How to Start a Fishing Business with Our Forms?

Is it time for a career change? Are you tired of toiling away with paperwork in an office, mired in the 9 to 5 rat race? If so, maybe you need a significant shakeup where you get to spend your work days out on the water. If you have a passion for angling, starting your own commercial fishing business may be just the maneuver for you. As a cornerstone of the global economy, commercial fishing can be quite lucrative, in addition to being professionally fulfilling. In the United States alone, commercial fishing creates nearly two million jobs annually. There are also more than $200 billion in annual sales from commercial and industrial fishing. As there is an ever-present demand for fresh seafood on a global scale, you will not need to worry about job security if you are good at what you do. If you are wondering how to start a fishing business so that you can cash in on this major industry, we have the answers you need.

So, where do you start? Well, you are going to need a boat, and not just any vessel will do. You will need to make sure that you purchase a boat that is well-equipped for the rigors of commercial fishing. That means having a fully-stocked first aid kit and safety gear, plus a galley in the event that you are out at sea for days at a time. You may also want to hire a crew of seasoned commercial fishermen who know the waters you will be casting your lines in. Finally, you need to figure out what you are looking to catch, as well as how you will catch it. This will largely depend on your region, with some influence from market demands, and you will also want to make sure that you have the right state or federal fishing permits.

How to Start a Fishing Business: Getting Your Permits

While you may be drawn to commercial fishing precisely because of the lack of paperwork involved, there are some bureaucratic matters to attend to. Maintaining current commercial fishing permits is a must for your business, and the licenses you need will vary on what you are fishing for and where you are dropping your nets. State waters, which are anything inland plus the area from shore to three nautical miles out, will have their own permits. You can obtain these by working with a private service such as ours, or by reaching out to your local Department of Fish and Wildlife (or a similarly named agency).

To fish on federal waters–this is the area from three to 200 nautical miles out from land–you will need to obtain the proper fishing licenses from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NOAA issues its permits by region, and they offer a number of different species-specific licenses.

Work with Us Today

At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we have all the online forms you need to apply for state and federal fishing permits. We also utilize an SSL-encrypted web portal for the secure processing of your information. To learn more, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us by email or phone today.