Find the Right Commercial Fishing Permit in Massachusetts For You

If you are looking for a commercial fishing permit in Massachusetts, you will need to follow a few steps and take a look through a few different categories. Let’s take a look at these.

Commercial Fishing Permit in Massachusetts

When it comes to commercial fishing in Massachusetts, you need to make sure that you are properly documented. Here are the three categories of commercial fishing permit in Massachusetts.

• Boat Permit – This permit allows you to take, land, and sell fish to a licensed dealer. The permit may be endorsed for shellfish and covers everyone aboard the vessel, but you may not take lobster.
• Individual Permit – This allows you (and only you) to take, land, and sell fish to a licensed dealer. The permit may be endorsed for shellfish, but you may not take lobster. 
• Rod & Reel Permit – This allows you (and only you) to use a rod & reel to catch and sell finfish to a licensed dealer. Note that this permit does not cover the use of other types of gear. 

Lobster and Shellfish Permits

Of course, the permits highlighted above are specifically for fishing, with the additional option for shellfish available. If you wish to apply for a commercial fishing permit in Massachusetts that covers lobsters and other kinds of shellfish, you will need to get one of these:

• Coastal Lobster Permit – This allows you to take, land, and sell lobsters that you harvested from Massachusetts’ coastal waters, but only to a licensed dealer. You may set up to 800 lobster pots per vessel in state waters. Note that the permit may be endorsed to take and sell shellfish and finfish, and that, for scuba divers, only the licensee is covered.
• Offshore Lobster Permit – This allows you to land and sell lobsters that you harvested outside Massachusetts’ coastal waters to a licensed dealer, as long as it’s in accordance with a federal lobster permit. The permit may be endorsed to take and sell shellfish and finfish.
• Seasonal Lobster Permit – This allows full-time students-only, ages 12 and older, to take and sell lobsters to a permitted dealer during the summer (June 15 to September 15) You may use at most 25 pots, and this permit does not allow diving nor selling fish and/or shellfish.
• Shellfish Permit – This allows you to take, land, and sell shellfish and seaworms to a licensed dealer. For this, you must also have a town permit and a shellfish ID card issued by the Division of Marine Fisheries.

Submit Applications for Fishing Permits

Given all the different kinds of permits, licenses, and stamps available for both residents and non-residents, it’s understandable that the application process can get confusing or complicated. Don’t worry, though, because that’s what the Federal Commercial Fishing Permits Center is here for. Our team can help you with any application process so that you can easily submit it to the corresponding authorities and receive the permit that you need. For more information about this process, or to inquire about any of the applications, feel free to reach out to us via phone or email. We are here to make it all easier for you.