A Guide on Commercial Fishing Permit Renewal

As a business owner, there are a number of important matters that you need to stay on top of. Even in commercial fishing, which is unique from other businesses in many ways, there are day-to-day management tasks that need to be completed. You need to make sure that your docking fees are paid and your crew’s payroll is met. You may have vendors to deal with or maintenance matters for your boat that need to be addressed. There are also some paperwork concerns on land that you will have to face from time to time. One such issue is navigating the commercial fishing permit renewal process.

When you started your commercial fishing outfit, you probably did a fair amount of research. You mapped out where you would be fishing, what you would be catching, and how much you would be selling it for. You also went through the process of determining which specific commercial fishing permits your business would require. Whether they are issued by your state or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), permits often come with expiration dates and will need to be renewed on occasion. Read on to learn more about this process as well as how you can renew your permits online.

When Is It Time for Commercial Fishing Permit Renewal?

As you likely know, fishing can be a seasonal activity. Different types of fish are easier to catch at different times of the year, and timing out your fishing strategy is fundamental to the success of your business. Every year, you will need to renew your fishing permits to ensure that you are operating in compliance with state and federal laws. This is true nearly across the board, though you may wish to take a look at the fine print of your permits to know the exact expiration dates.

If you have somehow found yourself in a situation where a permit is near its expiration point but you have not yet submitted a renewal request, there is no need to panic. In many cases, you can obtain a 30-day temporary permit from either the NOAA or your state’s agency that will allow you to continue fishing in the interim while your renewal request is being processed.

How Do You Complete Your Renewal? With Our Help!

At the start of every new year, you should take stock of all of the permits you have and use a calendar to map out when they will expire. Some opt to use Microsoft Excel for this, others prefer a plain old calendar. How you go about this is up to you, but staying organized can be key.

When it is nearing your time for a renewal, you will want to source the appropriate state or NOAA forms, complete them in ink, and get them in the mail as soon as possible. Or, you can save a considerable amount of time by working with us at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center.

We have a wide array of easy-to-fill web forms for commercial fishing permits in all NOAA regions. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact one of our helpful customer service agents by phone or email today.