###### ATLANTIC TUNAS and ATLANTIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES CHARTER/HEADBOAT PERMITS -- CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

**Note that commercial vessels are subject to the Commercial Fishing
Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988.** For further information, e.g.,
regarding compliance with required safety equipment, contact the Coast
Guard Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator in your district:

Maine to New York: (617) 223-8315

New Jersey to North Carolina: (757) 398-6554

South Carolina to Florida: (305) 536-5091

Gulf of Mexico: (504) 589-4999

HMS ANGLING (recreational)

All private vessel owners/operators recreationally fishing for and/or
retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas,
sharks, swordfish and billfish) for personal use in the Atlantic Ocean,
including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. Similar to Atlantic Tunas
permits, Atlantic HMS Angling permits cost \$22.00 and will be valid
from the date of issuance through May 31^st^ of the following year.

HMS CHARTER/HEADBOAT (commercial)

Any vessel that carries passengers for hire to fish for Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfish - HMS) must
obtain a permit in the Charter/Headboat category. With regards to
bluefin tuna, Anglers aboard vessels permitted in this category may
collectively fish under either the daily Angling [or]{.underline}
General category limit as applicable on that day. The size category of
the first bluefin tuna retained or possessed will determine the fishing
category of all persons aboard the vessel for that day, and the
applicable retention limits. Anglers aboard Charter/Headboat vessels may
fish only under the Angling category rules on General category
restricted-fishing days. All recreationally-caught bluefin must be
reported within 24 hours of landing to the NMFS automated phone system
(888-872-8862 or through this website) or\--in North Carolina and
Maryland\--to a local reporting station. Authorized gear: rod and reel
(including downriggers), handline, and bandit gear.

ATLATNIC TUNAS GENERAL (commercial)

Vessel owners who harvest Atlantic tunas, including large medium and
giant bluefin tuna, by handgear and plan to sell the tuna must obtain a
General category permit. Vessels in the General category may retain and
sell large medium or giant bluefin tuna, check the website to inquire
about how many per day per vessel. Vessels permitted in the General
category are eligible to sell giant or large medium bluefin tuna.
Authorized gear: rod and reel (including downriggers), harpoon,
handline, and bandit gear.

ATLANTIC TUNAS HARPOON (commercial)

Vessel owners who conduct a commercial harpoon fishery for Atlantic
tunas, including large medium and giant bluefin tuna, must obtain a
permit in the Harpoon category. Vessels permitted in the Harpoon
category may not participate in the General category fishery. Authorized
gear: harpoon.

ATLANTIC TUNAS TRAP (commercial)

Owners of vessels conducting trap operations that may result in the
incidental taking of large medium and giant bluefin tuna must obtain a
Trap category permit. Authorized gear: pound net and fish weir.

ATLANTIC TUNAS LONGLINE (commercial)

Owners of vessels conducting longline operations that may result in the
incidental taking of large medium and giant bluefin tuna must obtain a
Longline category permit. This is a limited access permit category.
Authorized gear: longline.

ATLANTIC TUNAS PURSE SEINE (commercial)

Vessel owners who conduct a commercial purse seine fishery for Atlantic
tunas, including bluefin tuna, must obtain a permit in the Purse Seine
category. This category is closed to new permit applicants. Authorized
gear: purse seine.