Federal Atlantic shark research permit requirements and

FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION

Applicant’s Name:
Address:

Phone Number:
Fax Number:

City

State

Zip

Email Address:

Atlantic Shark Research Fishery
Things to consider before submitting your shark research fishery application:
a)
You must submit a copy of your vessel documentation and Federal fishing permit with this
application in order for your application to be deemed complete.
b)
Your vessel must have a current, valid USCG safety inspection decal (50 CFR 700.746 (d)) in
order to be considered for the shark research fishery.
c)
If you have been charged criminally or civilly (e.g., issued a Notice of Violation and Assessment
(NOVA) or Notice of Permit Sanction) for any HMS related violation with such charges resulting
in a final, adverse administrative or judicial order, guilty plea, or settlement agreement, your
vessel will not be considered for the shark research fishery.
d)
Providing an e-mail address will allow NMFS to contact you to inform you if your application is
complete, to ask for additional information, or to send your permit, if applicable.
e)
Please be sure to sign the application

1)
What type of commercial
permit do you possess?
Shark Directed
Shark Incidental
Other permits held
2)

Vessel 1
ID _________

Vessel 2
ID________

Vessel 3
ID________

Does your vessel meet all the requirements specified in 50 CFR 635.7 to carry
an observer during all shark fishing trips pursuant to these permits?
___Yes ___No

Do your vessels have the
following?
Survival craft to
accommodate observer

Vessel 1
ID _________

Vessel 2
ID________

Vessel 3
ID________

Yes _______

Yes _______

Yes _______

(50 CFR 600.746 (f) (6))

No ________

No ________

No ________

Appropriate bunk space/
sleeping accommodations

Yes _______

Yes _______

Yes _______

(50 CFR 635.7 (e) (1))

No ________

No ________

No ________

Page 1 of 5

FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION

3a)

Have you been selected to carry an observer in the past 2 years? ___Yes ___No

3b)

If yes, have you carried an observer in the past 2 years? ____Yes ___No

4)

Have you fished for sharks commercially in the past 2 years? ____Yes ____No
If yes, approximately how many trips have you taken per year? ____________

5) Fishing gear typically
deployed from vessel(s)
Gillnet
Bottom Longline
Pelagic Longline
Handgear
Other (please specify)

Vessel 1
ID_________

Vessel 2
ID__________

Vessel 3
ID_________

6) Regions fished for
sharks in the past
Gulf of Mexico
South Atlantic
North Atlantic
Other (please specify)

Vessel 1
ID__________

Vessel 2
ID___________

Vessel 3
ID__________

7) Availability

Vessel 1
ID___________

Vessel 2
ID_________

Vessel 3
ID_________

In what month(s) is your
vessel(s) available?
In what area/region(s) is
your vessel available?
8)

Will you attend meetings required by NMFS to describe the objectives and/or
research protocols regarding the shark research fishery?
____Yes
____No

9)

Will you carry out the research objectives set forth by the Agency?
____Yes
____No

10)

Can you carry out research in the Mid-Atlantic shark time/area closure area
off the coast of North Carolina?
____Yes
____No

Page 2 of 5

FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION

Vessel Information
Applications will be deemed incomplete if a signature and valid vessel documentation are not included.
If the applicant’s name is different from the owner’s name, please fill in the appropriate information.

Participating Vessel(s)1:
1. Vessel Name

Owner’s Name:

Phone Number:

Owner’s Address:

Operator’s Name:
Vessel Documentation Included? Yes

No2

Vessel ID #:

2. Vessel Name

Owner’s Name:

Phone Number:

Owner’s Address:

Operator’s Name:
Vessel Documentation Included? Yes

No

Vessel ID#:

3. Vessel Name

Owner’s Name:

Phone Number:

Owner’s Address:

Operator’s Name:
Vessel Documentation Included? Yes

No

Applicant’s
Signature:

Vessel ID#:
Date:

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTICE: Collection of information through an exempted fishing permit program provides essential information for the
conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Information on distribution and migratory patterns will be used for stock
assessment and in developing international catch sharing agreements. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40
minutes per response. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden to: Delisse Ortiz at Delisse.Ortiz@noaa.gov. Reporting of exempted fishing permit activity is required under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act. It is NOAA policy to preserve the confidentiality of information submitted under this reporting requirement, except that NMFS may release
such information in aggregate or summary form, such that individual identifiers are not disclosed (NAO 216-100). Notwithstanding any other provision of the
law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. OMB Control
#0648-0471 Expires 03/31/2021.
1

Include additional sheets if more than three vessels are needed for the exempted fishing activity or shark research fishery.
Application will not be deemed complete until all information is provided to NMFS. Please attach documentation (U.S.
Coast Guard documentation, state license, or registration, and HMS permit) for each vessel to this application.
2

Page 3 of 5

FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION
Shark Research Fishery
Regulations governing the issuance of a Federal shark research fishery permit are contained in 50 CFR Part 635.
NMFS will publish annually in the Federal Register a notice describing, for the following year, the expected
research objectives. In general, shark research fishery permits are issued each year to qualified applicants who have
submitted a complete application to NMFS and are selected to participate. The shark research fishery would allow
NMFS and commercial shark fishermen to conduct cooperative research to collect fishery-dependent data for
management of the Atlantic shark fishery.
Shark Research Fishery Permit: A valid shark research fishery permit is required to fish for, take, retain, or
possess Atlantic sharks, including sandbar sharks, in excess of retention limits described in 635.24 (a). A shark
research fishery permit is only valid for the vessel, owner, and operator(s) specified and cannot be transferred to
another vessel, owner, or operator(s). A shark research fishery permit is only valid for the retention limits, time,
area, and gear specified on the permit, and only when a NMFS-approved observer is on board. Issuance of a shark
research fishery permit does not guarantee that the holder will be issued a NMFS-approved observer on any
particular trip. Rather, issuance indicates that a vessel may be issued a NMFS-approved observer for a particular
trip and on such trips may be allowed to harvest Atlantic sharks, including sandbar sharks, in excess of retention
limits specified in 635.24 (a).
Requirements
Per the HMS regulations, a valid shark research fishery permit must be on board the harvesting vessel and must be
available when animals are landed.
An application will not be deemed complete until all of the information on the application is submitted to the HMS
Management Division in writing. An incomplete application will not be considered until corrected in writing.
A shark research fishery permit is valid only for the specific authorized vessel(s), samplers, time, area, gear, and
species indicated on the permit. Except for the regulatory exemptions specifically referenced on the permit, all
HMS regulations at 50 CFR Part 635 shall apply during the conduct of the fishing activity. All private vessels
listed on a shark research permit should have a valid HMS recreational or commercial HMS permit.
Once 80 percent of the commercial sandbar shark quota has been reached based on scientific observer reports, the
shark research fishery will be closed.
The issuance of a shark research fishery permit in no way confers any right to collect/harvest species in waters
under state jurisdiction. The appropriate state agency must be contacted regarding any collection in state waters, as
separate state permits may be required for collection/harvest in state waters.
Fishermen with a shark research fishery permit should report their commercial catch in the appropriate logbook.

Page 4 of 5

FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION
Atlantic Shark Research Fishery Contact Information
Please submit any Shark Research Fishery applications with all required information to:
Delisse Ortiz
NMFS.research.fishery@noaa.gov
For additional Shark Research Fishery Information please contact Delisse Ortiz at 240-681-9037.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTICE: Collection of information through an exempted fishing permit program provides essential information for the
conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Information on distribution and migratory patterns will be used for stock
assessment and in developing international catch sharing agreements. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40
minutes per response. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden to: Delisse Ortiz at Delisse.Ortiz@noaa.gov. Reporting of exempted fishing permit activity is required under the authority of the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act. It is NOAA policy to preserve the confidentiality of information submitted under this reporting requirement, except that NMFS may release
such information in aggregate or summary form, such that individual identifiers are not disclosed (NAO 216-100). Notwithstanding any other provision of the
law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. OMB Control
#0648-0471 Expires 03/31/2021.

Page 5 of 5