Fishing & Seafood Permits

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.

Information about the Open Access Atlantic Charter/Headboat Permit application for Dolphin/Wahoo fishing from the Southeast Region Permit Office.

Information about the Atlantic Tuna Longline Commercial Fishing Permit (Limited Access) from the Southeast Region Permit Office.

Permit Categories Category 1: Commercial (Moratorium) Vessel that fishes for, catches, possesses, transports, lands, sells, or trades black sea bass. In 2017, we issued 646 Category 1 permits. A Confirmation of Permit History allows a vessel o

NOAA Issues blueline and golden tilefish for private recreational, charter/party, and commercial fishermen

Information about the Domestic Swordfish Dealer Fishing Permit (Open Access) from the Southeast Region Permit Office.

Permit categories for mackerel, squid, and butterfish

Groundfish Categories There are two categories of Northeast groundfish: Those requiring regulated mesh: Cod, haddock, yellowtail flounder, pollock, redfish (ocean perch), winter flounder (blackback), American plaice (dab), witch flounder (grey sole)