Commercial fisheries licensing rules and policies reference document Pacific region
Transporting
Category D - also known as a packing licence
Licence category
Section 24 of the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993 does not permit the transport of fish harvested during commercial fishing unless the vessel is registered and licensed to be used in commercial fishing in Canada or a transporting licence (category D) has been issued to the vessel.
Transporting licences are unlimited entry and vessel based. A transporting licence may only be issued to an unlicensed vessel. Limited entry vessel based licences allow the transport of Roe Herring, Prawn and Shrimp by trap, and Salmon caught by other vessels.
Vessels that will be transporting only Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) Geoduck sampling product, or any product that will not be sold commercially, are not eligible for a transporting licence. This must be done under authority of a licence issued under Section 4 (1) of the Contaminated Fisheries Regulations. Vessels that will be PSP sampling as well as serving as back-up transport vessels for Geoduck or other harvested species must meet all category D transporting licence issue requirements, such as proof of transporting activity at least once in the previous three years.
Applicants should contact the applicable resource manager for a licence issued under Section 4 (1) of the Contaminated Fisheries Regulations for an Experimental, Scientific or Special Access licence, as appropriate.
A transporting licence is not required and will not be issued to vessels planning to transport only Oysters, Clams, gooseneck barnacle or aquaculture stock (e.g., farmed fish and shellfish).
Red Sea Urchin, Green Sea Urchin, Sea Cucumber, and Geoduck harvests must be validated prior to being transported. The transport of Sablefish, Halibut, Groundfish Trawl, Rockfish, Schedule II Species, Eulachon, Crab, Shrimp by trawl, and Pacific Sardine is prohibited, as the licensed fishing vessel must land the harvest.
Transport licences do not allow freezing of fish. Fish may be frozen on the licensed fishing vessel and transhipped to another vessel for transport.
Licence category background
The transporting category D licence, also known as a packing licence, has been issued in respect of commercial vessels as an open entry licence category since 1972. This licence does not enable commercial harvesting of any species and licenses the vessel for only packing or transport of fish caught by commercial fishing vessels. No species or area restrictions apply.
Licence renewal fee
The category D licence renewal fee is $30.00.
Licence Application and Issuance
A copy of the Application for Transporting Licence - Category D may be obtained by submitting a request through the National Online Licensing System. Instructions are available.
The Application for Transporting Licence - Category D must be completed and submitted to DFO using the National Online Licensing System. The vessel owner or any authorized representative may sign the application. The vessel identified on the application must meet DFO’s vessel registration requirements.
A confirmation letter from the party for whom the vessel will be providing packing services must indicate the expected commercial packing activity. This confirmation letter must be submitted along with the application.
Commercial transporting licences are issued with the reasonable expectation that transporting activities will occur throughout the commercial fishing season.
Only legitimately active commercial transporting vessels will be issued licences. Issuance in future years will be dependent on the submission of sales slips to track the commercial transporting activity associated with the transporting vessel.
All vessels not previously registered as a transporting vessel with the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit must submit through the National Online Licensing System:
- A completed Application for Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration and the required $50.00 registration fee.
- A Marine survey report, dated after May 1, 1989, that has been conducted in accordance with DFO’s current guidelines for vessel measurement.
- A copy of vessel ownership documents (i.e., for vessels registered with Transport Canada, a copy of the Certificate of Registry or Registered Bill of Sale).
Licence documents
Transporting licence documents are valid from the date of issue to December 31st of each calendar year.
Vessel owners may reprint any lost or destroyed licence documents using the National Online Licensing System (NOLS).
Fish slip books
Commercial transporting licences are issued with the expectation that transporting activities will occur throughout the commercial fishing season.
Blank fish slips are available.
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