Commercial Fishing Permits Easily Available for Every State in the United States

Are you curious about the possibility of making a living from commercial fishing? If that is the case, you should get ready to put in a lot of effort. Working in commercial and industrial fishing can be an extremely hazardous and taxing occupation. Even so, if the idea of making the ocean your place of business is appealing enough to you, there are a few logistical details you need to iron out before you begin peddling your wares to customers. The most important thing for you to do is make sure you have all of the necessary commercial fishing permits.

Commercial fishing is an essential component of the economies of the United States and the entire world. Since it is worth billions of dollars, this industry is highly regulated as a safety precaution. To run your fishing business legally, you will need to meet the Coast Guard’s requirements for your boat while also having the right fishing permits (more below).

How to Get Your Business in Commercial Fishing Off the Ground

In order to have a successful and lucrative business, you will need to build the necessary infrastructure before you can begin lowering your nets. A boat is the most important piece of equipment for running a commercial fishing business successfully. If you currently own a boat, you will want to ensure that it is rigged with all of the appropriate equipment before taking it out on the water. If you are in the market for a new boat, one of the most important considerations you should make is whether or not the vessel can withstand the rigorous conditions of commercial fishing.

The next crucial step is to get together all of the essential equipment that you will need. This goes well beyond fishing poles and nets but also includes clothing that can be worn in any weather and safety equipment, such as a first-aid kit and an abundant supply of life jackets.

Getting the Right Team

It’s also likely that you’ll require the assistance of a team that you can hire. Make sure that the fishermen you bring on board have the required amount of experience in order to successfully navigate the waters. You can ask any business owner, and they will tell you that one of the most challenging aspects of their job is trying to find qualified employees, so you will want to be particularly thoughtful in this regard.

Considerations to Make Regarding the Fishing Licenses Your Company Will Require

There is a diverse selection of commercial and industrial fishing permits available, much like there is a wide variety of fish to be found in the ocean. The permits that your company will need to operate are going to be determined by two factors: 1. What kind of fish you are catching? and 2. The location of the fishing mission. 

It is highly likely that you will want to limit your permit search based on your geographic location. First things first, you need to decide whether you will be fishing in state waters or federal waters. Generally speaking, federal waters are considered to be the area that extends three to 200 nautical miles from shore. The majority of the area that lies between 0 and 3 nautical miles off the coast is considered to be state waters. The requirements for obtaining permits will vary from state to state, and it is likely that you will also need to obtain permits at the federal level. Because you have to go where the fish are biting, it is generally a good idea to have all of your bases covered, as this is a requirement.

State fishing licenses will be issued by local state agencies, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the agency responsible for doling out federal fishing licenses. The NOAA organizes its permits according to geographic region. To fish in Alaska, the Atlantic Ocean, the South, the Pacific Coast, and the Pacific Islands, you need a different license for each area.

There are also permits that are species-specific for use within these regions. For instance, there is a permit to fish for halibut in Alaska, and there are also permits that are specific to fishing for shellfish in the Southeast. You can work directly with the NOAA to get the necessary permits, or you can save time by using a private service, like the one we offer.

Obtain the Necessary Permits for Commercial Fishing Right Away!

It is possible that with each new season, you will be required to acquire a variety of different permits depending on the nature and scale of your business. If you could take care of everything online, why would you put yourself through the hassle of filling out paperwork and sending it to the NOAA’s offices? We at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center designed our company with the hard-working fisherman in mind when we created it. We are aware that time spent on paperwork means time spent on land, which may result in a loss of income for you and the members of your crew.

A User-Friendly Portal

As you navigate through our website, you’ll see that we have individualized sections for each of the NOAA regions. After you have located and finished filling out your application, it will be processed through our SSL-encrypted web portal. This will ensure that your personal information is transmitted securely. Get in touch with a member of our customer service team by sending them an email or giving them a call today if you have any questions about the fishing permit applications we offer.