KEY MESSAGE:
- Hurricane Ian made landfall in the U.S. near Cayo Costa, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 4 hurricane on September 28, 2022, then moved across the Florida peninsula into the South Atlantic and made another U.S. landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Georgetown, South Carolina, on September 30, 2022.
- On October 12, 2022, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) determined catastrophic conditions existed in certain Florida and South Carolina counties.
- NOAA Fisheries has received numerous reports of power outages and continued damage to the infrastructure in the following counties in Florida:
- Lee
- Collier
- Charlotte
- In order to provide federal dealers, IFQ participants, and federal for-hire operators the continued flexibility in the affected areas, NOAA Fisheries announces the extension of the current catastrophic conditions determination for Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties.
- For those in the affected areas who do not have access to electronic reporting, Federal regulations provide for delayed reporting by federally permitted for-hire vessels and individual fishing quota (IFQ) paper-based reporting in the event of catastrophic conditions. These regulations require NOAA Fisheries to determine when the catastrophic conditions exist, the duration of the catastrophic conditions, and which participants or geographic areas are affected. Participants must continue to use the electronic systems if it is accessible.
- Therefore, for any federally permitted dealer in the affected areas who does not have access to electronic reporting, NOAA Fisheries is authorizing, through December 5, 2022:
- Delayed reporting of trip tickets to NOAA Fisheries; and
- The use of paper-based reporting forms for red snapper and grouper-tilefish IFQ participants.
- Dealers are to report all landings through the state trip ticket program as soon as possible.
- For any federally permitted for-hire operator in the affected areas who does not have access to electronic reporting, NOAA Fisheries is authorizing delayed reporting of logbooks through December 5, 2022. Fishermen are to report all landings electronically as soon as possible.
- If you are located in the affected areas, please contact the Permit Office for any questions related to expiring or terminating permits. The Permit Office customer service line is 877-376-4877, Option 8, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
- NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor and reevaluate the areas and duration of the catastrophic conditions. A subsequent Fishery Bulletin will be published if reporting requirements are extended.
MORE INFORMATION
- Federally Permitted Dealers
- Federally permitted dealers in the affected areas are released from the weekly reporting requirement of trip tickets to NOAA Fisheries through December 5, 2022, but must report all landings as soon as possible.
- For questions, contact the Fisheries Monitoring Branch: 305-361-4581.
- Gulf of Mexico For-Hire Owner/Operators
- Federally permitted Gulf of Mexico for-hire owner/operators in the affected areas are released from the prior to offload reporting requirement of logbooks to NOAA Fisheries through December 5, 2022, but must report all logbooks as soon as possible.
- Participants must continue to use the electronic reporting system if it is accessible.
- For questions, contact the Southeast For-hire Integrated Electronic Reporting customer service: 833-707-1632, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
- South Atlantic For-Hire Owner/Operators
- Federally permitted South Atlantic for-hire operators in the affected areas are released from the weekly reporting requirement to NOAA Fisheries through December 5, 2022, but must report all landings or a weekly Did Not Fish report as soon as possible.
- Participants must continue to use the electronic reporting system if it is accessible.
- For questions, contact the Southeast For-hire Integrated Electronic Reporting customer service: 833-707-1632, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
- IFQ Participants
- The electronic systems for submitting landings and IFQ information to NOAA Fisheries will continue to be available to all dealers. Participants must continue to use the electronic systems if it is accessible.
- NOAA Fisheries has previously provided IFQ dealers the necessary paper forms and instructions for reporting during catastrophic conditions. Assistance in complying with the requirements of the paper-based system will be available via IFQ customer service: 866-425-7627 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Paper forms are also available upon request by calling IFQ customer service at 866-425-7627 or by writing:
NOAA Fisheries
Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
- The IFQ program functions available to participants in the affected areas will be limited for those using the paper-based system. There will be no mechanism for transfers of IFQ shares or allocation for those using the paper-based system during catastrophic conditions.
- NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor and reevaluate the areas and duration of the catastrophic conditions. A subsequent Fishery Bulletin will be published if reporting requirements are extended.
SIGN UP FOR TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS - FIND OUT ABOUT IMMEDIATE OPENINGS AND CLOSURES
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office.
Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, FL now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
