It Can Refer to Commercial, Recreational, or Subsistence Fishing, Jobs, Seasons, and Laws
In the context of permits, licensing, and commercial fishing laws, “fishery” holds multiple meanings.
It can describe the occupation or industry of catching fish. However, it can also mean the business operations related to harvesting fish or the geographic area of the ocean where fish are caught.
It’s possible that it could even include the specific season during which fishing takes place.
“Fishery” can refer to commercial fishing, yes, but also recreational or even subsistence fishing, too.
At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we make it easier for you to access the permits and licenses required to operate within the industry.
Use this link for our federal fishing permits.
We also offer access to state permits and licenses as well.
Support With State and Federal Fishing Permits
All of our forms are safeguarded with SSL encryption and designed for easy use across any device. Furthermore, our services extend beyond individual states or regions. At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, you’ll find permits and licenses tailored to fishing operations across the United States.
The following regulations may apply to your fishing activities:
.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1992 AMENDMENTS Pub. L. 102–587, title III, §3001, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5059, provided that: ‘‘This title [enacting subchapter V of this chapter, amending sections 1362, 1372, 1379, and 1382 of this title and section 183c of Title 46, Appendix, Shipping, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1421 and 1421a of this title] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Act’.’’ Pub. L. 102–523, §1, Oct. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 3425, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting subchapter IV of this chapter and amending sections 952, 953, 973r, and 1362 of this title] may be cited as the ‘International Dolphin Conservation Act of 1992’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1988 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 100–711, §1, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4755, provided: ‘‘That this Act [enacting sections 1383a and 1383b of this title, amending sections 1166, 1371, 1372, 1374, 1378 to 1380, 1384, 1402, and 1407 of this title and section 1978 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, enacting provisions set out as a note under this section, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1384 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1988’.’’ SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 92–522, §1, Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1027, provided in part that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972’.’’ REGULATIONS Pub. L. 103–238, §15(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 559, provided that: ‘‘Except as provided otherwise in this Act [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note above], or the amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) made by this Act, the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, shall, after notice and opportunity for public comment, promulgate regulations to implement this Act and the amendments made by this Act by January 1, 1995.’’ PURPOSES AND FINDINGS Pub. L. 105–42, §2, Aug. 15, 1997, 111 Stat. 1122, provided that: ‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act [see Short Title of 1997 Amendment note above] are— ‘‘(1) to give effect to the Declaration of Panama, signed October 4, 1995, by the Governments of Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Spain, the United States of America, Vanuatu, and Venezuela, including the establishment of the International Dolphin Conservation Program, relating to the protection of dolphins and other species, and the conservation and management of tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean; ‘‘(2) to recognize that nations fishing for tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have achieved significant reductions in dolphin mortality associated with that fishery; and ‘‘(3) to eliminate the ban on imports of tuna from those nations that are in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program. ‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— ‘‘(1) the nations that fish for tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have achieved significant reductions in dolphin mortality associated with the purse seine fishery from hundreds of thousands annually to fewer than 5,000 annually; ‘‘(2) the provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.] that impose a ban on imports from nations that fish for tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have served as an incentive to reduce dolphin mortalities; ‘‘(3) tuna canners and processors of the United States have led the canning and processing industry in promoting a dolphin-safe tuna market; and ‘‘(4) 12 signatory nations to the Declaration of Panama, including the United States, agreed under that Declaration to require that the total annual dolphin mortality in the purse seine fishery for yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean not exceed 5,000 animals, with the objective of progressively reducing dolphin mortality to a level approaching zero through the setting of annual limits and with the goal of eliminating dolphin mortality.’’ RELATIONSHIP OF MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1994 TO OTHER LAW Pub. L. 103–238, §2(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 532, provided that: ‘‘Except as otherwise expressly provided, nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note above] is intended to amend, repeal, or otherwise affect any other provision of law.’’ INDIAN TREATY RIGHTS; ALASKA NATIVE SUBSISTENCE Pub. L. 103–238, §14, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 558, provided that: ‘‘Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1994 Amendment note above], including any amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.] made by this Act— ‘‘(1) alters or is intended to alter any treaty between the United States and one or more Indian tribes; or ‘‘(2) affects or otherwise modifies the provisions of section 101(b) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1371(b)), except as specifically provided in the amendment made by section 4(b) of this Act [amending section 1371 of this title].’’ STUDY ON EFFECTS OF DOLPHIN FEEDING Pub. L. 102–567, title III, §306, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4284, directed Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on the effects of § 1362 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION Page 1614 feeding of noncaptive dolphins by human beings, such study to be designed to detect any behavior or diet modification resulting from this feeding and to identify the effects, if any, of these modifications on the health and well-being of the dolphins, directed Secretary to consult with National Academy of Sciences and Marine Mammal Commission in design and conduct of the study, and directed Secretary, within 18 months after Oct. 29, 1992, to submit to Congress a report on results of the study. STUDY ON MORTALITY OF ATLANTIC DOLPHIN Pub. L. 100–711, §7, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4771, directed Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study regarding east coast epidemic during 1987 and 1988 which caused substantial mortality within North Atlantic coastal population of Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin, such study to examine (1) cause or causes of epidemic, (2) effect of epidemic on coastal and offshore populations of Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin, (3) extent to which pollution may have contributed to epidemic, (4) whether other species and populations of marine mammals were affected by those factors which contributed to epidemic, and (5) any other matters pertaining to causes and effects of epidemic, with Secretary to submit on or before Jan. 1, 1989, to Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives a plan for conducting the study. INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSION TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF CETACEAN LIFE Pub. L. 95–426, title VI, §602, Oct. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 985, provided that: ‘‘It is the sense of the Congress that the President should convey to all countries having an interest in cetacean sea life the serious concern of the Congress regarding the continuing destruction of these marine mammals (highlighted by the recent slaughter of dolphins in the Sea of Japan by Japanese fishermen) and should encourage such countries— ‘‘(1) to join in international discussions with other such countries in order to advance general understanding of cetacean life and thereby facilitate an effective use of the living marine resources of the world which does not jeopardize the natural balance of the aquatic environment; ‘‘(2) to participate in an exchange of information with the National Marine Fisheries Service of the United States Department of Commerce, including cooperation in studies of— ‘‘(A) the impact of cetaceans on ecologically related human foodstuffs, and ‘‘(B) alternative methods of dealing with cetacean problems as they occur; ‘‘(3) to cooperate in establishing an international cetacean commission to advance understanding of cetacean life and to insure the effective conservation and protection of cetaceans on a global scale; and ‘‘(4) to adopt comprehensive marine mammal protection legislation.’’ § 1362. Definitions For the purposes of this chapter— (1) The term ‘‘depletion’’ or ‘‘depleted’’ means any case in which— (A) the Secretary, after consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission and the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals established under subchapter III of this chapter, determines that a species or population stock is below its optimum sustainable population; (B) a State, to which authority for the conservation and management of a species or population stock is transferred under section 1379 of this title, determines that such species or stock is below its optimum sustainable population; or (C) a species or population stock is listed as an endangered species or a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 [16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.]. (2) The terms ‘‘conservation’’ and ‘‘management’’ mean the collection and application of biological information for the purposes of increasing and maintaining the number of animals within species and populations of marine mammals at their optimum sustainable population. Such terms include the entire scope of activities that constitute a modern scientific resource program, including, but not limited to, research, census, law enforcement, and habitat acquisition and improvement. Also included within these terms, when and where appropriate, is the periodic or total protection of species or populations as well as regulated taking. (3) The term ‘‘district court of the United States’’ includes the District Court of Guam, District Court of the Virgin Islands, District Court of Puerto Rico, District Court of the Canal Zone, and, in the case of American Samoa and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the District Court of the United States for the District of Hawaii. (4) The term ‘‘humane’’ in the context of the taking of a marine mammal means that method of taking which involves the least possible degree of pain and suffering practicable to the mammal involved. (5) The term ‘‘intermediary nation’’ means a nation that exports yellowfin tuna or yellowfin tuna products to the United States and that imports yellowfin tuna or yellowfin tuna products that are subject to a direct ban on importation into the United States pursuant to section 1371(a)(2)(B) of this title. (6) The term ‘‘marine mammal’’ means any mammal which (A) is morphologically adapted to the marine environment (including sea otters and members of the orders Sirenia, Pinnipedia and Cetacea), or (B) primarily inhabits the marine environment (such as the polar bear); and, for the purposes of this chapter, includes any part of any such marine mammal, including its raw, dressed, or dyed fur or skin. (7) The term ‘‘marine mammal product’’ means any item of merchandise which consists, or is composed in whole or in part, of any marine mammal. (8) The term ‘‘moratorium’’ means a complete cessation of the taking of marine mammals and a complete ban on the importation into the United States of marine mammals and marine mammal products, except as provided in this chapter. (9) The term ‘‘optimum sustainable population’’ means, with respect to any population stock, the number of animals which will result in the maximum productivity of the population or the species, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the habitat and the health of the ecosystem of which they form a constituent element. (10) The term ‘‘person’’ includes (A) any private person or entity, and (B) any officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal Government, of any State or politi-