California Commercial Fishing Permits You Need Right Now

Have you been thinking about starting your own commercial fishing business and you do not know where to start? Are you located in California and wondering what paperwork you need to get ready before casting your lines? This article will try to help you with everything you need to know when it comes to California commercial fishing permits.

Introduction to California Commercial Fishing Permits

Fines and penalties for operating a vessel without a commercial fishing permit in California can be harsh. For that reason, it is prudent to stay current with your licenses. Our service will make it easier for you to get every permit you need on the Commercial Fishing Permits Center (CFPC).

The first thing you need to know is that the fishing permits are issued for federal fisheries by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They divide the areas in fishing zones: Alaska, the Atlantic, the South, the West Coast and the Pacific Islands.

The fishing permits and endorsements you need to meet, will vary depending on the region you belong to. California obviously belongs to the West Coast fishing zone. Federal waters include the area from 3 to 200 nautical miles from shore. In that area, getting the right NOAA permits is a must.

What Commercial Fishing Permits can I get in California?

If you are not an amateur on the matter, and have come up with a business plan, you probably already know the types of fish you will try to catch. Tuna, rock crab, dungeness crab, lobster, sardines, ocean salmon, infinite types of groundfish… everything can be found in californian waters. 

However, regardless of the species you are trying to catch, you will probably need a specific permit.

In California (and the West Coast Region) the permits you can get are the following:

• Groundfish Individual Fishing Quota Vessel Account Registration
• Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Ownership Interest
• Groundfish Limited Entry Change of Ownership Vessel Registration
• Pacific Highly Migratory Species Permits
• Groundfish Mothership Cooperative Permit
• Tuna Treaty Permit
• Groundfish Observer Catch Monitor Provider Permit
• Coastal Pelagic Species Limited Entry Permit
• Groundfish Sablefish Ownership Interest

Everything Can Be Processed at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center

Now that you know all the California Commercial Fishing Permits you just need to go back to our home page, select the permit you need and fill the corresponding form with your details. We will take care of the sea of paperwork so you only have to worry about the other sea.