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Buy a recreational lobster permit

You must have a recreational lobster permit to catch lobster in Massachusetts.
If you order a permit online or in person, you'll receive it the same day.

Division of Marine Fisheries

The Details of Buy a recreational lobster permit

What you need for Buy a recreational lobster permit

  • To apply for a recreational lobster permit, you'll need to provide your personal information; including name, date of birth, residency status, and address.
  • If you're ordering online, you'll need a debit or credit card.
  • If you're a non-resident, you must:
    • temporarily live in a coastal Massachusetts municipality 
    • own more than $5,000 in Massachusetts real estate.
  • Non-US citizens must provide their alien registration card.

Fees for Buy a recreational lobster permit

Name Fee Unit
Recreational Lobster Permit (resident) $55 per person
Recreational Lobster Permit (non-resident) $75 per person

How to buy Buy a recreational lobster permit

Download the paper application to apply for or renew a recreational lobster permit. Mail completed applications with a check, made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to:

        Division of Marine Fisheries
        836 S. Rodney French Blvd. 
        New Bedford, MA 02744

or 

Division of Marine Fisheries
30 Emerson Avenue 
Gloucester, MA 01930

Non-residents need the second page of the application completed and notarized.

You can apply for or renew your permit in person at our Gloucester and New Bedford offices. Our Gloucester and New Bedford offices only accept checks or money orders. Those offices are open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Non-residents need the second page of the application completed and notarized.

Click here to log into MassFishHunt to buy your permit. Please contact us at marine.fish@mass.gov if you have any questions. 

More info for Buy a recreational lobster permit

You always need to have a version of your current recreational lobster permit with you when lobstering in Massachusetts.

Downloads for Buy a recreational lobster permit

Contact for Buy a recreational lobster permit

Address
Gloucester Field Office
30 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930
Online
DMF Staff Directory View 
Fax
(617) 727-3337
Address
836 S Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02744
Online
DMF Staff Directory View 
Fax
(508) 990-0449

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