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Commercial fisheries licensing rules and policies reference document Pacific region

Vessel replacement/nomination of licence eligibilities

Vessel replacements – vessel based licence eligibilities

Except where licence policy or the applicable Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) allows:

If the vessel to be replaced is no longer eligible for commercial fishing licence eligibilities as a result of the Application to Replace a Commercial Vessel, any party based licenses (i.e. category Z, communal commercial etc.) designated to the vessel being replaced must be redesignated to a suitable vessel or relinquished to the DFO.

Where the replacing vessel has a Transporting, category D licence, the licence will be expired and the vessel must be registered or reregistered as a commercial fishing vessel prior to placing a commercial licence eligibility on the vessel.

Logbook/fish slip requirements must be met where applicable; either for the previous year or the current year to date.

All vessel replacements must be marked as permanent on the Application to Replace a Commercial Vessel.

An Application to Replace a Commercial Vessel temporarily may be made if the vessel has been declared a loss or the vessel is out of service due to an accident or unforeseen damage. Written confirmation from an insurance company, shipyard, or marine engineer explaining why the vessel is inoperative is required. Vessels that are in disrepair at the time of purchase, have engine problems, have encountered delays in annual maintenance or rebuilding do not qualify for a temporary vessel replacement.

An Application to Replace a Commercial Fishing Vessel must be made and signed by all the owner(s) on record of the vessel to be replaced. All signatures must be notarized by a lawyer or notary public. If 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. The contact vessel owner of the replacement vessel must also sign the application, however, the signature is not required to be notarized.

Both vessels are required to have a marine survey report either on record or submitted with the Application to Replace a Commercial Vessel. The marine survey report must be dated after May 1, 1989 and be conducted by a certified Marine Surveyor according to the DFO Guidelines for Vessel Measurement. Only original surveys will be accepted.

The Application to Replace a Commercial Vessel form is available.

If the vessel replacement is accepted a letter confirming the acceptance will be sent to original vessel owner(s) and the contact vessel owner of the replacing vessel.

Nominations – party based licence eligibilities

Category Z licence eligibilities are applicable to the Green Sea Urchin (category ZA), Red Sea Urchin (category ZC), Sea Cucumber (category ZD), Euphuasiid (category ZF), Rockfish (category ZN), Pacific Sardine (category ZS), and Pacific Oyster (category ZWO) fisheries.

Category Z licence eligibility holders may complete the Nomination for Category Z Licence Eligibility form to indicate that they no longer intend to apply for the licence eligibility. When such intent is stated, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans may consider issuance of the licence eligibility to the nominated party.

Nominations may be considered:

Roe Herring licence eligibility holders (category HG and HS) may complete the Nomination for Roe Herring Licence Eligibility form to indicate that they no longer intend to apply for the licence eligibility.

Roe Herring licence eligibility (category HG and HS) nominations are only accepted annually from April 1 to October 31 inclusive. Postmarks will not be accepted.

Reduced fee Roe Herring licence eligibility holders (Aboriginal Individuals) may only nominate an Aboriginal Individual that is considered a Status Indian as defined under the Indian Act, R.S., c. 149 s. 1.

Nominations of communal commercial licenses (category F) are not accepted.

The applicable nomination form must:

The Nomination for Category Z Licence Eligibility form is available.

The Nomination for Roe Herring Licence Eligibility form is available.

If the nomination is accepted, a letter confirming the acceptance will be sent to Nominator and the Nominee.

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