Amid the continuing federal government shutdown, the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region permits office began notifying vessel owners and dealers Oct. 22 permit that some permits will remain valid beyond their stated expiration date.
As allowed under existing rules, “permits for which complete renewal applications are submitted to the Southeast Region Permits Office before the expiration date will be considered valid until NOAA Fisheries makes a final determination on the renewal application once the permits office reopens,” according to the agency.
Due to the government shutdown, the permit system at the Southeast Regional Office in St. Petersburg, Fla., currently unable to process permit applications. In some cases permit holders applied for renewal on time but have not yet received them.
Pending Congressional action on the shutdown, permits that are expired but have “timely and complete renewal applications pending” will remain valid beyond their expiration date until NOAA Fisheries makes a final decision on the application when the permits office reopens.
The agency says its notification applies to all Gulf, South Atlantic, and Highly Migratory Species vessel permits and dealer permits – but not to vessel permit transfers, or requests for new permits.
