A Guide on New York Commercial Fishing Permits

New York is a focal point for global commerce. From Wall Street to Madison Avenue, the Empire State claims the headquarters of a lot of multinational corporations. With such a long, storied history of facilitating business, New York plays host to all sorts of industries. One of the oldest lines of work in this area, believe it or not, is commercial fishing. While you may not associate this state with seafood, the truth is that many commercial and industrial fishing operations are based on the harbors and docks of New York. If you are an enterprising type and interested in starting your own fishing business, you should get to know the process of obtaining New York commercial fishing permits.

Whether you are planning to fish Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, or the Atlantic Ocean, you are going to need the proper licenses and endorsements to operate within the confines of the law. You should think of maintaining valid licenses as a cornerstone to the functionality of your commercial fishing business. Just as you would not leave the dock without life jackets or fuel in the engine, you should not drop a line without the right permit onboard.

New York Commercial Fishing Permits for State Waters

Each state has its own rules and requirements when it comes to commercial fishing. There are also individual state agencies tasked with enforcing these rules. In New York, this responsibility is carried out by the Department of Environmental Conservation. This agency, as its name would suggest, fulfills the mission of protecting New York’s fisheries, which have been supporting livelihoods in the area for hundreds of years.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation issues a wide variety of different species-specific permits, as well as individual licenses for different modes of fishing. This is in contrast to some states, which merely offer a catch-all commercial fishing license. In New York, you obtain permits for commercial lobster, horseshoe crab, shellfish, blue mussels, ocean quahog, and more. There are also specific permits for fishing on the Hudson River, which lines New York City.

Obtaining NOAA Fishing Permits for New York

Commercial fishing in New York can also bring you out into federal waters. This is typically the area from three to 200 nautical miles from shore. Federal waters are governed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For the purposes of fishing in New York, you will likely need permits from the NOAA’s New England region.

The NOAA’s permits and licenses are generally tailored to specific species. For example, you can get licenses for American lobster, squid, scup, mackerel, monkfish, and more. Most commercial fishing outfits will obtain permits for both state and federal waters, as you generally need to go wherever the fish are biting.

Get Your New York Permits Online

You can fill out easy-to-read online applications for all of the New York fishing permits you need on our website. We also utilize an SSL-encrypted web portal, so you can rest easy knowing your details are transferred safely. To learn more, contact us by phone or email today.