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Southeast Permits Information

General information on permits issued by the Southeast Regional Office.

Southeast

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Dealer Permits

Gulf and South Atlantic Dealer Permits (GSAD) 50 CFR 622.370(c) or 50 CFR 622.20(c)

Dealers that want to purchase, receive, trade, or barter Atlantic Dolphin/Wahoo, South Atlantic Golden Crab, South Atlantic Rock Shrimp, South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper, South Atlantic Wreckfish, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish, Mackerel, or Spiny Lobster caught from a federal commercial permitted fishing boat must have this permit.

Swordfish - Atlantic (SD) 50 CFR 635.4

Dealers that want to purchase, receive, trade, or barter any Atlantic Swordfish caught from a federal commercial permitted fishing boat must have this permit.

Shark - Atlantic (SK) 50 CFR 635.4

To receive, purchase, trade, or barter any Atlantic Shark caught from a federal permitted fishing vessel, this permit must be issued to the dealer, and you must send a copy of a valid Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop certificate for each place you do business when you apply for the permit.  

Open Access Commercial Permits

(These permits can be issued as "New," but may not be transferred)

Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo Commercial (ADW) 50 CFR 622.270(b) 

Vessels that want to sell Atlantic Dolphin or Wahoo caught commercially in the Atlantic federal waters must have this permit on board, along with a valid operator card issued by the Southeast Regional Office or by the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office.

South Atlantic Penaeid Shrimp (SPA) 50 CFR 622.200(a)

Vessels that want to fish and sell Penaeid shrimp (brown, pink, or white shrimp) caught in the South Atlantic federal waters must have this commercial permit on board.

Gulf of Mexico Royal Red Shrimp Endorsement (GRRS) 50 CFR 622.50(c)

Vessels that want to fish and sell Royal Red shrimp caught in the Gulf of Mexico federal waters must have this permit along with a valid SPGM permit on board.

Spanish Mackerel (SM) 50 CFR 622.370(3)

Vessels that want to commercially fish and sell Spanish Mackerel caught in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico federal waters must have this permit on board.

Spiny Lobster (LC) 50 CFR 622.400(ii)

Vessels that want to commercially fish and sell Spiny Lobster caught in federal waters off of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama must have this permit on board. This permit is not required for federal waters off FL. The commercial limit of this permit in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia is two per person for both recreational and commercial fishing year round.  There is an earned income requirement that must be met when applying for this permit.

Spiny Lobster Tailing (LT) 50 CFR 622.400(2)

Vessels that want to separate the spiny lobster tail caught in federal waters must have this permit on board. LT permits are only for vessels that are on trips for 48 hours or more in federal waters. When applying for this permit in Florida, a copy of a FL Saltwater Products License (SPL) with a crawfish endorsement must be included or, if you do not have a FL SPL, you must apply for both a LT and LC permit.

South Atlantic Rock Shrimp (Carolina Zone) (RSCZ) 50 CFR 622.200(2)

Vessels that want to fish and sell Rock shrimp caught in federal waters from the Virginia/North Carolina border to the East Coast of Florida must have this permit on board along with a valid operator card issued by the Southeast Regional Office or by the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. You cannot apply for both RSCZ and RSLA permits at the same time.

Commercial Caribbean Small Boat (CCSB) 50 CFR 635.4

Commercial vessels less than or equal to 45’ in length that want to fish for and sell Bigeye, Albacore, Yellowfin, and Skipjack (BAYS) tunas, sharks, and swordfish caught in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands must have this permit. No other Commercial Atlantic Shark, Swordfish, or Tuna permit can be applied for along with this permit.

Smoothhound Shark (SHS) 50 CFR 635.4

A Smooth hound Shark permit allows fishermen to target and retain smooth hound sharks (smooth dogfish, Florida smooth hound, Gulf smooth hound).  The permit may be held in combination with any other commercial HMS permit except the Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit.  Smooth hound sharks caught incidentally in trawl gear may be retained only if the total smooth hound catch on board or offloaded does not exceed 25 percent of the total catch by weight and the vessel has been issued a Smooth hound Shark permit.  For questions, contact the Highly Migratory Species office at (727)  824-5399.

Open Access Charter/Headboat permits

These permits can be issued as "New," but may not be transferred

South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Charter/Headboat (SC) 50 CFR 622.170(b)

Charter or head boat vessels that take people out fishing in federal waters off the Southern Atlantic states to catch and keep Snapper-Grouper must have this permit on board. Fish may not be sold with this permit.

South Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CHS) 50 CFR 622.369

Charter or head boat vessels that take people out fishing in federal waters off the Southern Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic states to catch and keep Coastal Migratory Pelagic fish must have this permit on board. Fish may not be sold with this permit.

Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo Charter/Headboat (CDW) 50 CFR 622.270(a)

A vessel must be issued a charter or head boat permit to take people out fishing in the Atlantic EEZ to catch and keep dolphin or wahoo. The permit will only be valid if there is someone on the vessel that has a valid Vessel Operator Permit Card issued by either the Southeast Regional Office or by the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries.

Limited Access Commercial Permits

These permits can not be issued as "New," but may be transferred

South Atlantic Rock Shrimp (RSLA) 50 CFR 622.201(a)

Vessels that want to fish and sell Rock shrimp in federal waters from Georgia and the east coast of Florida must have this permit on board along with a valid operator card issued by the Southeast Regional Office or by the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. A vessel cannot have both RSLA and RSCZ permits at the same time.  

If a vessel has been issued a RSCZ permit, it must first surrender this permit to NOAA Fisheries before applying for a RSLA permit.

South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper 225-lb (excluding Wreckfish permits) (SG2) 50 CFR 622.170(a)(2)

Vessels that want to fish and sell South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper caught in South Atlantic federal waters outside of the bag limits must have this permit on board. SG2 permits can only be transferred to a vessel owned or leased by the current permit holder.

South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper Grouper (excluding Wreckfish permits)  (SG1) 50 CFR 622.170(a)(2)

Vessels that want to fish and sell South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper caught in South Atlantic federal waters outside of the bag limits must have this permit on board.

  • A SG1 permit can be transferred to the current permit holder’s immediate family (e.g. mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, or spouse).
  •  A vessel owner who is not in the permit holder’s immediate family must purchase and transfer 2 valid SG1 permits in order to obtain a single SG1 (2 for 1).
  • A single SG1 permit that’s in a company’s name can be transferred without having to transfer another SG1. When transferring a single permit in a company’s name the name may change, but not the Tax Identification Number (TIN). If you would like to change the TIN, you must transfer 2 SG1 permits for 1 SG1 permit.
  • *Vessels that want to sell Wreckfish caught off the South Atlantic states must be an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) shareholder, employee, agent or contractor to a wreckfish shareholder, and must have a SG1 permit.

South Atlantic Sea Bass Pot Endorsement (SPBE) 50 CFR 622.170(e)

Vessels that want to use a South Atlantic Sea Bass pot in federal Waters must have this endorsement permit along with a valid SG1 permit on board.

South Atlantic Golden Tilefish Endorsement  (GTFE) 50 CFR 622.170(f)

Vessels that have a valid (SG1) permit and want to fish and keep Golden Tilefish caught using longline gear in the South Atlantic federal waters must have this permit.

South Atlantic Golden Crab (GC) 50 CFR 622.240(a)

Commercial vessels that want to fish and sell Golden Crab caught in South Atlantic federal waters must have this permit on board.

Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish (RR) 50 CFR 622.20(a)

Vessels that want to commercially fish and sell reef fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico federal waters must have this permit on board along with an activated and operational Vessel Monitoring System.

Eastern Gulf Reef Fish Bottom Longline Endorsement (RRLE) 50 CFR 622.20(2)

Vessels that want to use bottom longline to fish for Reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico federal waters east of 85°30' W. long, this endorsement permit along with a valid RR permit must be on board. A valid RRLE may be transferred to an owner of a vessel that has a valid RR permit.

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp (SPGM) 50 CFR 622.50(a)

Vessels that want to fish and sell Gulf of Mexico Shrimp caught in the Gulf of Mexico federal waters must have this permit on board.

King Mackerel (KM) 50 CFR 622.370

Vessels that want to commercially fish and sell King Mackerel caught in federal waters must have this permit on board.

Gillnet for King Mackerel (GN) 50 CFR 622.370(2)

Vessels that want to use a run-around gillnet for King Mackerel caught in the Southern Florida west coast subzone must have this permit along with a KM permit on board. GN permits may only be transferred to an immediate family member (mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister).

Atlantic Tuna Longline (ATL) 50 CFR 635.4

Vessels that are using a longline to sell the directed or incidental catch of Atlantic tunas, or the incidental catch of large, medium, and giant Bluefin, an Atlantic Tuna Longline permit must be on board.  An ATL permit can only be transferred and used with a Swordfish and Shark permit, often referred to as a “tri-pack.” The Shark and Swordfish permit may be either directed or incidental. For further information on Swordfish, Shark, or Tunas please call the Highly Migratory Species Management Division at (301) 427-8503.

Shark (SKD/SKI) 50 CFR.635.4

Vessels that want to fish and sell Atlantic Shark caught in federal waters outside the bag limits in or from federal waters must have this permit on board. Shark Directed (SKD) and Incidental permit (SKI) holders that fish with, or carry on board, either longline or gillnet gear, must provide a copy of a Protected Species Release, Disentanglement, and Identification Workshop Certificate to NOAA Fisheries. To sign up for the workshop, please contact the Southeast HMS Management Division at (727) 824-5399.

Swordfish (SFD/SFI/SFH) 50 CFR 635.4

Vessels that want to fish and sell Atlantic Swordfish caught in federal waters, or take swordfish as bycatch, whether or not it is kept, must have this permit on board. Swordfish Directed (SFD) and Incidental (SKI) permit holders that fish with, or carry on board, either longline or gillnet gear, must provide a copy of a Protected Species Release, Disentanglement, and Identification Workshop Certificate. To sign up for the workshop, please contact the Southeast HMS Management Division at (727) 824-5399.

Limited Access Charter/Headboat

These permits can not be issued as "New," but may be transferred

Gulf of Mexico Charter/Headboat for Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CHG) 50 CFR 622.370(b)

Charter or head boat vessels that take people out fishing in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico to catch and keep Coastal Migratory Pelagic fish must have this permit on board. Fish may not be sold with this permit.

Gulf of Mexico Charter Headboat for Reef Fish (RCG) 50 CFR 622.370(b)

Charter or headboat vessels that take people out fishing in the Gulf of Mexico federal waters to catch and keep reef fish must have this permit on board. Fish may not be sold with this permit.

More Information

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C 1801 et seq., the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act, the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq), the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Fur Seal Act. The authority for the mandatory collection of the Tax Identification Number (TIN) is 31 U.S.C. 7701.

Purpose: In order to manage U.S. fisheries, the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requires the use of permits or registrations by participants in the United States. Information on NOAA Fisheries permit applicants and renewing holders includes vessel owner contact information, date of birth, TIN and vessel descriptive information. Permit holder information may be used as sampling frames for surveys, as part of Fishery Management Council (FMC) analysis to support FMC decisions.

Routine Uses: The Department will use this information to determine permit eligibility and to identify fishery participants. Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a), to be shared within NMFS offices, in order to coordinate monitoring and management of sustainability of fisheries and protected resources, as well as with the applicable State or Regional Marine Fisheries Commissions and International Organizations. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/NOAA-19, Permits and Registrations for the United States Federally Regulated Fisheries.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary; however, failure to provide complete and accurate information will prevent the determination of eligibility for a permit.

Last updated by Southeast Regional Office on 09/12/2024