Commercial fisheries licensing rules and policies reference document Pacific region
SEC68 – High seas
Category SEC68
Licence category
A licence issued pursuant to Section 68 of the Fishery (General) Regulations is required to authorize fishing or trans-shipping on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean, which are beyond the Exclusive Economic Zones of Canada and the United States of America (USA). This includes:
- Canadian fishing vessels that do not hold a licence eligibility as detailed in the Licence Application and Issuance section below; and
- applicants who have been selected through the annual lottery draw to fish in the offshore Seamount Sablefish fishery.
Vessels with a valid category CT licence do not require a separate Section 68 licence to fish for tuna species on the high seas.
Licence renewal fee
The category SEC68 licence renewal fee can be found on the licence renewal fee webpage by selecting the link for the applicable year.
Licence application and issuance
A copy of the Application for a Licence to Fish or Trans-ship in Waters other than Canadian Fisheries Waters may be obtained by submitting a request through the National Online Licensing System. Instructions are available.
Completed applications for high seas licences must be submitted by email to: fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or through the National Online Licensing System.
The vessel owner or authorized representative must sign the application form. Where the vessel owner is a company, the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit must have on record a copy of a recent B.C. Company Summary indicating the officers/directors associated with the company.
Where the vessel owner is a First Nation, the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit must have on record a Confirmation of Band or First Nation Group Signing Authorities form listing the signing authorities. A copy of the Confirmation of Band or First Nation Group Signing Authorities form is available by submitting a request through the National Online Licensing System.
High Seas applications for species other than tuna will be forwarded to the appropriate DFO Fishery Manager or Co-ordinator for review and approval prior to licence issue.
Prior to licence issuance, applicants must designate a registered Canadian commercial fishing vessel according to the following rules:
- For tuna, a vessel that is NOT eligible for vessel based commercial licences for Salmon, Schedule II Species, Geoduck, Sablefish, Halibut, Crab, Shrimp by trawl, Groundfish Trawl or Prawn and Shrimp by trap OR a vessel that has been designated to fish a category NAG or eligible category F licence for the current year.
- For offshore Seamount Sablefish fishery, a vessel that is eligible for a Sablefish licence.
To designate a vessel that is not currently registered as a Canadian commercial fishing vessel, applicants must first submit a completed Application for Commercial Vessel Registration form. The registration requirements are outlined on the reverse of the application form. For example, the registration requirement for a marine survey report does not have to be met by vessels designated solely to a high seas licence.
Fishing area definitions
Northeast Pacific – Outside Convention area
Northeast Pacific – Inside Convention
Northwest Pacific – Inside Convention
Fishing area definitions
Eastern Central Pacific – Inside Convention
Eastern Central Pacific – Outside Convention area
Southeast Pacific
Southwest Pacific
Western Central Pacific
Licence documents
High seas licences issued pursuant to Section 68 for tuna are valid from the date of issue to March 31st of the next calendar year or the expiry date indicated on the licence document.
Vessel owners may reprint any lost or destroyed licence documents using the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).
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