Amendment 80: What Is It and How It Affects Commercial Fishing

When it comes to hard work, it is hard to top commercial fishing. Between navigating turbulent seas, handling heavy and dangerous equipment, and spending days or weeks at a time out on the water, this is not a business for the faint of heart. For those willing to put their bodies in the line and their time, however, industrial fishing can be a particularly lucrative line of business. Because of the dangers and money involved, it should be no surprise that this is a rather tightly-regulated industry. One particular regulation that Alaskan commercial fishermen should understand is Amendment 80.

What is Amendment 80 and How Does it Impact You?

Off the coast of Alaska, the Bering Sea and the neighboring Aleutian Islands provide ample opportunities for commercial and industrial fishing operations. This area is home to well-stocked fisheries for Snow Crabs, Red King Crabs, Walleye Pollocks, Weathervane Scallops, and Tanner Crabs. There are also abundant fisheries for Pacific Salmon and Herring, Flatfish, and Sablefish. With such a diverse array of seafood options, it is no wonder that this region is a prime destination for commercial fishermen from Alaska and beyond.

As an important source of fish harvesting, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well the state of Alaska actively take measures to protect these fisheries. If you are an avid fisherman, you understand the importance of conservation. Defending the environment against pollutants and overfishing helps ensure that fisheries remain bountiful for generations to come.

The passage of Amendment 80 took place on June 9, 2006, when it was approved by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. It was officially implemented in 2008. The aims of this amendment were to boost the utilization and retention of fishery resources by expanding Groundfish Retention Standards (GRS). It also seeks to allocate fishery resources to trawl harvesters while accounting for historic, present, and future harvesting needs. 

What this amendment specifically does is allow trawlers to form cooperatives and it allocates several species of groundfish to the gut and trawl processor sector. If your commercial or industrial fishing operation situates you in this geography and you are fishing for relevant species, you will need to ensure that your Amendment 80 paperwork is current.

NOAA Applications, Registrations, Forms, and More

Ensuring that your commercial fishing business is acting in compliance with Amendment 80 is more than just merely adhering to certain rules and quotas. There is also paperwork, forms, and applications to consider. Some applications that you may wish to familiarize yourself with include:

• Flatfish Exchange Application
• Amendment 80 Quota Share Application
• Amendment 80 Cooperative Quota Application
• Amendment 80 Limited Access Fishery Permit Application

There are additional forms related to this amendment, as well, but the ones listed above are common starting points. Once you have identified the forms and applications that you need to complete, you can locate them on the NOAA’s website. After you have done that, you can print the pages you need, fill them out with ink, and mail them to the appropriate NOAA office location.

Getting Your Documentation Online

Let’s face it, the middle of the Bering Sea is pretty far from the nearest post office. Since you would much rather be out on the water making money, as opposed to on land dealing with empty printer ink cartridges and trying to find stamps, you may be wondering if there is a simpler way to apply for permits.

You happen to be in luck. At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we can help you obtain all of the necessary Amendment 80 documentation that your business needs to stay afloat. If you browse the top navigation of our website and click on the “Alaska” region, you will see that we offer easy-to-fill online forms for all Amendment 80 paperwork matters. You will also notice that we make it much easier to find these documents than any government website can.

Since the needs of Alaskan commercial fishermen can often vary, we offer a great number of other forms as well. Perhaps you need a permit for catching Rockfish? Maybe you need to acquire a Scallop license? No matter what your Alaskan industrial fishing needs may be, the Commercial Fishing Permits Center has you covered. 

Does identity theft keep you up at night? You can rest easy when working with us. We use a state-of-the-art SSL-encrypted web portal to process all of your personal data, so you can submit your applications with the peace of mind of knowing that it is being done securely. Our forms and applications also extend far beyond the great state of Alaska –whether you are in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, or the West Coast, we offer one-stop shopping for all of your NOAA permit needs. Contact us today and learn more about what you can accomplish with the help of our services.