Commercial fisheries licensing rules and policies reference document Pacific region
Schedule II species
Categories C and FC
Licence category
A commercial or communal commercial Schedule II Species licence (category C or FC), or any other limited entry vessel based licence, is required to commercially harvest Schedule II Species except tuna and where fishing privileges for Schedule II Species have been relinquished (e.g., within the Groundfish Trawl or Geoduck by dive fisheries).
Category C licence eligibilities are limited entry and vessel based. Category FC eligibilities are party based and must be annually designated to a registered Canadian commercial fishing vessel that meets length restrictions. Category FC licences are held by a First Nation.
Vessels fishing under the authority of a Schedule II Species licence may also be designated to fish under the authority of a category Z licence.
Licence category background
The Schedule II Other Species licence eligibility was introduced at the time of entry limitation in the Salmon fishery in 1968 and originally authorized commercial fishing of all non-Salmon species.
The Category C licence became subject to entry limitation in 1977. The limitation was based on evidence of landings of at least $500 value in the preceding two years 1975 and 1976. The requirement that Category C licensed vessels land $500 worth of fish at least every second year was maintained until 1982. In 1979, the practice of issuing a Category C licence to a vessel retired from the Salmon fishery was discontinued, hence, no new vessels were able to enter any fishery except as a replacement vessel.
The category C licence is described as a general species licence, because it permits fishing for a number of species of fish using varied types of gear for which no other category of licence is required.
“Schedule II” refers to Schedule II in Part II of the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993 which outlines the species covered.
Species
Lingcod, Spiny Dogfish, Rockfish, Halibut, Sablefish, Skate, Sole and Flounder, Tuna, and Pacific cod.
Gear
Fishing for Schedule II Species is permitted by hook and line gear; specifically, longline, jig, and troll. When conducting a directed lingcod fishing trip only troll and jig gear is permitted.
As of April 1, 2006, transporting commercial dogfish by any vessel other than the harvesting vessel (i.e., for transshipping) is prohibited. There are also new requirements specific to the transporting of live Rockfish.
Licences which met the qualifying criteria for a category C licence based on catch history, received an initial dogfish and lingcod quota allocation. Vessels not receiving an initial allocation had the opportunity to participate in the lingcod and/or dogfish fishery through a Schedule II Species privilege by acquiring an individual vessel quota for the lingcod or dogfish management area to be fished.
Prior to 2013, the harvest of tuna in Canadian fisheries waters and the high seas was included in the categories C and FC licence conditions. Tuna has since been removed from these licence conditions. Vessels holding any limited entry vessel based licence eligibility retaining Schedule II Species privileges must now apply for a separate category CT licence in order to harvest tuna in Canadian fisheries waters and the high seas.
Licence renewal fee
The annual renewal fee for a commercial category C licence is $30.00.
There is no annual renewal fee for a communal commercial category FC licence.
Licence issuance
A commercial Schedule II Species licence must be renewed, and the renewal fee paid, every year by February 20th to retain the privilege to be issued the licence in the future. This means that vessel owners must renew the licence whether they intend to fish or not. If the licence is not annually renewed by February 20th, the licence will cease and DFO will not be able to consider a request to issue that licence in the future.
Every year, communal commercial Schedule II Species licence eligibility holders must also designate a fishing vessel to hold the licence by submitting a request through the National Online Licensing System. Instructions are available.
Prior to licence issue, vessel owners and licence eligibility holder must ensure that:
- any ministerial conditions placed on licence eligibility have been met; and
- any conditions of the previous year’s licence have been met.
- the designated vessel's overall length does not exceed the maximum vessel length of the category FC licence eligibility.
Licence amendments
Before beginning to harvest under the authority of a category C licence, the vessel owner, licence eligibility holder or an authorized representative must request and receive a licence amendment from the Groundfish Management Unit by submitting a completed Request for Licence Amendment form to the Unit by fax at 604-666-8525.
Licence documents
Schedule II Species licence documents are valid from the date of issue to February 20th of the next calendar year.
Vessel owners or licence holders may reprint any lost or destroyed licence documents using the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).
Vessel replacement
The owner(s) of a commercial Schedule II Species licensed vessel may apply to replace the commercial fishing vessel. Both the replacement vessel and the vessel being replaced must have a survey on file with the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit or the survey must be submitted with the vessel replacement application. Vessels must be surveyed according to DFO guidelines.
Vessel owner(s) must also adhere to the following rules:
- the replacement vessel may not exceed the overall length of the vessel being replaced;
- a vessel may hold only one Schedule II Species licence eligibility; and
- a Schedule II licence may not be combined with other vessel based licence eligibilities except where the
Integrated Fishery Management Plan for that species allows:
- when a replacing vessel is eligible for a Schedule II Species licence, it must be surrendered to DFO or placed on another vessel prior to the placement of vessel based licence eligibility on the vessel.
The Application to Replace a Commercial Vessel form is available.
Communal commercial licences are not eligible for vessel replacement.
If you require further discussion or information on the above mentioned vessel replacement policies, please contact the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit.
Relinquishments
Should a married Halibut or Sablefish licence eligibility be permanently placed to a vessel holding a Schedule II Species (category C) licence eligibility, the category C licence eligibility will be relinquished (permanently retired), and the relinquishing vessel owner will be required to complete a personalized Commercial Fishing Vessel Licence Eligibility Relinquishment form. This form may be obtained by submitting a request through the National Online Licensing System. Instructions are available.
When the placement is temporary, then the category C licence eligibility is held until the Halibut or Sablefish licence eligibility is permanently placed to another vessel.
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