ATTENTION: Please be advised that effective April 30, 2025, our live call center will transition to a voicemail-based system during regular office hours. While representing a shift in our customer service approach, this change is designed to enhance our efficiency in addressing your inquiries. When you call, please leave a detailed voicemail message including your name, callback number, the reason you are calling, and, if applicable, your application number. If you don't have your application number available, please provide your vessel's official number or dealer number as an alternative identifier. All voicemails will be returned during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
As an alternative to voicemail, you are also welcome to email your questions to nmfs.ser.permitssupport@noaa.gov. We ask that you take precautions to protect your personal information by refraining from including any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Business Identifiable Information (BII) in your email correspondence. This measure helps ensure the security and confidentiality of your sensitive data.
NEW January 2022 - Announcing our Southeast Region Online Permit System - Sign Up Today! It takes less than 15 minutes to sign-up, is more accurate than a paper application, safer than sending a check and reduces weeks of back and forth via mail. Most deficiencies take just minutes to fix on-line. Sign up now here!
NOTE: For renewals, you may create an online account prior to your permit expiration, but you won’t see your renewal application unless you are within 60 days of the permit expiration date.
For permit renewals, the auto-generated renewal reminder emails will come from
"NOAA Fisheries - Southeast Region Permit Office" with a subject line that reads
"NMFS SERO Permit Renewal Reminder.”
NOAA Fisheries Southeast published a Fishery Bulletin outlining the on-line system.
The Southeast Region online permitting system makes it easy to apply for new open access vessel, dealer and operator permit(s), renew existing permit(s), or transfer limited access vessel permit(s) issued by the Southeast Region Permit Office. Click here to log in to the system or to set up your online account.
We are available to answer all your questions about federal fishing permits required in the South Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of America, and the Caribbean Sea. We encourage you to first review the frequently asked questions. If you are unable to find the information you need, please contact us.
The regulations governing permits in the Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic fisheries are found in 50 CFR part 622. Please refer to this document for individual permit requirements.
The Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami, Florida handles commercial reporting requirements and provides several online services in support of this effort. Please make sure your logbooks are up to date prior to submitting your renewal application. You can view your logbook status at the links below or contact the logbook office at (305) 361-4581.
The Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting program, based in the SERO office in St. Petersburg, Florida, handles for-hire reporting requirements and provides outreach, customer service, and electronic reporting platforms in support of this effort. Please make sure you are in compliance the program requirements prior to submitting your renewal application. If you have questions or concerns about complying with the requirements, please contact the program by phone at (833) 707-1632 or email at ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov
Certain permits have Vessel Monitoring System requirements that are handled by the Office of Law Enforcement in St. Petersburg, Florida. Please contact the VMS office at (727) 314-2862 with your VMS compliance questions including how to obtain a Power Down Letter of Exemption.
If you need assistance with Individual Fishing Quota catch shares or have questions regarding participation in the IFQ program, contact (727) 460-2475, email nmfs.ser.catchshare@noaa.gov or visit the Catch Share Program.
For information about the purpose, use, and disclosure of data collected through permit applications, please review our Privacy Act Statement.
If you have any questions, please visit our Contact Us page or call at 877-376-4877.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.
