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:
- fishing for commercial purposes in tidal waters; including fishing for tuna from Canadian fishing vessels on the high seas or in the waters of the United States;
- being onboard a commercial fishing vessel that is engaged in commercial fishing;
- leaving a port or place in British Columbia to engage in commercial fishing; and
- being onboard a commercial fishing vessel that is fishing alternately under a commercial licence and a communal commercial licence (e.g., ‘dual fishing’).
- participating in the Taku and Stikine River category ATBR and ATBRF fisheries.
- a non-indigenous individual participates in an economic opportunity fishery (XEO) off of Band or Reserve land.
An FRC is not required:
- to engage in commercial fishing, if the person is under 16 years of age;
- for persons on board a registered Canadian commercial fishing vessel that is only licensed for transporting (packing); or
- for persons onboard a registered Canadian commercial vessel that is only licensed under the authority of a communal commercial fishing licence (In lieu person will hold written designation list from the communal commercial licence holder)
- to participate in the Taku and Stikine River category FATBR fishery.
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:
- The primary identification is proof of Canadian Citizenship or status in Canada (e.g., a birth certificate or passport).
- Secondary identification may be a driver’s licence or other form of identification.
Primary identification
- Canadian birth certificate
- Permanent resident card (valid)
- Canadian citizenship card
- Canadian passport (valid)
- Canadian seaman’s ID card
- Canadian baptismal papers
- Indian status card (valid)
- Naturalization papers/card (american)
- Employment permit/authorization (valid)*
- Study permit (valid)*
Secondary identification
- Service discharge papers
- Certificate of registration of birth abroad
- Refugee status/conventional refugee
- Band card – issued by the band
- Dept. of national defence (DND), RCMP
- Vancouver police department
- Statutory declaration
*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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