What are NOAA Permits? Can You Get Them Online?

Commercial fishing is a tough line of work. Between spending days or weeks out at sea, navigating difficult seas and bad weather, and manoeuvring dangerous gear and equipment, commercial fishing isn’t for everyone. Of course, for those willing to brave such conditions, fishing for a living can net you a tidy income. Commercial fishing is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States, and the global demand for quality, fresh seafood remains constant. If you have spent any amount of time fishing for leisure, you are probably used to getting a fishing license every year from your state’s department of wildlife. Well, the same practice is necessary for commercial fishing, though sometimes at a federal level. If you are planning to launch a commercial fishing business, you will need to acquire licenses from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on occasion. As you will discover, having valid NOAA permits is a must for the ongoing health of your business.

The NOAA is a federal agency that plays important roles in both the regulatory and conservation spaces. Tasked with managing federal fisheries, the NOAA issues permits and licenses to fishermen seeking to access federal waters. Technically speaking, the area between three to 200 nautical miles from land falls under federal jurisdiction, and with thousands of miles of coastline, the U.S. is home to a large area of water within the federal territory. Read on to learn more about federal fishing permits, as well as how you can use our online forms to get the licenses that your commercial fishing business needs.

How Can You Get NOAA Permits?

So, you have your boat all geared up, and you have double-checked your lines. There is gas in your tank and your galley is packed for an extended trip to sea. Before you can drop your nets or traps, however, there are some preparatory measures that you will need to take. One matter of particular importance is having the right paperwork and permits for your business. If you will be finding yourself on federal waters, you are going to want to have the right NOAA licenses.

With such a large area to regulate, the NOAA, for their part, separates out their permit offerings by region. You can get permits for Alaska, the Pacific Islands, the West Coast, the South, and the Atlantic. Each region will have specific permits for their various native species. You can get your NOAA licenses in one of two ways. You can visit their website, print out PDF applications, and mail them in for processing. If that sounds like a bit of a hassle, though, you can also work with a private service such as ours at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center.

Use Our Web Forms to Apply Today

We have streamlined, easy-to-fill web applications for all major NOAA commercial fishing permits. Simply select your region from our navigation menu, and you will be brought to a list of fillable forms. To learn more about our services, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.