Greater Atlantic Region Forms and Applications Summary

All Fisheries

Below are a list of applications and forms you may need if you are fishing in the Greater Atlantic Region. All of these forms are available on Fish Online, unless otherwise stated. If you need help with setting up an account, or have any other questions about these forms and applications, please contact our Permits Office.

Initial Permit Application

If you are a new owner of a vessel or your vessel is new to our region, you will need to complete the initial vessel application. If you have a specific questions are encouraged to contact the Permit Office at (978) 282‐8438 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET or email NMFS.GAR.Permits@noaa.gov. 

Initial Vessel Operator Permit

Vessel operator permits are required for any operator of a charter/party boat and or a commercial vessel (including carrier and processor vessels) issued a vessel permit from the Greater Atlantic Region and possessing or fishing for Atlantic Sea Scallops, Northeast Multispecies, Spiny Dogfish, Monkfish, American Lobster, Atlantic Herring, Atlantic Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, Maine Mahogany Quahog, Atlantic Mackerel, Loligo Squid, Illex Squid, Butterfish, Scup, Black Sea Bass, Tilefish, Skates, Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab, Atlantic Bluefish, in or from the EEZ and Mid-Atlantic Forage Species or Atlantic Chub Mackerel within the EEZ from New York through North Carolina.

How to apply: 

The only way to apply for an operator permit is by using our electronic form found in our Fish Online web portal. In order to access Fish Online, you will need a user account. If you already have a user account, you do not need to create another one. Once you log in to Fish Online, look for "Application Forms" in the left margin.

If you do not have a Fish Online account, visit our How to Create a Fish Online Account web page for information.

Initial Dealer Permit

Seafood Dealers are required to have a Greater Atlantic dealer permit for each of the federally managed species that they purchase from a vessel that has a Greater Atlantic Region vessel permit.

Dealers must have a valid permit in their possession if they:

• Purchase any federally managed fish or shellfish harvest from federal waters (EEZ)
• Purchase Atlantic tunas harvested from federal or state waters, or
• Purchase fish or shellfish from a vessel issued a federal Greater Atlantic Region vessel permit

A complete list of the species managed by the Greater Atlantic Region can be found on the dealer application in Fish Online.

How to Apply:

To apply, you will need the following:

• Signed and dated electronic application (available through our online application system called Fish Online)
• If applying as a business, upload a copy of one of the following:
  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Articles of Organization
  • Annual Report
• If applying for a tuna dealer permit, upload a copy of your unexpired state wholesaler’s seafood license.

Vessel Ownership Form

Completion of this vessel ownership form is required with each application for a Greater Atlantic Region federal fishing permit. All persons that have an ownership interest in a business or vessel include, but are not limited to, persons who are shareholders in a corporation or LLC, persons in a general or limited partnership, and any person with an ownership interest in the vessel or business of this application.

Vessel Replacement, Upgrade, and Confirmation of Permit History

Use this vessel replacement form to report a vessel replacement or upgrade, or request a confirmation of permit history.

Vessel Landing History Request

Because the information submitted in vessel and dealer reports is confidential, it can only be provided, with limited exceptions, to the individual who submitted the information, unless that individual provides written authorization to the Agency to release it to someone else. Use this vessel landing history request form to request catch/landings data. 

Exempted Fishing Permits, Letters of Acknowledgement, Scientific Research Permits, Exempted Educational Activity Authorizations, Temporary Possession Permits

Please review our guidance for researchers, particularly those involved in cooperative research, to assist with understanding whether an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP), Letter of Acknowledgement (LOA), Exempted Educational Activity Authorization (EEAA), or Temporary Possession Permit is an appropriate document to obtain prior to beginning a project. For additional information about research permits and LOAs, please contact the Sustainable Fisheries Division at (978) 281-9315, or email nmfs.gar.researchpermit@noaa.gov.

Online applications are submitted through our Fish Online portal. For help with Fish Online, please contact our Helpdesk at (978) 281-9188.

Letter of Authorization (LOA)

Marine Mammal Serious Injury and Mortality Reporting Form

Use our online reporting form only when there is an incidental or intentional mortality or injury to a marine mammal during commercial fishing activities. You are required to report the mortality or injury within 48 hours after the end of the fishing trip (even if an observer is on board), or, for non-vessel fisheries, within 48 hours of an occurrence of a mortality or injury. A separate report form is required for each fishery, for each date, and for each location.

Questions? Contact NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, (301) 427-8402, nmfs.mireport@noaa.gov.

Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) Certification

If you have a state and/or federal fishing license, you are not required to submit a Marine Mammal Authorization Program registration/renewal form. Your registration is automatic and will be automatically renewed.

You may download and retain either a printed or an electronic copy of your certificate.

• New England/Mid-Atlantic Authorization Certificate (PDF, 2 pages)

Get more information on MMAP Certification.

To request that a printed copy be mailed to you, or for more information, please contact nmfs.gar.mmapcert@noaa.gov or (978) 281-9120.

All Seafood Processors

Processed Products Reporting Form

Annual fishery processed products reporting form.

Supplemental Economic Survey Form

This survey by NOAA Fisheries collects data on U.S. firms that process fishery products in order to better understand the potential economic impacts of commercial fisheries management actions.

Letter to Processors and Reporting Instructions

American Lobster

Lobster Trap Tag Order Form 2024

Order federal lobster trap tags. Do not use this trap tag order form if the address listed on your federal lobster permit is in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island; or if you possess a State of Maine lobster license; or if you possess a New York lobster license and you elected Area 6 only. If any of these conditions apply to you, you must purchase your trap tags through your state.

2025 Trap Transfer Application 

Use this trap transfer form to request a permanent transfer of American lobster traps in Area 2, 3, or the Outer Cape.

Lobster Allocations

Atlantic Herring, Atlantic Mackerel, Squid or Butterfish

Released Catch Affidavit

If you are fishing with midwater trawl gear in the groundfish closed areas or your limited access herring, mackerel, or squid/butterfish vessel is carrying a NOAA Fisheries observer, you must bring all catch aboard the vessel and make it available to the observer for sampling.

You may release catch before it is brought aboard if:

1. You determine there is a compelling safety reason preventing the catch from being brought aboard,
2. Mechanical failure prevents the catch from being brought aboard, or
3. Spiny dogfish clog the pump and prevent the catch from being pumped aboard.

If you release catch, even for one of the reasons described above, you are required to complete a released catch affidavit form. The completed and signed released catch affidavit form must be submitted within 48 hours of the end of the fishing trip.

Atlantic Sea Scallop

Application: Transfer LAGC IFQ Scallop Allocation (2024)

This allocation transfer form must be used to request permanent transfer of IFQ between two IFQ scallop vessels. With the approval of Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan IFQ-only vessels may temporarily transfer in allocation from Combination vessels. However, Combination vessels cannot temporarily or permanently transfer allocation.

Temporary transfers can be processed through your Fish Online account or by submitting this form. 

2024 LAGC IFQ Framework 38 Allocations

See the 2024 list of allocations. 

Application: Scallop Access Area Allocation Exchange Form (2024)

To request a Sea Scallop Access Area allocation exchange between two vessels, please use the following forms: full-time vessels 

Full-Time vessels are allocated two 12,000 lb trips into Closed Area II (CAII) and one 12,000 lb trips in New York Bight (NYB).  Please choose either CAII or NYB on the exchange form to confirm which area you would like your exchanged.  Exchanges may be exchanged in increments of 6,000 lbs or the full 12,000 lbs on a one-for-one basis provided you have the full 6,000 pounds or 12,000 lbs.

One form must be used for each exchange. Vessel operators may not start an Access Area trip requiring the allocation requested below until vessel owners receive written notice that the request has been approved. Written approval or disapproval of the request will be provided within 15 days of receipt of this form.

For more information on Framework 38 see: 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/management-plan/atlantic-sea-scallop-management-plan

For Scallop Plan overview and related news, press releases and Announcements:

https://www.nefmc.org/management-plans/scallops

Atlantic Surfclam & Ocean Quahog

2023 SC/OQ Cage Tag Transfer Form 

Request to transfer Atlantic Surfclam or Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) cage tags.

2023 Application for SC/OQ ITQ Permit

Application for Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ). 

• Ocean Quahog ITQ Allocations
• Atlantic Surfclam ITQ Allocations

2023 SC/OQ ITQ Ownership Form 

Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Ownership Form.

Application to Shuck SC/OQ at Sea

In order to receive authorization to shuck surfclams or ocean quahogs at sea, please fill out this application to shuck at sea form.

Atlantic Tunas

Visit our HMS Permit shop for information and permit applications.

Northeast Multispecies Only

Please note: All of these forms and applications are available on Fish Online.

Multispecies Days-at-Sea Leasing Form

This days-at-sea leasing form is required to obtain approval for the leasing of DAS under 50 CFR 648.82(k) and to monitor DAS allocation and usage for limited access Northeast multispecies permit holders.

Multispecies DAS Transfer Form

This transfer form is required to obtain approval for the transfer of DAS under 50 CFR 648.82(l) and to monitor DAS allocation and usage for limited access Northeast multispecies permit holders. This DAS Transfer Program application must be accompanied by a vessel replacement application, and all other required documents for a vessel replacement, in order to transfer other federal limited access permits from the transferor to the transferee.

Downgrade Multispecies DAS Leasing Baseline Form

Form for downgrading the vessel specifications Length Overall (LOA) and Horsepower (HP) for DAS Leasing purposes only. This is a one-time DAS Leasing baseline downgrade for this permit that can not be reversed for this vessel and cannot be applied for again in the future, even if the current vessel baseline specifications change through modification or replacement.

Multispecies Sectors Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) Transfer Form

This ACE transfer form is required to obtain approval for the transferring of ACE under 50 CFR 648.87(b)(1)(viii) and to monitor ACE allocation and usage for each sector.

Northeast Multispecies or Monkfish

Gillnet Tags Order Form

A vessel owner electing to fish with gillnet gear in the Northeast multispecies or monkfish fisheries must complete a gillnet tag form. Owners can also request tags using their Fish Online account. Inside your Fish Online account, go to Apply for Permit and then select Gillnet Forms to begin this process.   

Missing Gillnet Tag Replacement Form

Vessel owners are required to account for the total number of tags issued. Should tags be lost, missing, or destroyed, the vessel owner or operator must report the missing tag numbers to us as soon as possible using their Fish Online account. Inside your Fish Online account, go to Apply for Permit and then select Gillnet Forms to begin this process.

Northeast Multispecies, Monkfish, Sea Scallop, Surfclam/Ocean Quahog

VMS Power Down Exemption Request

VMS Power Down Exemption is available for:

• All vessels that will be out of the water for more than 72 consecutive hours.
• Vessels with a multispecies limited access, monkfish category F (during the Offshore Fishery Program Season), scallop limited access, mackerel limited access, surfclam/ocean quahog, herring, longfin squid moratorium (1A, 1B), shortfin squid moratorium or butterfish moratorium permit that remains at the dock/mooring and does not engage in any fisheries for a minimum period of 30 consecutive days.

The requester must send a written request to the Regional Administrator (VMS Team, Office of Law Enforcement) providing the following:

• Vessel name 
• Federal fishery permit number 
• Official number (Coast Guard documentation or State registration number)
• Exemption period (date the VMS will be turned off and turned back on)
• Location of the vessel during the exemption period

Use the Vessel Monitoring System Power Down Exemption Request form. 

Review the VMS Power-Down Compliance Guide to determine your vessel's eligibility based on your permits and fishing history.

VMS Certification Form

Complete and submit this certification form to the Office of Law Enforcement to certify that your fishing vessel has an operational VMS unit installed by an approved Greater Atlantic Region VMS vendor. 

Northeast Multispecies, Monkfish, Sea Scallop

DAS Credit Request Form

Use this credit request form to request DAS credit for three reasons:

1. Good Samaritan DAS credit for assisting USCG in search and rescue operation or towing,
2. Standing by entangled whales, or
3. A canceled trip.

Application to Request a DAS Credit

If you are the owner or operator of vessel that uses DAS and you canceled a trip before fishing, you may request a DAS credit for the canceled trip. You may request a canceled trip DAS credit for any reason, provided you have no fish onboard and no fishing activity was conducted on that trip.

Tilefish

Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Allocation Transfer Form

This IFQ allocation transfer form must be used to request a temporary lease or permanent transfer of Tilefish IFQ between two persons or entities that are permanent U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, or corporations eligible to own a U.S. Coast Guard documented vessel, as long as they meet the requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Initial Tilefish IFQ Allocation Interest Declaration Form

All persons and entities who have an interest in the Tilefish IFQ Allocation Permit that is the subject of this application must list all the other Tilefish IFQ Allocation Permits in which they have an interest. This declaration form must be submitted with the IFQ Allocation Transfer form.

More Information

• Resources for Fishing in the Greater Atlantic
• Managing Sustainable Fisheries in the Greater Atlantic