Tilefish News: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Recreational Tilefish Anglers: Learn How to Obtain a Permit and Report Your Catch

Recreational tilefish anglers may soon be subject to new permitting and reporting requirements. Under  proposed regulations published by NOAA Fisheries, private recreational vessels (including for-hire operators using their vessels for non-charter, recreational trips) would be required to obtain a federal vessel permit to target or retain golden or blueline tilefish north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. These vessel operators would also be required to submit vessel trip reports (VTRs) electronically within 24 hours of returning to port for trips where tilefish were targeted or retained. For more information about the proposed requirements, check out our Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting FAQs.

NOAA Fisheries is encouraging anglers not already using another electronic VTR system to utilize NOAA Fish Online, which is available through a mobile app or a web-based portal. Other systems that may be suitable for recreational anglers include SAFIS eTrips/mobile and SAFIS eTrips Online. You can access information about approved applications and other aspects of electronic reporting on the NOAA Fisheries website.

April 28 Webinar on Proposed Permitting and Electronic Reporting Requirements

New to Electronic Reporting? Want to Learn More? Join an Informational Webinar!

Tuesday, April 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

https://www.mafmc.org/council-events/2020/tilefish-rec-reporting-webinar

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar on Tuesday, April 28 to provide information on obtaining recreational tilefish permits and options available to recreational tilefish anglers for electronically submitting VTRs. During the webinar, staff from the Mid-Atlantic Council and NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Office will cover the following topics, with opportunities for Q&A after each:

• • Overview of the proposed action
  • Step-by-step demonstration of how to obtain a permit
  • Demonstration of the NOAA/GARFO Fish Online application for submitting reports

Webinar connection instructions are available  here. Please note that in order to participate (i.e. ask questions), you will need to connect your audio via telephone. The webinar will be recorded and made available on the Council’s website for later viewing.

Contact: Please direct any questions to Matt Seeley, [email protected], (302) 526-5262.