**This form is only for Gulf of Mexico Federally Permitted Charter/Headboat Vessels**

Form Based on: OMB Control No. 0648-0770 | Approval Expires 07/31/2023

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requires a vessel operator with a Gulf of Mexico federal charter/headboat permit for reef fish or coastal migratory pelagic fish to declare (hail-out) the type of trip prior to departure. The declaration must include the expected time of return and landing location. All offloads of fish from the vessel must occur at a NMFS approved landing location. The NMFS must approve a landing location before it can be used, to ensure that the site exists and to enter it into the database.

A landing location must have a street address, or global positioning system (GPS) coordinates for an identifiable geographic location, if no street address exists.  To check if the NMFS has already approved a landing location, visit https://noaa-sero.s3.amazonaws.com/drop-files/FOIA/vmsforhirelandinglocations.html.

New landing location approval requests must be submitted using this form.