What to Know About West Coast Commercial Fishing Permits

Has it always been your dream to make your living in commercial fishing? If so, there is no time like the present to get started. Before you can start catching and selling fish, however, you will have some practical matters to address. For starters, you should make sure you have a boat that is well-equipped for the rigors of commercial fishing, and capable of spending days out at sea. Next, you should determine where you will be conducting your fishing operations. In the U.S., there are a number of coastal fisheries which produce great bounties of seafood, and the west coast is no exception. With the right west coast commercial fishing permits, you can start reeling in fish and turning them into dollars.

The Pacific coastline is long and varied when it comes to the fisheries that are available. California, Oregon, and Washington are all home to commercial fishing hubs, and each state has its own individual permits for accessing fish within its waters. Read on to learn more about the commercial and industrial fishing permits available to west coast fishermen.

California Commercial Fishing Permits

Are you thinking about setting up your fishing business in the Golden State? If so, you will need either a resident or non-resident commercial fishing license via the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. That permit will serve as a baseline, but there are a number of stamps and endorsements that are also available. There are also species-specific permits that can be obtained for crayfish, inland fish, lobster, swordfish, and more.

Oregon Commercial Fishing Permits

Just north of California sits the state of Oregon, which is home to the bustling commercial fishing industry. In order to set up a shop in this state, you will need to apply for a commercial fishing license, which is issued by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. If you are fishing for tuna, you may want to also apply for a tuna landing license or a crab pot buoy number registration, if you will be seeking that species. 

Washington Commercial Fishing Permits

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issues commercial fishing licenses for both open and limited entry. Sitting just below Canada, Washington does have ample stocks of shellfish and tuna, and with the right permits, you can reap the bounty offered by the Evergreen State.

Get Your West Coast Commercial Fishing Permits Online

Federal waters, which encompass the area from three to 200 nautical miles from shore, are not governed by the state, but rather by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). If you are fishing in these waters, you will want to peruse their offerings for the west coast region. 

At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we have online applications for all of your state and federal permit needs. Using our streamlined web forms, you can submit your applications via our SSL-encrypted web portal in just minutes. If you would like to learn more, please contact us by phone or email today, or visit our FAQ page.