To fish commercially for lobsters in federal waters, a vessel must possess a federal lobster limited access permit and the permit must be on board at all times. The operator of the vessel must also have a valid federal operator's permit.
Permit Categories
Category 1: Commercial
Vessel that fishes for, catches, possesses, transports, lands, sells, or trades bluefish.
In 2017, we issued 2,266 Category 1 permits.
Category 2: Recreational
Vessel that carries passengers for hire
More information on the Atlantic Charter/Headboat for Coastal Migratory Pelagics For-Hire Fishing Permit (Open Access) from the Southeast Region Permit Office.
Permit Categories
Permit Category
Description
Permits Issued in 2017
Number of Permits in Confirmation of Permit History*
Category A
Open Access
1,298
Not Applicable
Category B
Limited Access
4
0
Category C
Vessels fishing for herring that are less than 165 feet in length overall, less than 750 gross registered tons, or have a shaft horsepower of less than 3,000 may receive one of the herring permits listed below. Herring vessels exceeding the size
Permit Categories
Permit Category
Description
Permits issued in 2016
LA 2
Full-Time
248
LA 3
Part-Time
2
LA 4
Occasional
0
LA 5
Full-Time Small Dredge
51
LA 6
Part-Time
Permit Categories
Category 1: Commercial Surfclam (Open Access)
For commercial harvest and sale of surfclams. Catch limit is dependent upon IFQ allocation held.
In 2017, 617 Category 1 permits were issued.
Category 6: Commercial Ocea