Who must use a Hired Master to fish their crab IFQ permit(s)?
• All non-individual entities (corporations, partnerships, crab harvesting cooperatives, etc.) that hold crab IFQ permits must use NMFS-authorized Hired Masters to fish their IFQ permits. Even if you are a shareholder, partner, or member of the IFQ permit holder, the IFQ permit holder must formally obtain authorization from NMFS to use that shareholder, partner, or member as its Hired Master. • Any IFQ assigned to a crab harvesting cooperatives must be fished by a Hired Master authorized for the cooperatives IFQ permits and vessels.
