Learn More About the 3 Types of Commercial Fishing

Responsible fishing at commercial levels helps to protect the environment and its sea life. Not all potential hazards to the water are contamination-related, but the methods and tools used for commercial fishing get their fair share too. As irresponsible people sometimes choose to fish off-season, you need to comply with the authorities and process a specific commercial fishing permit so that fishing remains sustainable.

Gear selection plays a major role in determining the cost, efficiency, and bycatch of a fishery. Find out which are the most common fishing methods and what are they all about.

Net-Fishing
Fishing with nets is by far the most common method of commercial fishing. Over 80% of fish all over the world are caught via nets. There are many types for different kinds of fishing. You can also find on our website which commercial fishing permit you need depending on what and how are you planning to fish.

Purse seine: a boat locates a school of fish, then, using either a crane or small boat, takes one end of a net around the school and back to the fishing vessel. The ends of the net are synched together like a drawstring bag and pulled aboard with the fish inside.
Trawling: it consists in dragging a net through the water behind a boat. There are two different kinds: bottom trawl (dragging the net through the seafloor with weights) and midwater trawl (pull a net through the water off the bottom)
Gillnet: a net wall with holes where fish get stuck. Actually in decline due to excessive bycatch and its effects.
Line-Fishing
The next common method is the use of lines to catch fish. The oldest fishing type in the world, either for commercial, sporting, or feeding purposes. We can provide a commercial fishing permit for fisheries that require lines as well.

Longlines: as the name suggests, these are very long fishing lines that have a hook every few feet. They can be many miles long. There exists some concern regarding the bycatch of certain fisheries.
Pole & line: a fishing pole and line caught fish individually. There is no concern over bycatch
Harvesting Shellfish
A metal rake of sorts is dragged across the bottom to collect shellfish and bivalves buried in the substrate, e.g. scallops, clams, or mussels. Similar to the bottom trawl. As long as it’s done in sandy or rocky areas, bycatch or destroying sponger gardens or deepwater coral shouldn’t be a concern.

Apply For Your Commercial Fishing Permit Today
Navigate our website to find the commercial fishing permit you may require to endorse specific fishing. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Vessel Documentation for Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing is one of the most common coastwise activities in the United States. Every year, thousands of boat owners buy rods, harpoons, fishnets, and whatever fishing tools you can think of as their means of subsistence.

Are you planning to use your ship or to acquire one to go fishing? There are some procedures and requirements you need to meet before getting into the water and engaging in commercial activities. Complying with the authorities will let you fish without a problem. It’s important to know what you may require for it so you can stay at ease. Learn all about the USCG documentation for commercial fishing.

Documenting Your Vessel With The US Coast Guard
Engaging in water commercial activities such as fishing requires federal-level documentation. State registration, like normal pleasure vessels under five net tons,  is not enough for the purpose you are seeking. USCG documentation, normally called ‘vessel documentation’, is mandatory at all times. You don’t want to get caught fishing without the appropriate documentation. Fines can be pretty high and your ship may be disabled to sail if you try to pursue commercial fishing with state registration.

Vessel documentation not only allows you to fish for commercial purposes but has many other advantages as well. You can apply for preferred ship mortgages, enter and leave international ports easier protected under the US flag, vessel marking, ship background, and title assurance, among others. Once you have documented your ship, you can apply for the specific commercial fishing permit you need.

How Do I Acquire USCG Documentation?
You don’t have to make a fuzz out of getting the paperwork done so you can engage in commercial fishing. Filling the right forms is now easier than ever, as you can find every single documentation process on the permits website. Keep in mind that you need to be a US citizen to apply for federal documentation.

Our website also provides the forms needed to pursue specific commercial fishing permits. You can look for the form you need depending on the region you are willing to fish in. Permits may be state or federal.

The Commercial Fishing Permits Center, At Your Service
If you happen to have any further questions regarding commercial fishing, you can ask us at any time. We provide assistance and help for boat owners to organize their paperwork and documentation.

Our newer technology and SSL encryption allow you to fill the forms safely. Our top priority is to protect our client’s information at all times.

Atlantic Commercial Fishing Permits: Important Things to Know

If you’ve ever applied for a commercial fishing or vessel permit before then you know there’s some preparation that you need to do ahead of time. The entire process can be rather confusing, as there are many different types of permits – and more often than not, you’ll need to apply for more than one. Knowing which to apply for only adds to the burden, so we put together this blog to help you out as you pursue your Atlantic commercial fishing permits.

Why Permits Are Important

Before people get started on their application process they often wonder ‘Why are permits for commercial fishing required?’. Commercial fishing permits serve a few different purposes. One purpose they serve is by helping managers at fisheries. Management requires data on how many people are participating in a specific fishery and quantifies each harvest. This offers information that helps the appropriate administrative offices make important economic decisions regarding the commercial fishing market. It also helps commercial fishers know how the market is performing, which is essential for budgeting.

Commercial permits are also, as the name implies, a way of showing that someone has permission to engage in commercial fishing. This might sound like a no-brainer, but here’s why that matters- if commercial fishing were a free-for-all there would be no way to track which species are being harvested and how many. This could cause harm to the ecosystem and hurt the fishing industry in the long term. This is why certain species of fish have their own additional permits that allow commercial fishers to catch them.

There are also many methods of commercial fishing which are both harmful and illegal, and being a licensed commercial fisherman means that you are well aware of what these methods are and that you know the proper methods to use.

The Atlantic Region
The Atlantic Region is broken down into two smaller regions, New England and the Mid Atlantic. Both regions have permits for different species of fish that you can catch using an Atlantic commercial fishing permit, but because there are so many it’s understandable that you might feel overwhelmed. You don’t want to pay for an application, only to end up not using that permit you were given. Likewise, you don’t want to forget any applications and catch fish for commercial purposes without a permit. Our site has every application you need, as well as detailed instructions and requirements for filling out each one. Our team can also help you understand which permits you’ll need so none ever get lost in the shuffle or completed by mistake.

Vessel Permits
If you’re pursuing one of the many Atlantic commercial fishing permits, you’ll likely need to obtain some sort of permit for your vessel as well. Like fishing permits, this helps provide fisheries with information on how many participants there are, the fishing methods that they are using, and the species that they are catching. There are restrictions on some vessels that can prevent them from engaging in certain types of fishing and thus prevent them from trying to catch specific species of fish, based on factors such as the vessel’s size or how much experience it has on the water.

There are also different applications for permits depending on the type of vessel that it is and how you obtained it. The paperwork to prove ownership for someone who bought the vessel brand new is different from the required paperwork for someone who received the vessel from a previous owner. The paperwork also varies by region; having permission to do commercial fishing in the Greater Atlantic Region does not automatically give you permission to fish in the South Atlantic, and vice versa.

Count On Us Every Step of the Way
The Commercial Fishing Permits Center was created to make it easier for commercial fishers and vessel owners just like you to manage your documents online. We conveniently provide every application for you here on our site, including Atlantic commercial fishing permits, and we handle the submission process for you.

Working with us means a swifter, headache-free experience. We also keep track of your permit’s expiration date and offer auto-renewal up to five years in advance.

Not only are we the best at what we do, but we also use some of the best technology to keep your personal data safe and secure. Our site uses SSL encryption to protect any information that you provide when completing and submitting your application.

And if you ever have any questions about Atlantic commercial fishing permits or any other documents, we’re always available to provide you with an answer. You can contact us by email or by calling (866) 292-4204.

Amendment 80 Explained: A Basic Guide

If your commercial fishing business operates in or around Alaska then you’ve already heard of Amendment 80. And, more likely than not, you understand that your fishing operations need to comply with it. What some commercial fishers might not know is what Amendment 80 actually is, why it’s important to both the industry and the ecosystem, and how it can affect their business. When simplified, the amendment has given the processor sector of the commercial fishing industry-exclusive rights to fish for certain species.

What Amendment 80 Is

The Amendment 80 sector is a fleet that’s made up of trawl catcher-processors. These processors target a list of specific species of fish in the Bering Sea and around the Aleutian Islands (sometimes shortened to BSAI). There are other species on the list covered by Amendment 80 which are found in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) as well. Some of the species of fish that are covered under Amendment 80 are certified sustainable such as the Pacific Cod, Yellowfin Sole, and Flathead.

Seafood is Alaska’s biggest export so the fish that these processors catch have global destinations, but the impacts are felt locally. Alaska’s seafood industry also has more employees than any other non-government industry sector in the state. Amendment 80 has led to job creation in areas like shipping, ship repair and maintenance, longshore/stevedore, and cold shipping. Local economies thrive which leads to a financially healthy state.

What Amendment 80 Does
So how does this affect you, someone who works in the commercial fishing industry but not as a processor? This is where Amendment 80 can become a little more confusing. That’s partly due to the fact that the amendment allows for the creation of cooperatives. Qualified vessels are able to enter partnerships with these processors after submitting the proper applications.

There are exceptions to these cooperatives, however, and it’s important for commercial fishing industry workers to keep track of them. Some species have sideboard limits, and some vessels are prohibited from participating in any fishing of GOA flatfish.

There are also exemptions based on the vessel’s experience on the water. Vessels that have less than ten weeks of experience with GOA flatfish fisheries are not allowed to participate in cooperatives established under Amendment 80 that participate in GOA flatfish fishery.  

Why Amendment 80 Matters
Amendment 80 covers a very large list of marine life, which makes it an extremely important topic that anyone working in the commercial fishing sector should be aware of. Not complying with it could lead to legal complications with your business. There are many rules, lists, policies, and special exceptions to keep track of. The things that you are or aren’t allowed to do vary by the type of vessel that you use in your commercial fishing operation, as well as the vessel’s experience engaging in certain types of commercial fishing.

There are also different types of Amendment 80 permits, based on the type of fishing cooperative that you want to participate in. This can make it harder for you to submit the application for an Amendment 80 permit, or needs that you have as a vessel owner.

Where We Come In
At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we provide commercial fishers just like you with the right tools and information to complete your application. Better yet – we also submit and manage your documents for you. You don’t need to worry about dealing with a complicated submission process, simply complete the application on our website and we’ll take care of the rest. We also offer auto-renewals up to five years in advance. You won’t ever have to worry about being caught off guard and scrambling to complete the paperwork last minute.

We also understand that this paperwork can be confusing, much like the rules and regulations established under Amendment 80. Despite the benefits it brings to the local economies of Alaska, it can bring you a headache. Not only do we manage your applications for permits such as an Amendment 80 permit, but our team is also available to answer any questions that you have about the forms. If you find yourself stuck on a question or not sure how to interpret the legal jargon, our team is more than happy to assist you. Just give us a call at (866) 292-4204 and we’ll bring you one step closer to getting your vessel out onto the open waters.

Not in front of a computer screen? Not a problem! Our website is fully optimized for mobile usage as well as desktop computers, so you can work on your applications whenever and wherever is most convenient for you.

How to Obtain Alaska Federal Commercial Fishing Permits Online

Are you hoping to do some fishing in the Gulf of Alaska? Perhaps you have your eyes on the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Regardless of which destination you have in mind, you’re going to need a Federal Fishing Permit, or FFP. This federally-issued document is necessary if you want to go fishing in these waters on a vessel registered in the U.S.

There is another commercial permit called the Federal Processor Permit, or FPP. This permit is necessary for any stationary floating processing vessels that operate exclusively in Alaskan waters.

Why an Alaska Federal Commercial Fishing Permit Matters
Though they are called ‘fishing permits’, these documents are not actually a permit to go fishing. Rather, they are necessary for anyone involved in the Alaskan commercial fishing business. Technically a processing vessel doesn’t engage in the fishing itself, nor do any shoreside processors who receive and/or process the groundfish. Yet they are still involved in the commercial fishing industry, so they are also required to obtain a permit so they can legally operate their business.

Benefits of the Permits
The main benefit of obtaining these Alaska federal commercial fishing permits is that you are allowed to legally operate your vessel and use it to fish in waters that are part of the state of Alaska. Neglecting to obtain the correct permits before you’re on the water can result in serious legal consequences, and it’s not worth the risk.

Many state departments that oversee terrestrial wildlife, marine wildlife, and aquatic wildlife place restrictions on the species which you are allowed to hunt and catch.  Others encourage catch and release or limit that number that you’re allowed to hunt or catch. States often do this when they encounter population issues that can cause harm to the local ecosystem. This permit gives you the right to catch the following species of fish:

Alaska Groundfish
Chinook Salmon
Chum Salmon
Coho Salmon
Pacific Halibut
Pacific Herring
Pink Salmon
Sablefish
Sockeye Salmon
What You Need to Obtain Your Alaska Federal Commercial Fishing Permit
You can submit an application for an FFP online. An FFP lasts for three years, so after three years you will need to apply for a renewal. Fortunately, there is only one document for new FFPs, renewing FFPs, amending FFPs, or surrendering FFPs. A separate document is used to request a replacement.

No matter the reason for submitting the application you will be required to supply the same information; anything other than an application for a new permit will need your existing FFP number though. First, you will need to supply personal information about the owner of the vessel, as well as the name and contact information for the business that they represent.

The second block asks for information about the vessel that you are going to be using when you’re fishing on Alaska state waters. This includes (but isn’t limited to) the name, city, and state of the home port, gross tonnage, and USCG documentation number.

The third block covers information regarding the Alaska federal commercial fishing permit itself. This includes the area of operation, the type of vessel operation (catcher, catcher/processor, mothership, or tender vessel), gear types, and whether or not you would like a GOA inshore processing endorsement to be issued.

The fourth block asks you whether or not you intend to participate in fisheries with any gear other than jig gear. This includes Pacific cod, pollock, and BSAI Atka mackerel. If so you need to indicate if you will be trawl, hook-and-line, or pot gear type. The fifth and final block asks for your signature.

An FPP asks for similar information such as the contact information and indicating the type of application. Instead of information about the gear you’re using to fish you instead need to provide information about your SFP or CQE vessel, and information about the shoreside processor.

A Better Way to Manage Your Commercial Fishing Permits Online
Only needing to worry about one document is extremely convenient. Not every type of permit application is like this, however. Finding the right forms and completing them properly can be a hassle, no matter how short they may be. Making a mistake might mean that you have to start over. Rather than take that risk you can avoid all of the hassles completely by using the Commercial Fishing Permits Center website.

 We make it easy to find and upload your documents, and manage the submission process for you. Not only is this a faster and easier way to process your national marine fisheries documents, we also offer auto-renewals up to five years in advance. If you have any questions about what we offer or need help completing a form you can contact us directly at (866) 292-4204. Our team is more than happy to help you.

What Vessel Documentation Do I Need For Commercial Fishing?

Since then countless updates have been made to various state and federal mandates that vessel owners need to be aware of. Some of these changes are exclusive to specific types of vessels and how they’re used in various industries, such as the commercial fishing industry.

In the year 1790, the 11th Act of the First Congress outlined some of the first requirements for vessel documentation in U.S. history. Vessel documentation serves multiple purposes including proof of nationality, regulating trade in coastal territories and fishing grounds, and clarifying ownership of vessels within the U.S.

The Role of the USCG and the NVDC
Commercial fishing operations contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year, making it an extremely vital industry. Just as owners need to make sure that their vessel is outfitted with the proper equipment to function safely, they must also make sure that they have all of the necessary documents to operate their vessels legally. In the U.S. these federal documents are managed by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) through the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).

Today they manage the documentation for approximately $225,000 different vessels, the requirements for which are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations in section 46 CFR 67. State requirements and regulations are further outlined in 33 CFR 173.

When and Where These Documentations Apply
Documentation through the USCG is required for any and all vessels which weigh at least 5 net tons, are owned in their entirety by a U.S. citizen and are in fishing activities or coastwise trade. Specifically, they are needed for fishing activities or coastwise trade that occurs within either U.S. waters or within the Exclusive Economic Zone, also known as the EEZ.

The United States EEZ is located 200 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline and it includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The only exemptions made are for vessels not operated on the navigable waters or EEZ fisheries, rivers, lakes, internal waters, or canals. This excludes the Great Lakes of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Benefits of Following the Regulations
One of the primary benefits to having your commercial fishing vessel properly documented is the tax savings, as some states have a preferred tax status for vessels that are documented through the USCG. Another financial benefit is that it is much easier to secure a loan in order to have your vessel financed. Banks can record a First Preferred Ship’s Mortgage and send the NVDC proof demonstrating Satisfaction of Mortgage.

Aside from financial benefits, there are general practical benefits as well, namely that having any proper federal documentation with you will make it easier to travel through international waters. The paperwork will verify that your vessel is operating with U.S. federal regulations. Some boats are allowed to enter the waters of other states without additional registration but this varies by location.

The Required Documents
The list of documents that are required for each vessel is very short, but missing even one of these documents can prevent you from taking your vessel onto the water. The first document is the certificate issued by the Coast Guard, which is valid for one year after issue and must be continually renewed.

The second is not a specific document, but rather any documents that pertain to transactions regarding the vessel. Examples include a bill of sale, claim or lien, preferred vessel mortgage, or a transfer of interest. Certification from the USCG proves that the vessel can be legally taken onto the water, whereas these documents can be used to verify ownership and that the vessel was legally acquired.

If there are any documents submitted to the USCG that require notarization, they must be done so by a U.S. Notary or a U.S. Consulate. If they’ve been notarized in another country then there must be an apostille from a member country of the Hague Convention. Notarized documents are used within the U.S. while an apostille is used to prove authentication between countries.

Because these documents must be kept on the vessel at all times, owners might want to consider making copies or requesting duplicates in case the original is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. For this reason, owners are required to have specific safety gear and equipment along with these important legal documents at all times. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

Fire extinguishers
Marine Sanitation Devices
Visual distress signals
Personal flotation devices
Ventilation
Never Go Unprepared
Managing the documents for your commercial fishing vessel can be a hassle. There are many forms to keep track of and documents that need to be regularly renewed or updated. The Commercial Fishing Permits Center not only gives you immediate access to those forms for easy completion and submission, but we can also help you with any questions you may have. For help with any of the forms you can talk to our staff by calling (866) 292-4204, and a member of our team can walk you through each one step by step.

Understand the Process of Atlantic Commercial Fishing Permits

The people you already have the vessel or boat want to use it in the proper way. There are different kinds of maritime business which is considered as one of the great sources to earn money but the people who are in the same business they understand that there are different kinds of permissions are required to run the business. If you are also planning for any kind of business then you must have to think about the fishing business. For commercial fishing, you must have to take permission from different departments, so there will be no difficulty in getting the permission.

If you are a vessel owner or you want to apply for the new application for commercial fishing then you need the annual permit expiration date which will be the last day of the permit holder's birth month. It would be better to look out for the Caribbean Federal commercial fishing permission process because for every area the criteria will be different. If you are an individual owner or if you have multiple owners then in the case of multiple owners the birth date of the managing owner will be determined date. If the vessel owner is a business then the expiration date will be the last day of the month of the company which was formed. Moreover, if the vessel is leased, then the expiration date will be the last day of the last month of the lease term. You must have to check out the criteria for federal commercial fishing business permission. If you are not sure about the things then you must have to check about the details of federal or state fishing permits because for both areas the terms and conditions will be different and even the process will also be different.

Whether you want the new permission or you want to go over the renewal of the permission then you should have to follow the entire process. If you are looking for commercial fishing permits then you have to follow the procedure for that. For the Atlantic commercial fishing permits and even for the new permit the vessel owner can be as an individual, multiple owners, business, or more. If you are a vessel owner who is an individual then the annual permit expiration date will be the permit of any owner’s birth month. Even there are other same kinds of details but every area has a different fishing permission procedure so it would be better to understand the process details of your area where you have to apply for the fishing permission. If you are not sure about such things then it would be recommended to take the assistance from the third party companies who are in the same business and help the people to get their work done in a proper and effective way. You will easily get the details of companies on the internet so you can reach out to them for assistance.

Must Know About Alaska Federal Commercial Fishing

Every person has a demand and a requirement to earn as much as possible and for that, they look out for the available options through which they can earn a good amount of money. If you are also a person who is looking for another source of income and you have a vessel or boat then you must have to know about the fisheries option. When you look out for the fisheries business then you must have to check that what kind of requirements or permissions is required for doing the commercial fishing business. If you are not aware of it then you can check it on the internet because a lot of options are available that will be really helpful for you to understand the documentation work which is required for the fishing business.

There are different kinds of applications forms available through which you can complete the requirement. If you are looking for a federal fisheries permit then you must have to check the application for Federal fisheries permit which is available on the official website. The form may be used to apply for fishing permits in that area. The fisheries permit is required for the US vessels that are used to fish for ground fish in the Gulf of Alaska or the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. It is one of the most important things and permission is also required for the vessels which are used to fish for any non ground fishes species and it is highly required to retain any bycatch of the groundfish. There are different kinds of details available in the form that you have to fill and once you complete the form then you can submit it along with your signature and the payment details.

Once you submit it then it will go to the concerned team and accordingly they will proceed.
If you are looking for federal commercial fishing permits then you must have to go with the documentation process. If you are new in that field and already have the vessel but you are not sure that how you will get the Alaska Federal commercial fishing permit for the fishing then you should have to complete the form that is available on the website. On the website you have to fill all the details like your contact information, type of fishing Federal permission, registration owner information, business mailing address, mailing company, vessel information, permit information, type of the vessel operations, species, and endorsements and amendments along with the payment procedure. If you are unable to do it on your own or you face any kind of difficulty in getting the details about these things, then it would be better to take the assistance from the third party private companies who are in the same business and helping the people to get their work done. You should have to contact the third party mediator company who can assist you with all the details and help you to get the work done for the commercial fishing permission.