Directed Open Access Groundfish Permits

Commercial fishing permits for vessels using open access gear targeting groundfish under the groundfish specifications (guidelines, quotas. etc.) must have a directed open access groundfish (DOAG) permit.

Individuals that hold a limited entry groundfish permit do not need a directed open access groundfish permit to fish their limited entry permit.

Open access gear is defined in regulations at 50 CFR 660.11.

Fishery Type: Open Access

Harvest Type: Commercial

Species Covered: Groundfish

Apply Online: Yes

Logbook Requirement: Yes

Transferable: No

Expiration Date: Permits issued in 2025 will expire in 2026 on the last day of the permit holders’ birth month. Beginning in 2026, permits are valid for up to one year and again will expire on the last day of the permit holders’ birth month.

Fishing Area: West Coast EEZ (California, Oregon, Washington)

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS): Yes. As required at 50 CFR 660.14(a)(3), any vessel that uses open access gear to take and retain, or possess groundfish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or land groundfish taken in the EEZ must have a NMFS OLE type-approved mobile transceiver unit.

To Apply

To submit a Directed Open Access Groundfish permit application you will need to access the online permit application system:

If you DO NOT have an account please go to: https://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/create_account

• Use your email address as the username.
• An email will be sent to that email address with a link that will allow you to validate your email address and activate your account by setting a password.
• Once you have created and validated your account, go to: https://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/permitting
• Log in with your email address and the password you set Click the Halibut Permit Applications tile.

If you DO have an account go to: https://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/permitting

• Log in with your email address and the password you set.
• Click the Directed Open Access Groundfish Permit Applications tile.