Commercial fisheries licensing rules and policies reference document Pacific region
USA68 – albacore tuna
Category USA68
Licence category
A licence issued pursuant to Section 68 of the Fishery (General) Regulations is required for all vessels fishing albacore tuna in the waters of the United States of America (USA). Limited entry vessel based licences which authorize an application for a tuna (category CT) licence do not authorize fishing for albacore tuna in the waters of the USA.
Licence category background
From 2000 to 2002, applicants for a Section 68 licence to fish for tuna were given conditions based on the gear type indicated on their application: troll (aka jig), longline, or troll and longline. The current conditions of licence have incorporated all three gear types.
In 2004, under the revised Canada/USA Pacific Albacore Tuna Treaty, a vessel’s effort in vessel-fishing months is monitored from the date in any calendar month of entry into the USA zone for the purpose of fishing for albacore tuna. This includes any day in a calendar month, so notification of fishing on June 30th would constitute one vessel month in June. Scouting or looking for fish is also considered fishing. The only exception is if a vessel has declared its intent to transit.
In 2005, new management measures for fishing albacore tuna in USA fisheries waters were introduced. The treaty on Pacific coast albacore tuna vessels and port privileges required a three-year phased reduction in access by Canadian vessels operating in USA waters.
As a result, DFO introduced a limitation regime to manage the fishing fleet’s effort with a monthly system that allocates the available fishing months yearly to a limited number of licence eligibilities so that treaty limits are not exceeded.
The licence eligibility criteria took into account past participation before and after the control date of April 15, 2000, and provided priority access to the most consistently active vessels fishing in USA waters. A list of vessels eligible for a Section 68 licence for fishing in USA waters was established for 2005 and onward. Vessels that qualified for placement on the eligibility list were those that were commercially licensed as of December 31, 2004 with recorded albacore tuna catch in USA waters during the period between 1995 and 1999 and continued participation between 2000 and 2002.
In 2007, the default access level of 75 per cent of the year three limits established under the Canada/USA Pacific Albacore Tuna Treaty was utilized, which meant 94 vessels or 376 vessel fishing months could be used from licence issuance to March 31, 2008. The remaining 85 licence eligibility holders (179 in total) were able to obtain vessel fishing months through a reallocation process. Issuance of a USA68 licence was required prior to fishing in USA waters and prior to reallocating vessel fishing months to another USA68 licence holder.
In 2007, tuna harvesters were required by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission to install and maintain a vessel monitoring system to fish for tuna in the Pacific Ocean. To minimize the impact on tuna harvesters, DFO developed general technological requirements which allow the harvesters to obtain one system to satisfy both of the commission’s resolutions.
In 2009, as per the revised Canada/USA Pacific Albacore Tuna Treaty, there was an increase in access for Canadian vessels into USA waters from 94 vessels to 110 vessels. The previously used vessel month system was changed to a defined fishing season of 4.5 months, such as June 15th to October 31st.
Licence eligibility holders are now able to reallocate the entire season by means of a permanent vessel replacement.
Licence renewal fee
The annual renewal fee for a category USA68 licence ranked 1 through 45 on the eligibility list is $500.00.
There is no fee for those category USA68 licenses ranked 46 through 179, as these licenses do not permit access to fish.
Licence issuance
Those USA68 licenses that have been ranked 1 through 45 on the eligibility list must be renewed, and the renewal fee paid, every year should the harvest of tuna be permitted.
Prior to licence issue, vessel owners must:
- contact the Canadian Highly Migratory Species Foundation at:
Telephone: 250-658-0179
Fax: 250-658-4709
to arrange for associated forms, logbooks, and related keypunching/data transmission services.
Vessel identification
While in the USA fishing zone, Canadian vessels must display the vessel name, the vessel identification number (VRN), and a letter C in contrasting colours at least 12 inches high, so that they are clearly visible to both aircraft and surface vessels. The letter C must be positioned at the end of each place the VRN appears on the vessel.
Under the Canada/USA Pacific Albacore Tuna Treaty, each country is required to submit a list of its tuna vessels for approval before these vessels begin fishing operations. Only vessels holding a Section 68 USA tuna licence will be on the list provided to the USA government. Vessel owners who do not have the licence on board their vessel, or are not on the list, may be prosecuted by USA authorities.
All Canadian tuna vessels operating in the Pacific Ocean, including within Canada’s Pacific EEZ, must be listed on the IATTC Regional Vessel Registry. Harvesters can check the IATTC Regional Vessel Registry to ensure that their vessel is registered. Registration forms are available from the Tuna Resource Manager.
Licence documents
Licences issued pursuant to Section 68 for tuna are valid from the date of issue to March 31st of the next calendar year.
Vessel owners may reprint any lost or destroyed licence documents using the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).
Vessel replacement
The owner(s) of a category USA68 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.
The owner(s) should also note the following rules:
- USA68 licences are not married to any other vessel based licences;
- a single vessel may hold more than one USA68 licence eligibility;
- vessel replacements are not permitted during the fishing period of June 15th to September 15th;
- increases in overall vessel length are not permitted in association with any USA68 licence replacements;
- vessel replacements related to USA68 licences 1 through 45 must be placed on a vessel that already holds a USA68 licence (e.g., USA68 1 through 179); and
- vessel replacements related to USA68 licences 46 through 179 may be placed on a vessel that does not already hold a USA68 licence.
All vessel replacements must be approved by DFO prior to being processed.
If you require further discussion or information on the above mentioned vessel replacement policies, please contact the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit.
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