NOAA Fisheries Clarifies the Rules and Process for Issuing Permits to Leased Vessels

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries is sending this information to answer commonly asked questions relating to leasing a vessel in accordance with the Southeast Regional Permits Office requirements.
• The following information pertains only to permit holders requesting or holding a vessel permit in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone or fishing under a Wreckfish permit. This excludes vessels permitted under the Colombian Treaty Water and High Seas Fishing Permit.

Can someone lease a Southeast Regional Office (SERO) issued vessel permit?

No. Federal regulations do not allow permits to be leased.

Does SERO allow permits to be issued to a leased vessel?

Yes. Both open and limited access permits may be issued to a leased vessel, but a vessel lease agreement must be submitted as part of the application to transfer the permit to the vessel.

When should I submit a vessel lease agreement?

When you (the permit holder) do not own a vessel but are leasing the vessel from the vessel owner and wish to transfer your permit(s) to the leased vessel.

What information does SERO require for a vessel lease agreement?

Is there a SERO specific lease agreement form?

No. Some states may require specific vessel lease agreements, and SERO will accept those as long as they contain the information listed above.

Does the vessel lease agreement submitted to SERO have to be notarized?

SERO does not require lease agreements to be notarized; however, some states may require notarization.

How do you submit a vessel lease agreement?

Vessel lease agreements must be uploaded on the Required Documents page when submitting an online application through the Southeast Region Online Permit System . The agreements should be submitted with your permit application.

What else is important to know about leasing a vessel?

Depending upon the circumstances, the vessel's owner, operator, and lessee (permit holder) may all be held responsible for any fisheries violations committed while the vessel is fishing under the lessee's permits. The federal government considers catch history proprietary business information. Releasing the information for a vessel that was leased requires signatures from the lessee (permit holder) for the time period requested.

For more detailed information, please visit the 'Leases' section of Frequent Questions: Southeast Fishing Permits page or contact the Southeast Permits Office Customer Service: (877) 376-4877 and [email protected] .

Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures

NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery-related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time.

Text alerts you may receive include:

• Immediate fishery openings and closures.
• Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly.

Sign up for one or more of the following groups:

• Gulf of America Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf of America Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
• Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts

Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Permits Mailbox

The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at (877) 376-4877.

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett (727) 551-5750

Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan (727) 385-5202