WELCOME TO THE NORTHEAST REGION PERMIT OFFICE

Instructions

Applicants must complete an initial application the first time they seek a Northeast Federal permit, or if ownership is changed for a vessel that possesses Northeast Federal permits. Once they hold a permit to fish, vessel owners or their agents must complete a preprinted renewal application to renew permits each fishing year, or make changes to the vessel or fishery information.  Click here for a list of Permit Applications And Request Forms

Vessel Permits

If you are permitting your vessel for the first time for Northeast multispecies, Atlantic sea scallop, surf clam, ocean quahog, American lobster, summer flounder (fluke), scup (porgy), Atlantic mackerel, squid (Illex & Loligo), butterfish, black sea bass, Atlantic bluefish, spiny dogfish, monkfish (Goosefish), red crab, tilefish, Northeast skate, or Atlantic herring you must fill out an Initial Vessel Permit Application. Even if a previous owner of the vessel had permitted it for these species, you must still obtain an Initial Vessel Permit Application for the vessel if this is the first time you, as a new owner, are permitting that vessel [50 CFR § 648.4 and § 697.4].

If you have ever been issued a particular permit for the vessel, even if that permit has lapsed, you must obtain a preprinted renewal permit form from the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region Permit Office to renew it. Once you have a permit of a particular type for the vessel, you may renew it as long as you still own the vessel and meet the particular permitting requirements.

Limited Access Vessel Permits Special Notice: Read this before applying.

Note that certain states may have additional permit requirements, including special permits to sell fish. Please contact the appropriate state fisheries agencies for more information.

Commercial Vessel Operator Permit

May 31, 2007 - National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region will soon be issuing Vessel Operator Permits in a new format.  Click here for more information.

Any operator of a vessel of the United States fishing for or possessing American lobster, Atlantic sea scallops in excess of 40 lb (18.1 kg), NE multispecies, spiny dogfish, monkfish, Atlantic herring, Atlantic surf clam, ocean quahog, Atlantic mackerel, squid, butterfish, scup, black sea bass, or bluefish, harvested in or from the EEZ; tilefish harvested in or from the EEZ portion of the Tilefish Management Unit; skates harvested in or from the EEZ portion of the Skate Management Unit; or Atlantic deep-sea red crab harvested in or from the EEZ portion of the Red Crab Management Unit, issued a Federal fishing permit, including carrier and processing permits, for these species, must have been issued and carry on board a valid Commercial Vessel Operator permit [50 CFR § 648.5 and § 697.5].

How to Apply

You may apply for a Vessel Permit or a Commercial Vessel Operator Permit in one of the following ways. Faxed or e-mailed permit applications will not be accepted.

1. Request an Initial Vessel Application Package or an Initial Commercial Vessel Operator Permit Application be Mailed
   You may request that an initial vessel application package or an initial commercial vessel operator permit application be mailed to you from the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region Permit Office by calling (978) 281-9370 or by writing to the address listed above. Once you receive the package, complete the application and include all supplemental documents required. Mail it to the address provided on the application. If the package is complete and correct, NOAA Fisheries will then mail your permit to you within 30 days of receiving it.

2. Download an Initial Vessel Permit Application or an Initial Commercial Vessel Operator Permit Application
   You may also download an Initial Vessel Permit Application (updated: 04/2007) or a Initial Commercial Vessel Operator Permit Application (updated: 11/2005) from this NMFS Permit Office Web Page. The download package is an Adobe Acrobat PDF (Portable Document Format) file.  Note: Instructions and application are included on the form. This form is fillable online, but must still be printed and mailed as directed in the instructions.  In addition, when applying for a limited access Atlantic sea scallop vessel permit, owners must include this form with the application.

3. Once you print the package, complete the application and include all supplemental documents required. Mail it to the address provided on the application. If the package is complete and correct, NOAA Fisheries will then mail your permit to you within 30 days of receiving it.

Dealer Permits

Beginning in August, 2006, the National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Region will change the appearance of its Federal Northeast seafood dealer permits.  Click here for more information.

Dealers of Atlantic mackerel, squid, butterfish, Atlantic sea scallop, NE multispecies, monkfish, summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, Atlantic bluefish, Atlantic herring, spiny dogfish, Atlantic deep-sea red crab, Atlantic bluefin tuna, other Atlantic tunas; NE skate; American lobster; Atlantic surf clam and ocean quahog processors; Atlantic herring processors or dealers; and Atlantic mackerel at-sea processors [50 CFR § 648.6 and § 697.6] - Download this Initial Dealer Application.

Information on Dealer Electronic Reporting requirements can be obtained by reading our DER Requirements Factsheet, visiting the Northeast Dealer Reporting Web Page or by contacting your Local Field Office.

Reasons That Delay the Processing of Vessel Permits

To allow permit processing to take place in a timely and accurate manner, please carefully, Read this before applying.

Vessel Replacement, Upgrade, and Confirmation of Permit History Application

If you are requesting a vessel replacement, a vessel upgrade or a Confirmation of Permit History, Download this application package.

Guidelines for Vessel Ownership Requirements for Vessel Replacements

New guidance concerning vessel ownership requirements for the purpose of processing vessel replacements. Click here for legal guidance.

American Lobster Limited Access Permit

If you are permitting your vessel for the limited access American Lobster Fishery, Read this for "Procedures on Declaring Lobster Conservation Management Areas and Ordering Federal Lobster Trap Tags" before applying.

Limited Access GILLNET Vessels

Limited access multispecies or monkfish permitted vessels using gillnet gear, Read this for "Special Instructions to Gillnet Vessel Owners and Ordering Gillnet Tags."

• Missing & Additional Gillnet Tag Order Form

Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP), Scientific Research Permit (SRP), or Letter of Acknowledgement (LOA)

If you are requesting an EFP, SRP, or LOA, Read this before applying.

Atantic Sea Scallop Ownership Form

Each time you apply for a Federal limited access Atlantic sea scallop permit or the ownership interest in your limited access Atlantic sea scallop vessel changes, you must include this form with your application.

High Seas Fishing Permit

If you are requesting a High Seas Fishing Permit, Click here to apply.

Atlantic Tunas Fishing Permit

If you are requesting an Atlantic Tunas Fishing Permit, Click here to apply.

Surf Clam & Ocean Quahog Cage Tag Transfer Form

If you are requesting a Surfclam & Ocean Quahog cage tag transfer form, Click here to apply.

Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Permits

If you are interested in Southeast Region Vessel Permit, Dealer Permit, and Vessel Operator Permit Card Requirements in the Atlantic Dolphin-Wahoo Fishery in Federal Waters of the Atlantic, Please click here.

Last Updated: June 5, 2008