, are required to
have an operational vessel monitoring system (VMS) on board their vessel. For open access
surfclam and ocean quahog vessels, VMS installation and operation must be verified prior to
issuance of the permit. Maine mahogany quahog permitted vessels are not required to install a
VMS unit until they fish for, land, take, possess, or transfer ocean quahogs under a limited access
Maine mahogany quahog permit. For more information on VMS requirements, call 978-281-9315.
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
1*
Surfclam: The vessel may fish for surfclams. This category is limited to dredge
(gear code 410) gear only. VMS required.
Ocean Quahog: The vessel may fish for ocean quahogs. This category is limited to
6*
dredge (gear code 410) gear only. VMS required.
To possess and land surfclams or ocean quahogs from the EEZ, an allocation of quota is required.
Limited Access Permit Categories: This permit may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held it or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may apply to
this category. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Maine Mahogany Quahog: The vessel may harvest and land ocean quahogs without
7*
an allocation from the EEZ in the area north of 43° 50´N. latitude. This category is
limited to dredge (gear code 410) gear only.
* An approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required as a condition of this permit.

 Summer Flounder (Fluke)
Limited Access Permit Categories: This permit may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held it or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may apply to
this category. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
1 Summer Flounder Commercial Moratorium: This category includes all gear types.
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to this category. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Charter/Party: May fish for or possess summer flounder in the EEZ while carrying
2
passengers for hire. This category includes all gear types.

 Scup (Porgy)
Limited Access Permit Categories: This permit may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held it or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may apply to
this category. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
1 Scup Commercial Moratorium: This category includes all gear types.
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to this category. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Charter/Party: May fish for or possess scup in the EEZ while carrying passengers for
2
hire. This category includes all gear types.

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 Black Sea Bass
Limited Access Permit Categories: This permit may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held it or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may apply to
this category. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
1

Black Sea Bass Commercial Moratorium: This category includes all gear types.

Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to this category. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Charter/Party: May fish for or possess black sea bass in the EEZ north of 35º 15.3´ N.
2
latitude while carrying passengers for hire. This category includes all gear types.
 Mid-Atlantic Forage Fish Species / Atlantic Chub Mackerel
To fish for, land or possess Mid-Atlantic forage species (see list below) and Atlantic chub mackerel
in or from Federal waters (EEZ) from New York through North Carolina, your vessel must be issued
any of the Greater Atlantic Region fishing vessel permits. Please contact us at (978) 281-9315 if
you have any questions about the regulations for forage species.
Mid-Atlantic Forage Species include the following:

Anchovies
Argentines
Atlantic saury
Atlantic thread herring
Cusk-eels
Copepods, krill, amphipods, and other
adult

Greeneyes
Halfbeaks
Lanternfish
Pearlsides
Round herring
species less than 1 inch as an

Sand lances
Scaled sardine
Silversides
Spanish sardine
Pelagic molluscs

 Squid, Atlantic Mackerel, and Butterfish

Limited Access Permit Categories: These permits may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held them or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may apply
to specific categories. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
1*
Longfin squid/Butterfish Moratorium: This category includes all gear types.
5
Illex Squid Moratorium: This category includes all gear types.
T1* Atlantic Mackerel Tier 1: May fish commercially in the EEZ for unlimited amounts of
mackerel. This category includes all gear types.
T2* Atlantic Mackerel Tier 2: May fish commercially in the EEZ for up to 135,000 lb of
mackerel per trip. This category includes all gear types.
T3* Atlantic Mackerel Tier 3: May fish commercially in the EEZ for up to 100,000 lb of
mackerel per trip. This category includes all gear types. Vessels issued Tier 3 permits will be
limited to no more than 7% of the annual commercial mackerel quota.
* An approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required as a condition of this permit.
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Squid/Mackerel/Butterfish Charter/Party: May fish for or possess unlimited amounts
2 of Longfin or Illex squid, mackerel or butterfish in the EEZ while carrying passengers for
hire. This category includes all gear types.
Squid/Butterfish Incidental Catch: May fish commercially in the EEZ for up to 2,500 lb
3 of Longfin squid per trip, 10,000 lb of Illex squid per trip, or 600 lb of butterfish per trip.
This category includes all gear types.
Atlantic Mackerel Incidental Catch: May commercially fish for Atlantic mackerel in the
4
EEZ for up to 20,000 lb of mackerel. This category includes all gear types.
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Note: Atlantic mackerel at-sea processing vessels must apply for a permit as a dealer/processor.
 Incidental Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Squid Trawl

Limited Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer
to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Regulations.
Incidental Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Squid Trawl Permit: Allowed only for
1 vessels issued a valid Illex Squid Moratorium permit. Authorizes the limited retention of
incidentally-caught swordfish. This category only includes trawl gear.
 Spiny Dogfish
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
General: May commercially fish for, possess, or land spiny dogfish caught in or from the
1
EEZ. This category includes all gear types.
 Atlantic Bluefish
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Commercial: May possess or harvest Atlantic bluefish from the EEZ. This category includes all
1
gear types.
Charter/Party: May fish for or possess Atlantic bluefish from the EEZ while carrying
2
passengers for hire. This category includes all gear types.
 Atlantic Herring
Limited Access Permit Categories: These permits may only be issued to qualified vessels or to
approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions apply to specific categories. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
All Areas: Authorizes the harvest of herring in any management area, without being subject to
A* possession limits during the time when the sub-annual catch limit (ACL) in the defined
management area has not been reached. This category includes all gear types.
Areas 2/3: Authorizes the harvest of herring only in Areas 2 or 3, without being subject to
B* possession limits during the time when the sub-ACL in the defined management area has not
been reached. This category includes all gear types.
Incidental Catch: Authorizes the harvest of up to 55,000 lb of herring in any management
C* area during the time when the sub-ACL in the defined management area has not been reached,
with a limit of one landing per calendar day. This category includes all gear types.

* All vessels applying for and issued a limited access herring permit, with the exception of fixed gear
(weirs and stop seines) fishermen, must install and maintain an operable VMS unit, and comply with
all VMS notification and reporting requirements. Such vessels may power down the VMS unit when in
port, but must re-power the VMS unit and enter an appropriate trip designation prior to leaving port.

Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to
Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Open Access: Authorizes the harvest of up to 6,600 lb of herring in any management area
D
during the time when the sub-ACL in these management areas has not been reached, with a limit
of one landing per calendar day. This category includes all gear types.
Open Access Areas 2/3: Authorizes a vessel to possess up to 20,000 lb of herring per trip,
limited to one landing per calendar day, in or from Herring Management Areas 2 and 3. Allowed
E* only for vessels issued a valid limited access mackerel permit but not a limited access herring
permit. A vessel may hold both the All Areas Open Access Herring Permit (Category D) and the
new Category E permit at the same time. This category includes all gear types.
* An approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required as a condition of this permit.

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 Tilefish
Open Access Permit Categories: A vessel must fish under the authorization of an Individual Fishing
Quota Allocation permit to possess more than the incidental trip limit. Further restrictions may apply
to these categories. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
Open Access Commercial/Incidental: May possess or land tilefish in or from the EEZ, north of
the VA/NC border, up to 500 lb whole weight, or 458 lb head-on and gutted, per trip. In order for
1
any vessel to possess more than 500 lb of tilefish per trip, the vessel must also fish under the
authorization of an IFQ Allocation permit. This category includes all gear types.
Open Access Charter/Party: May fish for or possess tilefish in the EEZ, north of the VA/NC
2
border, while carrying passengers for hire. This category includes all gear types.
 Skate
Northeast Skate Complex (Skate) - The following species of skates comprise the NE skate complex
and are included under the Federal skate permit: Winter skate; barndoor skate; thorny skate; smooth
skate; little skate; clearnose skate; and rosette skate.
Open Access Permit Categories: Further restrictions may apply to this category. Refer to Greater
Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
1 General: May commercially fish for, possess, or land skate caught in or from the EEZ. This
category includes all gear types.

 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab
Limited Access Permit Categories: These permits may only be issued to vessels that have
previously held them or to approved replacements of such vessels. Further restrictions may apply to
this category. Refer to Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations.
B This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only.
C This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only.
Open Access Permit Categories: This permit may be issued to any vessel not issued a red crab
limited access permit—to fish for, possess, or land red crab in or from the EEZ.
May possess or land red crab in or from the EEZ up to 500 lb per trip. This category includes all
A
gear types.


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 American Lobster and Jonah Crab
Limited Access Permit Categories: These permits may only be issued to vessels that have previously
held them or to approved replacements of such vessels. If eligible, you may select more than one
category. Note, if you designate more than one category, you will be subject to the most restrictive
management measures, including trap allocations, of all of the categories selected. A vessel owner has 45
days from the first effective date of his/her permit within a permit year to make a change to the American
Lobster permit category. Further restrictions may apply to specific categories. Refer to Greater Atlantic
Fisheries Regulations at 50 CFR 697.
Commercial Non-Trap: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in the EEZ. This category
1
includes all gear types except pots and traps. If you plan to fish with non-trap gear only, you are
not required to elect trap gear areas.
Charter/Party Non-Trap: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in the EEZ while carrying
2
passengers for hire. This category includes all gear types except pots and traps.
Commercial Trap Gear Area 1: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in Federal Lobster
A1
Management Area 1. This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only. Must
have Area1 trap gear eligibility.
Commercial Trap Gear Area 2: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in Federal Lobster
A2
Management Area 2. This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only. Must
have a valid historic allocation to elect this area. Includes Area 2/3 overlap.
Commercial Trap Gear Area 3: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in Federal Lobster
A3
Management Area 3. This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only. Must
have a valid historic allocation to elect this area. Includes Area 2/3 overlap.
Commercial Trap Gear Area 4: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in Federal Lobster
A4
Management Area 4. This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only. Must
have a valid historic allocation to elect this area.
Commercial Trap Gear Area 5: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in Federal Lobster
A5
Management Area 5. This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only. Must
have a valid historic allocation to elect this area.
Commercial Trap Gear Area 6: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in Federal Lobster
A6
Management Area 6. Vessel owner must possess a valid CT or NY state lobster license to be
eligible for this category. This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800) gear only.
Commercial Trap Gear Outer Cape Area: May harvest lobster and Jonah crabs in Outer Cape
AOC Federal Lobster Management Area. This category is limited to pots and traps (gear code 800)
gear only. Must have a valid historic allocation to elect this area.

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--Public reporting burden for the collection of information on the initial vessel application is estimated
to average 45 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: National Marine Fisheries Service, Permit Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930. The Paperwork Reduction Act requires that potential respondents for a fishing vessel
permit be notified of certain information regarding their rights and the burden associated with
applying for Federal fisheries permits.
One of the regulatory steps taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service to carry out its
conservation and management objectives is the requirement of a permit for users of the resources.
All the fisheries included on this application require a permit to fish for or retain these species in or
from the EEZ. Section 303(b)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act specifically recognizes the need for permit issuance. The purpose and use of these permits are
to: (1) Register industry participants and fishing vessels; (2) list the characteristics of fishing
vessels; (3) exercise influence over compliance; (4) provide a mailing list for the dissemination of
important information to the industry; (5) register participants to be considered for limited access;
and (6) provide a pool of participants for data collection samples. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the 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. Owner names, vessel characteristics, address, phone, and permit information will
be posted on a public NOAA Fisheries website or released upon request. All other data submitted
will be handled in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Protection of Confidential
Fishery Statistics and Section 402(b) of the MSA.
OMB# 0648-0202

Revised: January 3, 2018

Expires: 10/31/2022

OMB# 0648-0202 Expires 10/31/2022

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