UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

33 East Quay Road
Key West, FL 33040

November 1, 2018

Dear Permit Holder:

Enclosed is permit #FKNMS-2018-300 to collect lionfish from within the Sanctuary Preservation
Areas (SPAs) of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or sanctuary).

All activities must be conducted according to the enclosed permit. You are responsible for
understanding all terms, conditions and reporting requirements of this permit.

Please note the following:

 This permit authorizes you to capture and remove invasive Indo-Pacific red lionfish only from
within the SPAs. No other organisms or materials, living or dead, may be removed from any
SPA.
 You may only use hand nets to remove invasive lionfish from within the SPAs. No pole spears,
spear guns, or any other fishing gear types are allowed.
 This permit is valid only after successfully completing a lionfish training workshop and is for
the workshop participant only; no other persons are allowed to fish for lionfish in the SPAs
under this permit.
 No collections of any other kind are authorized by this permit, from any location.
 You must carry this permit with you at all times when conducting these activities.

If you have any questions, please contact Joanne Delaney, Resource Protection and Permit
Coordinator, at Joanne.Delaney@noaa.gov or (305) 809-4714. Thank you for your continued
cooperation with FKNMS.

Sincerely,

Sarah Fangman
Superintendent

Enclosure
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

33 East Quay Road
Key West, FL 33040

FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

PERMIT TO CAPTURE AND REMOVE INVASIVE INDO-PACIFIC RED LIONFISH
FROM SANCTUARY PRESERVATION AREAS

Permit Number: FKNMS-2018-300

Effective Date: November 1, 2018
Expiration Date: October 31, 2020
______________________________________________________________________________

This permit is issued for activities in accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act
(NMSA), 16 USC §§ 1431 et seq., and regulations thereunder (15 CFR Part 922). All activities
must be conducted in accordance with those regulations and law. No activity prohibited in 15 CFR
Part 922 is allowed except as specified in the activity description below.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this permit, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) hereby authorizes the
holder of this permit to conduct activities within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
(FKNMS or sanctuary) to assist in sanctuary management. All activities must be conducted in
accordance with this permit.

Permitted Activity Description:

The following activities are authorized by this permit:

1. Capture and removal of invasive Indo-Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans and P. miles,
using hand nets.

2. Temporary placement of fishing gear on the sea floor.

No further activities prohibited by sanctuary regulations are allowed.

Permitted Activity Location:

The permitted activity is allowed within all 18 Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs). See attached
map.

Special Terms and Conditions:

1. No collecting is allowed within any Special Use (Research Only) Area, Western Sambo
Ecological Reserve, or Tortugas Ecological Reserve.

2. With the exception of collecting invasive Indo-Pacific red lionfish, no collecting of

any kind is allowed within the SPAs.
Permit #FKNMS-2018-300
Page 2 of 3

3. Lionfish capture within the SPAs may only be conducted using hand nets. No pole spears,
spear guns, or any other fishing gear are authorized.

4. This permit is valid only after successfully completing a lionfish training workshop and is
valid for the workshop participant only. No other persons are allowed to fish for lionfish
in the SPAs under this permit.

5. The permit holder must comply with existing state and federal fishing regulations while
capturing lionfish. In state waters:
a. A recreational fishing license is not required for recreational fishers targeting lionfish
while using a pole spear, a Hawaiian Sling, a handheld net or any spearing device that
is specifically designed and marketed exclusively for lionfish.
 NOTE: The only gear type allowed for use in the SPAs under this permit is
handheld net.
b. There is no recreational or commercial harvest bag limit for lionfish.
c. A recreational fishing license (unless exempt) is required for all other methods of
harvesting lionfish including hook and line.
d. The sale of commercial harvest of lionfish requires a saltwater products license.
e. See http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lionfish/ or contact the FWC
Division of Marine Fisheries Management at (850) 487-0554 for more information on
state regulations for lionfish.

6. The permit holder must dispose of all captured lionfish using practices described in the
Lionfish Response Training, which include but are not limited to euthanizing the specimen,
then: puncturing swim bladder and disposing in deep water outside SPAs or areas of high
public traffic; removing spines and placing in a puncture-proof container (i.e., jar or can)
and discarding in secure trash bin; consuming fish after safe removal and disposal of
spines; grinding carcass and spines for use as chum; using carcass as bait in lobster or crab
traps; or deposition of fish to REEF (REEF.org).

7. The permit holder must report all lionfish captures from within the SPAs to FKNMS
monthly using the attached reporting form. A fillable Excel version of the form is also
available to facilitate data entry; contact Joanne.Delaney@noaa.gov for the Excel form.

General Terms and Conditions:

1. This permit may only be amended by the ONMS. The permit holder may not change or
amend any part of this permit at any time.

2. The permit holder is responsible for any violation of this permit, the NMSA, and sanctuary
regulations for activities conducted under, or in conjunction with, this permit.

3. This permit is non-transferable and must be carried by the permit holder at all times while
engaging in any activity authorized by this permit.
Permit #FKNMS-2018-300
Page 3 of 3

4. This permit may be suspended, revoked, or modified for violation of the terms and
conditions of this permit, the regulations at 15 CFR Part 922, the NMSA, or for other good
cause. Such action will be communicated in writing to the permit holder, and will set forth
the reason(s) for the action taken.
5. This permit may be suspended, revoked or modified if requirements from previous ONMS
permits or authorizations issued to the permit holder are not fulfilled by their due date.
6. Permit applications for any future activities in the sanctuary or any other sanctuary in the
system by the permit holder might not be considered until all requirements from this permit
are fulfilled.
7. This permit does not authorize the conduct of any activity prohibited by 15 CFR Part 922,
other than those specifically described in the “Permitted Activity Description” section of
this permit. If the permit holder conducts, or causes to be conducted, any activity in the
sanctuary not in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this permit, or who
otherwise violates such terms and conditions, the permit holder may be subject to civil
penalties, forfeiture, costs, and all other remedies under the NMSA and its implementing
regulations at 15 CFR Part 922.
8. Any publications and/or reports resulting from activities conducted under the authority of
this permit must include the notation that the activity was conducted under National Marine
Sanctuary Permit FKNMS-2018-300 and be sent to the letterhead address.
9. This permit does not relieve the permit holder of responsibility to comply with all other
federal, state and local laws and regulations, and this permit is not valid until all other
necessary permits, authorizations, and approvals are obtained. Particularly, this permit
does not allow disturbance of marine mammals or seabirds protected under provisions of
the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, or Migratory Bird Treaty
Act. Authorization for incidental or direct harassment of species protected by these acts
must be secured from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries,
depending upon the species affected.
10. The permit holder shall indemnify and hold harmless the Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries, NOAA, the Department of Commerce and the United States for and against
any claims arising from the conduct of any permitted activities.
11. Any question of interpretation of any term or condition of this permit will be resolved by
NOAA.

November 1, 2018
Sarah Fangman Date
Superintendent
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
2 documents attached.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Boundary
Sanctuary Preservation Areas
®
Carysfort
The Elbow
Dry Rocks
Grecian Rocks
French Reef
Molasses Reef
Conch Reef
Davis Reef
Hen and Chickens
Cheeca Rocks
Alligator Reef
Coffins Patch
Sombrero Reef
Looe Key Newfound Harbor
Sand Key
Rock Key
Eastern Dry Rocks
Map created by Scott Donahue 10/19/09
40 0 40 80
Miles
This permit only allows you to capture lionfish in the
18 Sanctuary Preservation Areas shown in green on this map.
This form is available as a
fillable Excel sheet, contact FKNMS Lionfish Permit Report Form
Joanne.Delaney@noaa.gov

USE THIS LOG FORM TO RECORD ALL LIONFISH CAUGHT AND REMOVED FROM ANY SANCTUARY PRESERVATION AREA (SPA)*
PLEASE SUBMIT THIS FORM ON THE 15th OF EVERY MONTH FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S LIONFISH CATCHES
NAME: Phone: *NOTE: This permit allows use of hand nets only
to remove lionfish from the SPAs
Email: Affiliation (dive shop,
etc.)
DATE SPA NAME # lionfish caught # LIONFISH SEEN DEPTH BOTTOM TIME COMMENTS or OBSERVATIONS if any
mm/dd/yy (use code) # small #medium # large but not removed approx. ft. approx. min. (If no lionfish were seen during a SPA dive, please
<6 in 6-12 in >12in note that here)

Submit collection report forms to: FKNMSpermits@noaa.gov

FKNMS lionfish permit report form 10/18 OMB Approval #0648-0141; expires 7/31/2021
 This form is available as a
fillable Excel sheet, contact FKNMS Lionfish Permit Report Form
Joanne.Delaney@noaa.gov
INSTRUCTIONS
th
PLEASE SUBMIT this form to FKNMSpermits@noaa.gov or (305) 853-0877 FAX on the 15 of every month for the previous month’s
lionfish catches.
If no lionfish were seen during a SPA dive, please note in the Comments/Observations column. If no catch of lionfish from the FKNMS
Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs) was made during the reporting period, please note on the permit report form and submit per above.
Failure to submit a collection report form by the due date may result in the denial of permit for the next permit period.

QUESTIONS? Contact Joanne Delaney, FKNMS Permit Coordinator

Joanne.Delaney@noaa.gov
(305) 809-4714

SPA NAME CODE

Carysfort/South Carysfort CAR
The Elbow ELB
Dry Rocks KYL
Grecian Rocks GDR
French Reef FRE
Molasses Reef MOL
Conch Reef CON
Hen and Chickens HNC
Davis Reef DAV
Cheeca Rocks CHE
Alligator Reef ALL
Coffins Patch COF
Sombrero Key SOM
Newfound Harbor Key NHK
Looe Key LKS
Eastern Dry Rocks EDR
Rock Key RKK
Sand Key SAN

FKNMS lionfish permit report form 10/18 OMB Approval #0648-0141; expires 7/31/2021