April 6, 2020 — The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing the way that many people do business—including fishermen. The NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office sent out a bulletin on Friday to remind fishermen that they not only remain fully staffed and operational, but are available to help them get the appropriate permits that they need.
News stories have been circulating about groups of fishermen working together to bring fresh seafood right to consumers. This not only provides a healthy and delicious protein for consumers, but helps local fishermen who are struggling to offload the product. It’s completely legal—with the right paperwork. As the GARFO bulletin explains, a federal permit is required to sell catch directly to consumers. Some states also have additional permit and reporting requirements. But even if a state has waived their requirements for direct sales, “federal regulations still apply to federal permit holders.”