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Frequently Asked Questions: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permits

The Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division issues federal vessel permits for commercial and recreational fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.

New England/Mid-Atlantic
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Permit Requirements and Authorizations

When do I need an Atlantic highly migratory species permit?

NOAA Fisheries requires fishermen and dealers to obtain federal permits if they fish for, sell, purchase, or import Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), which include tunas, billfish, swordfish, or sharks. Permits are also required to import all HMS and to export bluefin tuna, swordfish, and frozen bigeye tuna. 

Where can I get information on the permit options and how to apply? 

Our Fishing & Seafood Permits database is the best place to find information on Atlantic HMS permits. You can also find information on other regional permits in this database by applying different search filters. 

Do I have to have a permit on board when fishing?

Yes, the owner or operator of a vessel must have the appropriate valid permit on board the vessel to fish for, take, retain, or possess Atlantic HMS. The vessel operator must also make the permit available for inspection upon request by any NOAA Fisheries or NOAA Fisheries-authorized personnel. 

Do I need a permit to recreationally fish for or retain tunas, sharks, swordfish, or billfish?

Yes. In most cases, you will need an HMS Angling permit or an HMS Charter/Headboat permit. You can also participate in a registered recreational HMS tournament if you’re on a vessel with an Atlantic Tunas General category permit. 

Permit holders who recreationally fish for or retain sharks must also obtain a Shark Endorsement on their HMS permit. You’ll be prompted to view a video and take a quiz during the application process for an HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit. 

Vessels fishing exclusively in state waters are required to obtain the HMS Angling permit if they wish to keep bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, or albacore tunas. Check your state regulations for details on the retention of sharks, swordfish, and/or billfish in state waters. 

Can I fish for tunas without a permit if I am not on a vessel? 

No, only permitted vessels may fish for Atlantic bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. If one of these species is caught incidentally during fishing activities from shore or from an oil rig, it must be released immediately.

I have an HMS Angling permit. Can I sell the fish I caught? 

No, you must have a commercial fishing permit if you wish to sell your landings.

Do I need anything besides a commercial fishing permit to sell highly migratory species? 

Your state may require an additional permit for the sale of fish. Contact your state fisheries agency for details. 

I want to fish for tuna with longline gear. Is an Atlantic Tunas Longline category permit all I need?

No, you must also have swordfish and shark limited access permits. 

I want to fish for sharks recreationally. Is an HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat permit all I need? 

No, you also need a shark endorsement on your permit. You’ll be prompted to view a video and take a quiz during the application process. 

I also want to fish for species other than tunas, sharks, billfishes, and swordfish. Where do I go to get permits for those?

Information on permits for other fisheries is available on the NOAA Fisheries Fishing & Seafood Permits database. Once there, you can filter your search by permit type or management area or search for the species. 

I am a dealer. What permits do I need?

Anyone who receives or purchases tunas, sharks, or swordfish must have a dealer permit. Because the sale of Atlantic billfish is prohibited, there is no dealer permit for those species. 

In addition, anyone who imports Atlantic HMS must have an International Fisheries Trade Permit. Individuals exporting bluefin tuna, swordfish, or frozen bigeye tuna must also have an International Fisheries Trade Permit. 

I am a researcher interested in fishing for the purposes of data collection. What permit do I need? 

We issue several permit types specific to data collection. Details are available on our Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Exempted Fishing Permits page. 

I represent an aquarium. What permit do I need to display an Atlantic highly migratory species? 

Our display permit authorizes aquariums to fish for, catch, and transport a highly migratory species for public display. Information on how to apply is available on our Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Exempted Fishing Permits page.

Purchasing, Renewing, Transferring, or Cancelling Permits

Can I purchase and renew fishing permits online? 

You can purchase and renew the following vessel permits through the online HMS Permit Shop. 

Recreational and for-hire permits: 

Commercial permits: 

The permits listed below can also be renewed through the Southeast Fisheries Permit System. To initially purchase—or transfer in the case of the limited access permits—these, you must submit a paper application. 

Open access permits: 

Limited access permits:

I am waiting for my U.S. Coast Guard documentation number to be sent. Can I purchase my permit in the meantime?

No, you must have a U.S.Coast Guard documentation number or state vessel registration number to purchase an HMS fishing permit.

What payment types do you accept?

Any permit issued through the HMS Permit Shop can be purchased with a major credit card or money order. However, vessel and dealer permits issued out of NOAA Fisheries’ regional offices may have different payment options. Click on the appropriate description in our Fishing & Seafood Permit database for information on payment options for the permit you’re interested in. 

I bought a vessel that has an Atlantic highly migratory species permit already. What should I do?

Call the customer service center at (888) 872-8862 if your new vessel has previously been issued any of these permits: 

To transfer a permit issued through the Southeast Permit Office, follow the instructions on their web page.

Can I transfer my permit to a different vessel that I own?

There is no process for directly transferring the permits listed below between vessels. However, you can change the vessel associated with a permit by updating your information in our system. You can do this during the permit year or when renewing your permit.

To transfer a permit issued through the Southeast Permit Office, follow the instructions on their web page.

What should I do if I purchased the wrong permit?

You have 45 calendar days from the date your permit was issued to correct any errors in the following permits. If you find an error within that time, contact Customer Service at (888) 872-8862.

To correct an error in a permit issued through the Southeast Permit Office, follow the instructions on their web page. For instructions on how to correct errors in an Atlantic tunas dealer permit, contact the Greater Atlantic Regional Office at (978) 282-8438 or NMFS.GAR.Permits@noaa.gov.

How do I update my permit information?

Instructions for how to update information for the following permits are available at the HMS Permit Shop. 

To update information for a permit issued through the Southeast Permit Office, follow the instructions on their web page. For instructions on how to update Atlantic tunas dealer permits contact the Greater Atlantic Regional Office at (978) 282-8438 or NMFS.GAR.Permits@noaa.gov.

How often do I have to renew my permit?

You must renew your open or limited access vessel permit or dealer permit annually. Click on the appropriate description in our Fishing & Seafood Permit database for information on how to renew your permit. 

What should I do if I lose my permit? 

Instructions for what to do if you’ve lost any of the following permits is available at the HMS Permit Shop. 

If you’ve lost a permit issued through the Southeast Permit Office, follow the instructions on their web page. If you’ve lost an Atlantic tunas dealer permit, contact the Greater Atlantic Regional Office at (978) 282-8438 or NMFS.GAR.Permits@noaa.gov.

How do I cancel my permit? 

Call the customer service center at (888) 872-8862 to cancel any of these permits: 

To cancel a permit issued through the Southeast Permit Office, follow the instructions on their web page.

Fishery Regulations

How do I report a violation of NOAA Fisheries regulations?

Call the 24-hour NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 if you observe a violation. You may also call the U.S. Coast Guard Hotline at (800) SAVE-FISH. You do not have to give your name when you call.

The online HMS Permit Shop system isn’t working. Who do I contact?

You can call our customer service line at (888) 872-8862. A representative will be available to help you Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. You can fill out a feedback form at hmspermits.noaa.gov/feedback. 

Where can I get answers to questions on rules and regulations? 

Our Atlantic HMS compliance guides provide a summary of regulations for recreational and commercial fisheries, as well as for dealers. You can also stay up-to-date on Atlantic HMS inseason actions and proposed rules through our Notices & Rules database. 

Additional Resources

The resources below provide helpful information for Atlantic HMS permit holders. For further resources related to these fisheries, visit our Publications database. 

Last updated by Office of Sustainable Fisheries on 05/20/2024

Permits