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Commercial fisheries licensing rules and policies reference document Pacific region

Party based licences: In this section

Fish harvester registration card (FRC)

Applicants must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, Refugee or Holder of a Working Holiday Visa/Employment Authorization (i.e. Work/Study Permit).

Licence category

Section 25 of the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993 requires persons 16 years of age or older to hold, and be able to produce upon demand, a Fish Harvester Registration Card (FRC) when:

An FRC is not required:

Licence category background

An FRC was previously known as a Personal Commercial Fishing Licence (PCFL). These have been issued since the 1900s primarily to identify the number of industry participants. Until about 1986, the PCFL authorized a licence holder to fish certain species without a vessel.

A five-year FRC was introduced in 1982 (and discontinued in 1995) to support a professional certification program that was being considered. Since 1995, only annual FRCs have been issued.

Licence renewal fee

The FRC licence renewal fee is $60.00

The FRC renewal fee includes $10.00 which is set aside for the Salmon Conservation Fund. Each applicant is requested to choose whether the monies be directed to the T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation or the Pacific Salmon Foundation, or divided 50/50 between the two foundations. If an applicant does not make a selection, the monies are split equally between the two organizations.

Licence issuance

A person may only hold one valid FRC, within a given year.

First time applicants must provide two pieces of valid identification:

  1. The primary identification is proof of Canadian Citizenship or status in Canada (e.g., a birth certificate or passport).
  2. Secondary identification may be a driver’s licence or other form of identification.

Primary identification

Secondary identification

*Where the conditions of the permit allows the individual to work in the commercial fishing industry

To apply for an FRC, applicants must submit a request through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). Instructions are available.

Licence documents

FRCs are valid from the date of issue to December 31st annually for the specified year of issuance.

Licence holders may reprint any lost or destroyed licence documents using the National Online Licensing System.

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