Current Season Management: Permitting Requirements
Commercial fishing vessels, including recreational charter vessels, must have a federal permit. In 2009 NMFS changed the regulations to require a $30 fee to obtain one of these federal permits. An application form can be downloaded from the NMFS Southwest Region website. An accompanying Notice to Vessel Owners and Operators explains the permit application process.
Vessels fishing outside of the U.S. EEZ must also obtain a High Seas Fisheries Compliance Act permit. For more information go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/resources/permits/services/highseas.html.
For more information about these permits contact Chris Fanning at the NMFS Southwest Region Office, phone: 562.980.4198 or e-mail chris.fanning@noaa.gov.
