Commercial fisheries licensing rules and policies reference document Pacific region
Red sea urchin
Categories ZC and FZC
Licence category
A commercial or communal commercial Red Sea Urchin licence (category ZC or FZC) is required to commercially harvest Red Sea Urchins by dive. Red Sea Urchin licence eligibilities are limited entry and party based.
Licence category background
The Red Sea Urchin by dive fishery began in the 1970s and has grown rapidly since 1982. The fishery became a limited entry category Z licence eligibility in 1991. Individual quotas were introduced in 1995.
Eligibility for licensing in this fishery was determined based on:
- a. A 34,020 kg (75,000 lb.) cumulative landing requirement over the three period 1987, 1988 and 1989 or;
- b. 20 days recorded harvest in any year from 1987, 1988 or 1989;
- c. 2,268 kg (5,000 lb.) landed in any year in the North Coast, Statistical Areas 1 to 10, from 1987, 1988 or 1989.
In 1997, an 18-month licence year, starting in July and ending in June of the next year, was implemented. Area licensing is also in effect, and licences are designated either North or South so that the fishery is not destructive to the species.
At present, licences retain a maximum vessel length (MVL) even though the MVL has been temporarily waived by DFO. Red Sea Urchin licence eligibilities may be designated to a vessel of any length permitted to harvest Schedule II Species. DFO reserves the right to reinstate the MVL restrictions at the lengths associated with each licence eligibility, at any time.
Since 2013, the maximum five licence stacking rule has been waived. As a result, there is no longer a limit to the number of licences which may be stacked on a vessel.
Fishing areas
- North Coast – Areas 1 through 10, 101, 105, 106, 109 & 142
- South Coast – Areas 11 through to 29 & 123
Licence renewal fee
The annual renewal fee for a commercial category ZC licence is $530.00.
There is no annual renewal fee for a communal commercial category FZC licence.
Licence issuance
A commercial Red Sea Urchin licence must be renewed, and the renewal fee paid, every year by July 31st to retain the privilege to be issued the licence in the future. This means that licence eligibility holders must renew the licence whether they intend to fish or not. If the licence is not annually renewed by July 31st, the licence will cease and DFO will not be able to consider a request to issue that licence in the future.
Prior to licence issue, the licence eligibility holder must ensure that a registered Canadian commercial fishing vessel that is eligible for any valid limited entry vessel based licence, a valid communal commercial licence, or a valid Salmon category NAG licence has been designated by submitting a request through the National Online Licensing System. Instructions are available.
There is no maximum number of Red Sea Urchin licences which may be designated to a vessel.
Licence documents
Red Sea Urchin licences are valid from the date of issue to July 31st of the next calendar year.
Licence eligibility holders may reprint any lost or destroyed licence documents using the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).
Vessel redesignations
Redesignation of Red Sea Urchin licences is permitted at any time during the year as long as the licence conditions have been met, such as the completion, submission and acceptance of logbooks. For example, if a licence was issued on January 15th and a request to re-designate is received on March 10th, then logbooks a nd sales slips up to March 10th are required to be submitted to DFO.
Licence eligibility holders may only redesignate a fishing vessel to hold the licence by submitting a request through the National Online Licensing System. Instructions are available.
Prior to redesignation applications being processed, the licence eligibility holder must:
- confirm that the conditions of licence have been met;
- designate a registered Canadian commercial fishing vessel; and
- ensure the designated vessel holds a limited entry vessel based licence eligibility, with Schedule II Species privileges
Nominations
Red Sea Urchin category ZC licence eligibilities may be nominated from one party to another. To do so, licence eligibility holders must indicate their intention to no longer apply for a Red Sea Urchin licence and name the nominated individual using DFO’s Nomination for Category Z Licence Eligibility form. The Minister may then consider issuing the licence to the nominated individual.
Prior to the nomination of a commercial Red Sea Urchin licence eligibility, the licence eligibility holder must ensure that any conditions of the current or previous year’s licence have been met and accepted by the Shellfish Data Unit.
Note that the nomination form must be signed by the licence eligibility holder on record and notarized by a lawyer or notary. If the licence eligibility holder 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.
The Nomination for Category Z Licence Eligibility form is available.
Communal commercial Red Sea Urchin category FZC licence eligibilities may not be nominated.
If you require further discussion or information on the above mentioned nomination policies, please contact the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit.
Logbooks
Logbooks may be obtained by calling D&D Fisheries
Telephone: 604-886-4819
Email: ddpacific@dccnet.com.
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