Commercial fisheries licensing policy for Eastern Canada

Note:

Anyone making use of this document are reminded that it has no official sanction and its content may change without prior notice. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying this policy.
In this document, words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender.
Notwithstanding the provisions specified in this Licensing Policy Document, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans retains complete discretion to approve an exception to these provisions.
This policy document replaces any previous ones.

Chapter 1 – Presentation
Chapter 2 - General policy framework
- 8. Application of policy
- 9. Terminology
  - 9.1 Use and control of rights and privileges
  - 9.2 Licence types as established by regulations and the rules applicable to them
Chapter 3 - General policy guidelines
Chapter 4 - Vessel replacement rules for vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA
- 24. Vessel replacement rules
All Regions
- A. Groundfish
Quebec Region
Newfoundland and Labrador Region
- E. All species
Gulf Region
- F. Crab
- G. Other species
Maritimes Region
Chapter 5 - Policies for Vessels 19.8m (65') LOA and greater
Chapter 6 - Seal licensing policy for Eastern Canada
Chapter 7 - Appeal process and procedures
- 34. Access to appeal process
- 35. Appeal system (structure)
Chapter 8 - Policy amendments
Annexes

Chapter 1 - Presentation

1. Introduction

Licensing policies for the marine fisheries of Eastern Canada take into account the fact that for the most part, the fishing industry is located in areas of scarce alternative employment opportunities, and that completely unregulated entry to the fishery usually leads to over capitalization, elimination of net returns and resource depletion. Added to this background is a situation where, in most fisheries throughout the Atlantic, excess fishing capacity exists. Furthermore, the resource and the social and economic forces in play vary tremendously from area to area.

The Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada (licensing policy) is an integral part of a number of federal government initiatives to restructure the commercial fisheries and lay the foundation for a fishery that is environmentally sustainable and economically viable. The objectives of the licensing policy are to reduce capacity, improve the economic viability of participants in commercial fishing operations, and prevent future growth of capacity in the commercial fishery. The licensing policy reform along with other fisheries renewal initiatives brings about fundamental changes to the way we do business in fisheries, and in the Department's relationship with the fishing industry. The industry will be given more responsibility in the decisions regarding the fisheries and will become a partner and true steward of the resource.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)'s approach to licensing favours limiting access to the fishery as much as is necessary to provide for an orderly harvesting of the fishery resource, to promote viable and profitable operations for the average participant and, finally, to adopt policies which are consistent where consistency is desirable and practical, while at the same time recognizing that specific measures may be necessary for certain fisheries and geographical locations of Eastern Canada.

2. Purpose of policy document

This policy document has been prepared to provide fishers, corporations, Indigenous organizations, and other interested Canadians with a clear and consistent statement of the DFO's policy respecting the registration of commercial fishing enterprises and vessels, and the issuance of fishing licences in Eastern Canada. This document also provides objectives against which the appropriateness and effectiveness of policies are to be evaluated.

3. Legislative background

The Constitution Act, 1867 provides the Parliament of Canada, on behalf of the Canadian public, the legislative responsibility for Canada's seacoast and inland fisheries. As a result, the federal government has constitutional authority for all fisheries in Canada. Canada directly manages fisheries in the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island; the marine and anadromous salmon fisheries of British Columbia; the marine fisheries of Quebec; and the fisheries of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Between 1899 and 1930 intergovernmental negotiations lead to a series of agreements whereby the federal government authorized the provinces to oversee day-to-day management of all fisheries in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and for some fisheries in the provinces of Quebec (where the province manages freshwater and anadromous and catadromous fisheries), and British Columbia (where the province manages freshwater species, except salmon). In these six provinces, or areas thereof, federal fisheries are administered by the provincial governments as promulgated by federal regulations made under the Fisheries Act.

In 2019, the Fisheries Act was amended to, among other things, enhance and modernize the Act. The Fisheries Act now contains a list of considerations that may be taken into account by the Minister for decision-making. Among the listed considerations are social, economic and cultural factors in the management of fisheries, as well as the preservation or promotion of the independence of licence holders in commercial inshore fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. In addition, clearer authorities to make regulations regarding the use and control of the rights and privileges under a fishing licence were introduced.

As of April 1, 2021, several of DFO’s key inshore licensing policies are enshrined in regulations, specifically, elements of the Fleet Separation and Owner-Operator Policies, and the Issuing Licences to Companies Policy. These regulatory amendments to the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (AFR) and the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations (MPFR) also enacted a new regulatory licensing eligibility criteria that provides that licence holders who have transferred the use and control of the rights or privileges conferred by a licence to fish are ineligible to further be issued such fishing licence. Specific exceptions exist to this general rule. These amendments clarify the rules governing inshore and coastal fishing licences.

4. Indigenous access

Special consideration is given to Indigenous individuals for access to commercial fisheries for economic development purposes. In this context, the policy provides for exemption from eligibility criteria respecting new entrants. Please refer to the applicable DFO regional licensing policy or contact the applicable DFO regional office for information on special consideration and eligibility criteria. This policy is to be interpreted in conjunction with DFO's Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy. This policy does not apply to licences issued under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations (ACFLR).

5. What is a licence

A. General

A "licence" grants permission to do something which, without such permission, would be prohibited. As such, a licence confers no property or other rights which can be legally sold, bartered or bequeathed. Essentially, it is a privilege to do something, subject to the terms and conditions of the licence.

B. Fishing licence

A "fishing licence" is an instrument by which the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, pursuant to their discretionary authority under the Fisheries Act, grants permission to an individual, company, or an Indigenous organization, to harvest certain species of fish or marine plants subject to the conditions attached to the licence. This is in no sense a permanent permission; it terminates upon expiry of the licence. The licence holder is essentially granted a limited fishing privilege rather than any kind of absolute or permanent "right or property".

C. Future commitment

As provided under the Fishery (General) Regulations, the issuance of a document of any type to any individual or company does not imply or confer any future right or privilege for that individual or company to be issued a document of the same type or any other type upon expiry of the document.

6. Licensing principles

The "Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada" is built on the following principles:

Be consistent with DFO's core mandate following the program review exercise.
Achieve a balance between capacity and the resource,
Encourage environmentally sustainable harvesting,
Foster greater economic viability of the fishery sector,
Facilitate industry self-reliance,
Develop a greater degree of partnership with a professional group of harvesters,
Streamline administration of licensing.

7. Licensing parameters

The licensing parameters which have guided the development of the "Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada" are:

Adjacency to the resource recognized as a priority factor for the issuance of new commercial/exploratory licences and for the issuance of replacement licences,
Regional specificities of fisheries recognized and accommodated,
Continuous reduction in capacity promoted through self-rationalization programs,
Geographic distribution of economic opportunities maintained,
Specific rules for all fishers in Northern Areas provided for,
Withdrawal of licence privileges recognized as a valid means of ensuring compliance with regulations and management plans.

Chapter 2 - General policy framework

8. Application of policy

This policy applies to the registration of fishers, fishing enterprises, the registration of fishing vessels, and the issuance of fishing licences to engage in commercial fishing in Canadian fisheries waters on the Atlantic Ocean and the NAFO Convention Area. This policy also applies to commercial freshwater fisheries in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. It does not apply to commercial freshwater fisheries in the province of Quebec or to commercial fishing for anadromous or catadromous fish within the tidal waters of Quebec.

This policy does not apply to licences issued under the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations.

9. Terminology

Unless defined below, expressions in this document have the same meanings as those found in the Fisheries Act, the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, and the regulations made under those acts.

Access: means the opportunity to harvest or use fisheries resources, generally permitted by licences or leases issued by the Minister.
Allocation: means the amount or share of the fisheries resource or allowable catch and/or effort that is distributed or assigned to those permitted to harvest the resource.
Area of Historical Fishing: refers to a fishing area where a fisher has participated in fisheries during a period of no less than 24 months.

Authorized Overlap: refers to those specific areas beyond home sectors where licence holders restricted to using groundfish vessels less than 19.8m (65') length overall (LOA) are permitted to continue fishing as a result of their homeport being located in the extremities of their sector in 1981 specifically:

	Homeport Division	Authorized Overlap
i	4T	4Vn
ii	4Vn	4T
iii	3Pn	3Ps
iv	3Ps	3Pn
v	4RS	2J
vi	2J	4RS

Buddy-up: means an arrangement authorized by DFO between two or more licence holders holding valid fishing licences for the same species, the same fishing area and the same gear type operating from the same vessel. This only exists in the Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador Regions.
Certification board: means a provincial body established to conduct professional accreditation or certification of fishers.
DFO administrative areas: means those portions of a DFO Region established for the purpose of administering departmental programs, except in the Maritimes Region and the Quebec Region where the entire Region is a single DFO Administrative Area:
- In the Gulf Region, the three DFO administrative areas are
  - Eastern New Brunswick (ENB)
  - Gulf Nova Scotia (GNS); and
  - Prince Edward Island (PEI)
- In the Newfoundland and Labrador Region, the administrative areas are divided in relation to the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) subdivisions 2GHJ, 3K, 3L, 3Ps 3Pn and 4R they are adjacent to
  - Area 1, Eastern and Southern Area manages domestic fisheries in NAFO subdivisions 3K, 3L;
  - Area 2, Western Area manage domestic fisheries in NAFO subdivisions 4R and 3Ps, 3Pn; and
  - Area 3, Labrador Area manages domestic fisheries in NAFO subdivisions 2GHJ.
DFO Regions are delimited as such:
- Gulf Region: The northern coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, from the New-Brunswick-Quebec border and extending to the northern tip of Cape Breton, and including Prince Edward Island.
- Maritimes Region: The coast from the northern tip of Cape Breton to the New Brunswick – Maine border, and including the Bay of Fundy.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Region: the boundaries of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Quebec Region: the boundaries of the Province of Quebec, but not the Nunavik region in northern Quebec.
Designated operator status: an exception, based on historic practices and policies, which exempts certain licence holders in the Maritimes Region from the requirement to fish the licence personally.
Eastern Canada: means the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, the waters of Ungava Bay, the waters of Hudson Strait lying east of 70°00′ west longitude, and encompasses the DFO Regions.
Enterprise:
- Core enterprise means:
  1. a fishing unit composed of a licence holder (head of the enterprise), registered vessel(s) and licences issued in their name, and was designated as such by DFO in 1996 according to specific criteria; or
  2. a fishing unit composed of a licence holder (head of the enterprise), registered vessel(s) and licences which were previously issued to a Head of a Core Enterprise and which were reissued to the current licence holder, or a new entrant.
- Non-core enterprise: means a fishing unit composed of a licence holder (head of enterprise), registered vessel(s) and the licences issued in their name, which did not meet the core eligibility criteria established by DFO in 1996.
- Head of a core enterprise: means the individual who has been issued the licence and is in charge of the fishing enterprise that was designated as a core enterprise by DFO in 1996, or an individual who replaced a previous head of core enterprise.
- Head of a non-core enterprise: means the individual who has been issued the licence and is in charge of a fishing enterprise that was not designated as a core enterprise by DFO in 1996, or who was reissued licences after 1996 but who were not head of a "Core Enterprise".
Exempted fleet: means a fleet to which the Minister has granted an exemption from the inshore policies. Exempted fleets are listed in subparagraphs 18(a)(i) to (xii) of the AFR. Part III of the AFR does not apply to these fleets.
Family member: for the purposes of the inshore regulations, is defined in subsection 17.2(1) of the AFR and 29.01(1) of the MPFR. It has the same meaning as the definition of related persons in subsection 251(2) of the Income Tax Act which refers to individuals connected by blood relationships or adoption (i.e. parents and grandparents, siblings, children and grandchildren), and marriage (i.e. spouse or common-law partner and individuals connected to them by blood relationships or adoption):
- For the purpose of the regulations and this policy, other members of an individual's extended family, such as nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, are not considered to be a "family member".
Fishing sectors:
- Coastal: refers to the fishing sector where fish or marine plants are found close to shore and vessels may or may not be required. This sector was previously referred to as non-vessel based. The Coastal sector only exists in Maritimes and Gulf Regions.
- Inshore: means the fishing sector where licence holders are restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') length over all (LOA).
- Midshore: means the fishing sector where licence holders are permitted to use vessels less than 30.5m (100') LOA, excluding licence holders in the inshore sector.
- Offshore: refers to the fishing sector where licence holders are permitted to use vessels 30.5m (100') LOA or greater.
Historical exemption: Where, based on historic practices and policies, an exemption to policy has been granted to an individual licence holder and that exemption remains in place until the licence is reissued to another eligible licence holder; or in Quebec, until the conditions of the exemption are changed.
Historical overlap privilege: refers to those specific areas beyond homeport sectors where inshore licence holders are permitted to continue fishing for groundfish as a result of participation for a two-year period during the years 1978-1980. (This qualifying period was extended to the years 1980 and 1981 when it could be shown that commitments had been made to have a vessel replaced prior to 1980).
Homeport: means the port identified by, or assigned to, the individual fisher or company upon registration. As provided for in this policy, may constitute an eligibility criteria in the issuance of some licences.
Indigenous organization: has the same meaning as “aboriginal organization” as defined in the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations.
Individual quota: refers to an amount of fish from a specific stock that is allocated to a particular licence.
Independent core licence holder means:
1. An individual who, on April 1, 2021, was identified as an Independent Core licence holder; or
2. An eligible individual who has been issued the last key inshore licence(s) (or pre-1979 and/or inshore licence(s) in the case of Maritimes Region) that were previously issued to an Independent Core licence holder; or
3. A corporation, all the shares of which are held by the individual described in (a) or (b).
Inshore licence: means a licence issued to fish a species in the fishing sector where licence holders are restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') length over all (LOA), unless otherwise specified in the applicable DFO regional licensing policy. Inshore licences are specified in Annex II.
Inshore Regulations: means Part III of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (AFR) and Part I.1 of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations (MPFR).
Key licences: means those licences specified in Annex I.
Length overall (LOA): means the horizontal distance measured between perpendiculars erected at the extreme ends of the outside of the main hull of a vessel. Transom platforms extending beyond the stern of a vessel for the purposes of this policy will be considered part of the main hull of a vessel.
Licence splits: refers to licence splits as outlined in section 17.
Licensing authority: The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
Limited entry: refers to the mechanism DFO uses to control the number of licence holders participating in a fishery. A limited entry fishery has entry requirements or criteria established in order to qualify for participation in the fishery. Fisheries that are not limited entry fisheries are listed in Annex III.
Minister: means the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
New entrant: means a fisher who holds no licence for a specific fishing sector.
Organization that has been issued an allocation of fish to catch for the benefit of its membership: means a community-based fishing organization, such as a fishers' association, a fleet planning board, or a community management board. These organizations do not fish the allocation themselves, but rather distribute the allocation to members of their organization. Under paragraph 19(1)(c) of the AFR and paragraph 29.2(1)(c) of the MPFR, those organizations are eligible to be issued an inshore or coastal fishing licence.
Partnership: in relation to section 11.9 in this policy, means an arrangement recognized by DFO between two licence holders each holding similar licences for the same species and operating from the same vessel.
Pre-1979 corporation: means a corporation to which the Minister has granted an historical exemption from the inshore policies. Pre-1979 corporations are listed in Annex V.
Pre-1989 corporation: means a corporation to which the Minister has granted an historical exemption from the requirement to issue an inshore licence to individuals or their wholly-owned companies. Pre-1989 corporations only exist in the Maritimes Region and are listed in Annex VI.
Relinquishment: means the process through which a licence holder agrees, in writing, to relinquish a licence issued in their name or all licences issued to them (ie. their enterprise). Those who participate in certain relinquishment programs may forego their eligibility to be issued the same type of licence in the future.
Residence: means an individual's fixed permanent address to which they maintain residential ties (their main residence), distinguished from a place of temporary residence such as a summer home or a temporary residence for work or school. Residential ties include, but are not limited to, the individual's dwelling, spouse or common-law partner, and dependents. For more details please refer to DFO regional licensing policies listed in Annex VII.
Resident: in respect of a licence, means an individual who has continuously had their main place of residence in a defined area for a period of no less than six months immediately preceding the time that residence becomes relevant for the purpose of licensing, except for NAFO Division 2J, where the requirement is a period of no less than three (3) years for snow crab licences in Labrador. For more details, please refer to Regional licensing policies listed in Annex VII.
Substitute-operator: means an individual authorized by DFO, in accordance with subsection 23(2) of the Fishery (General) Regulations, to carry out the activity authorized under the licence on behalf of the licence holder.
Wholly owned company means:
1. a private company under the laws applicable in Canada, for which all shares (voting and non-voting) are issued to and controlled by one individual (the sole shareholder) identified as an Independent Core licence holder by Fisheries and Oceans Canada; and
2. If the Independent Core Licence Holder requests the licence to be issued to their wholly owned company, the wholly owned company is deemed to be the Independent Core licence holder.
Zone: for the purpose of section 18(3), refer to the Maritimes Region Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for zones that have been established in the Scotia Fundy Sector of the Maritimes Region.

9.1. Use and control of rights and privileges

Control: means, including but not limited to, directing, managing, overseeing, restricting, or influencing any of the rights or privileges conferred to an individual or entity under a licence issued in their name (i.e. making decisions related to the licence's use, the catch, or earnings without Departmental authorization).
Rights and privileges: means the limited rights and privileges conferred to the licence holder under the licence. These rights and privileges are expected to be used and controlled by the individual or organization that is issued the licence.
- Rights conferred under the licences are
  - the right to engage in an exclusive fishery under the conditions imposed by the licence (including decision-making over fishing activities authorized by the licence); and
  - the proprietary right to the fish caught under the licence (including, but not limited to, decision-making over the benefits resulting from their catch).
- Privileges are granted through policy, include but are not limited to, the ability to make requests
  - for substitute operators,
  - licence renewal,
  - licence reissuance or
  - quota transfers.

Use: means, including but not limited to, carrying out (in-person or through a designated or substitute-operator) the activities authorized under the licence or making decisions related to these activities and the results of these activities (catch and earnings).

9.2. Licence types as established by regulations and the rules applicable to them

An inshore Licence held by an Independent Core Licence Holder (ICLH) (except Exempted Fleets in the subparagraph 18(a)(i) to (xii) in the AFR
- Licence holder needs to be an individual, their estate or their wholly owned company;
- Licence holder is required to personally fish the licence; and
- Licence holder is subject to the requirement to retain the rights and privileges of the licence.
A coastal Licence
- Licence holder needs to be an individual, their estate or their wholly owned company; and
- Licence holder is required to personally fish the licence.
An inshore licence which mentions "designated operator status" and is held by an ICLH
- Licence holder needs to be an individual, their estate, or their wholly owned company; and
- Licence holder is subject to the requirement to retain the rights and privileges of the licence.
An inshore licence held by the head of a non-core enterprise
- Licence holder needs to be an individual or their wholly owned company; and
- Licence holder is required to personally fish the licence.
An inshore licence which mentions "designated operator status" and is held by the head of a non-core enterprise
- Licence holder needs to be an individual or their wholly owned company.
An inshore licence issued to an organization that has been issued an allocation of fish to catch for the benefit of its membership
- The organization can be issued an inshore licence, but is excepted from the rest of Part III of the AFR and Part I.1 of the MPFR.
An inshore licence held by a pre-1989 corporation in DFO's Maritimes Region
- The main shareholder of that corporation is required to personally fish the licence.

Chapter 3 - General policy guidelines

10. Categorization of licence holders

The concept adopted for the inshore sector (vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA) provides limited access to the fishery for a "core" group of a maximum number of enterprises. The Core assessment process concluded in 1995, and no further assessments for Core status are being undertaken.

The introduction of the Preserving of the Independence of the Inshore Fleet in Canada's Atlantic Fisheries policy created the "Independent Core" category of licence holders as new eligibility criteria for the receipt of new or reissued licences in the inshore sector of Atlantic Canada after April 12, 2007. The Independent Core status could be removed if eligibility criteria were not met.

The regulatory changes to the AFRs and MPFRs, which came into effect on April 1, 2021, have codified the concept of the Independent Core category. This category is now defined as:

A licence holder who, on April 1, 2021, was an Independent Core based on the fact that they have been issued and continue to be eligible to be issued key inshore licence(s) (or inshore licence(s) in the Maritimes Region)
An eligible licence holder who has been reissued the last key inshore licences (or pre-1979 and/or inshore licence(s), in the case of Maritimes Region) that were previously held by an Independent Core licence holder;
Independent Core is a static categorization and cannot be changed while the licence holder maintains one key inshore licence (or one inshore licence in the Maritimes Region.)

11. General policy guidelines

The requirements to be licensed to fish for different species of fish are found in the Fisheries Act and the regulations made under the Act.
Except where a fishery is closed for conservation purposes, licence renewal and payment of fees is mandatory on an annual basis in order to retain the privilege to be issued the licence.
Subject to any sanction applied against a licence or a licence holder, a licence may only be issued to an individual or company who:
1. held such a licence for a given species in the preceding calendar year and a replacement licence was not issued for that licence to another individual or company; or
2. who is issued such a licence as a replacement; or
3. who obtains a new licence through the procedures outlined in section 21or 22; or
4. who meets the eligibility criteria set out in the applicable DFO regional licensing policy set out in Annex VII.
When a species is deemed to have been over fished, one or more of the following restrictions may be imposed:
1. restriction on the issuance of replacement licences,
2. restriction on the issuance of additional licences,
3. stricter vessel replacement rules,
4. a fishing moratorium,
5. non-renewal of licences, or
6. other appropriate measures.
A bait fishing licence may only be issued to the head of an enterprise who holds a licence to fish commercially by a method which historically includes the use of bait in such a fishery, (i.e., lobster, whelk, crab, groundfish hook and line, tuna, swordfish longline, shark).
For fisheries restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA, a licence will be issued in the name of an individual licence holder. Where such a licence has previously been issued in the name of a corporation, the licence may continue to be issued in the name of that corporation (other than their wholly owned company) under a historical exemption.
Licence holders restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA will be required to personally carry out the activities authorized under the licences issued to them. Licence holders who have previously designated an operator for one or more of their vessels may continue to do so under an existing historical exemption.
Licence holders restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA will be permitted to be issued only one licence for a given species, except where stacking is permitted in DFO regional licensing policy. Those licences may be validated for more than one gear type (e.g., otter trawl and gillnet) (Historical exemption clause provided for those fishers who already have been issued more than one licence for the same species.)
Partnerships for specific fisheries may be created as outlined in the applicable DFO regional licensing policy set out in Annex VII.
As provided under the Fishery (General) Regulations, where, because of circumstances beyond their control, the holder of a licence or the operator named in a licence is unable to engage in the activity authorized by the licence or is unable to use the vessel specified in the licence, a fishery officer or other authorized employee of the Department may, on the request of the licence holder or their agent, authorize in writing another individual to carry out the activity under the licence or authorize the use of another vessel under the licence.
Where the holder of a licence is affected by an illness which prevents them from personally carrying out the activities authorized under a licence, upon request and upon provision of acceptable medical documentation to support their request, they may be permitted to designate a substitute operator for the term of the licence. Such authorization may not exceed a total period of five years:
- 11.1 Where the holder of a licence is pregnant or the new parent of a child and requires leave to care for the child or themselves, which prevents them from engaging in the activity authorized by the licence, upon request and upon provision of acceptable documentation to support their request, they may request a substitute operator for the following reasons:
  1. Maternity leave: licence holders that are pregnant or who gave birth may be allowed to request a substitute operator for up to 17 weeks following the date of the child’s birth;
    1. For safety reasons, the pregnant licence holder may request a substitute operator for maternity leave at any time during the pregnancy once they have been confirmed to be pregnant, including before the birth of the child. The use of maternity leave prior to the birth of the child due to safety reasons will not be deducted from the 17 weeks that is available following the birth of the child;
    2. Once a pregnant licence holder has reached the maximum of time allotted under maternity leave (17 weeks following the date of birth) they may also request parental leave as outlined under 11.1(b).
  2. Parental leave: licence holders that are new parents (by birth or adoption) are allotted up to 35 weeks of a substitute operator which may be initiated following the birth date or date of placement in cases of adoption.
    1. Parental substitute operator requests must be made within the 35 week period following the birth/placement of the child in the licence holder’s care. Licence holders must initiate their leave under the parental leave category before the end of week 35, following the birth/placement of the child.
- 11.2 Substitute operator time used under subsections 11.1(a) and 11.1(b) will not be taken into account in the calculation of the set maximum time of five years per fishing career included in section 11.
For the purpose of renewing a licence or for the issuance of a replacement licence to a new licence holder, the eligible licence holder must personally sign any related documents. In the case of an estate, the executor or the legally appointed administrator must sign the documents. As provided under the Fishery (General) Regulations, in the case of corporation-held licences, only an officer of the corporation may sign on behalf of that corporation.
Unless provided otherwise in a species management plan, licences will not be issued as replacements for non-renewed licences.
In the Maritimes and Gulf Regions, the downgrading of lobster category "A" licences or the upgrading of lobster category "B" licences is not permitted.
The splitting of either the gear types (e.g. groundfish longline and otter trawl) or the amount of fishing gear listed on a single inshore licence is not permitted.

12. Vessel registration

Unless provided otherwise under the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 and the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations and subject to section 33, every vessel used in a commercial fishery must be registered in the name of the licence holder using the vessel or for whom the vessel is being used.
A vessel can only be registered in the name of one licence holder at a given time.
In the Newfoundland and Labrador Region, all enterprises, core and non-core, may register two secondary vessels, in addition to their primary vessel registration, for a maximum of three vessels per enterprise. For details, refer to the Fisheries Licensing Policy Newfoundland and Labrador Region.
A vessel may be registered by the Department upon application, the payment of the proper fee and the provision of the required data on the vessel characteristics is provided by the applicant.
Only Canadian vessels may be registered with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The licence holder is responsible to ensure that the vessel they intend to operate meets approved vessel replacement rules.
A survey or measurement of the vessel may be required from the licence holder at their expense prior to registration.
Vessel Registrations may only be issued to an individual or company who hold at least one commercial fishing licence.
Registered vessels may be specified as a condition of a licence and registered in a licence holder's name for a minimum period of one (1) month, unless otherwise outlined in DFO regional licensing policy.

13. Leasing of a foreign vessel

The following provisions apply to the temporary replacement of Canadian fishing vessels with foreign vessels.

This policy applies when Canadian vessels are permanently removed, or rendered unserviceable (e.g., sinking, fire, collision, stranding) for a minimum period of four months within the preceding 12 month period. The chartering of a foreign vessel is not permitted for the purpose of replacing a Canadian vessel which has been removed from the fishery for financial or commercial reasons (e.g. bankruptcy or sheriff's seizure).
A maximum period of two years duration (from the date of vessel removal) may be allowed for the lease of a foreign vessel.
The leased foreign vessel must be crewed by either Canadian citizens or permanent residents, except where the Minister approves a specified number of non-Canadian crew members.
The leased vessel is to be of similar catching capacity and must operate in accordance with the same fishing plan, and the catch must be delivered to the same plant or plants.
Freezer trawlers may be leased to replace wetfish trawlers, but the processing (filleting) of traditional groundfish species at sea will not be permitted.
All foreign vessels will be required to carry an observer approved by the Department at the expense of the licence holder.
The leasing of foreign vessels requires Ministerial approval.

14. Foreign ownership

Subject to subsection (2), if foreign interests acquire over 49 percent of the common (voting) shares of a Canadian owned corporation which holds fishing licences, the licences will not be reissued to that corporation upon expiry of the licences.
If such a foreign corporation having a subsidiary in Canada which holds fishing licences is taken over by another foreign-owned corporation from the same country, the licences may be reissued to that corporation as part of its continuing Canadian operation (i.e. no net increase in foreign ownership).
If a foreign interest purchases a minority ownership interest in a Canadian corporation or establishes a jointly owned subsidiary with a Canadian corporation in which the Canadian corporation owns more than half the voting shares, licence eligibility will not be affected.

15. Key inshore policies

15.1 Fleet Separation Policy

One of the objectives of the licensing policy is to separate the harvesting and processing sectors of the industry, particularly in the fisheries where licence holders are restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA. This was known as the Fleet Separation Policy.
Under this policy, new fishing licences could not be issued to corporations for fisheries where only vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA are permitted to be used.
Elements of the fleet separation policy are now enshrined as part of the inshore regulations which came into force on April 1, 2021.
1. As per s.19(1)(b) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations 1985, and s.29.2(1)(b) of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, in the fisheries where licence holders are restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA, only corporations whose sole shareholder is an independent core may be issued a licence.
2. Licences issued to pre-1979 corporations continue to be exempted from this eligibility criteria if reissued to another pre-79 corporation, however, once a pre-1979 corporation reissues a licence to a non-pre-1979 entity, that licence no longer maintains this exemption. The complete list of corporations eligible to be issued replacement licences under this provision are listed in Annex V.
3. When all licences held by a pre-1979 corporation are reissued to a qualified new entrant as per section 16, the new licence holder will be classified as independent core.

15.2 Owner-operator policy

Elements of the owner-operator policy were enshrined as part of the inshore regulations which came into force on April 1, 2021.
1. As per s.19 (1) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations 1985, and s.29.2(1) of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, for fisheries restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA a licence can only be issued in the name of an individual, their estate, their wholly owned company, or an organization that has been issued an allocation of fish to catch for the benefit of its membership. Where such a licence has previously been issued in the name of a corporation, the licence may continue to be issued in the name of that corporation under a historical exemption clause.
2. As per s.19(2) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations 1985, and s.29.2(2)of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations licence holders restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA are required to personally fish the licences they have been issued.
  1. As per s.18(g)(i) of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations 1985, and s.29.2(1)(a) of the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, licences in fisheries restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA, which include "designated operator status" or "exploitant désigné" or an equivalent expression appears on the licence are exempted from this provision.
Licence holders restricted to using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA will be permitted to be issued only one licence for a given species, except where stacking is permitted in DFO regional licensing policy. Those licences may be validated for more than one gear type (e.g., otter trawl and gillnet) (Historical exemption provided for those fishers who already have been issued more than one licence for the same species.)

15.3 Issuing licences to companies policy (ILC)

Objectives

The objectives of the ILC policy are to:

Promote economic viability, prosperity and wealth generation; and
Allow for the licence to be issued to a company as a way to provide an additional choice for licence holders to organize their businesses in the most efficient manner.

Application

The ILC policy applies to licences in the inshore and coastal sectors, except those listed in section 16 (12).
The ILC policy does not apply to fishing licences issued under the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations.

Criteria

Before an eligible inshore or coastal licence may be issued to a wholly-owned company, the following criteria are to be met:
1. For inshore licences, the licence holder must be the sole shareholder of the company and must meet the Independent Core eligibility criteria;
2. The company must provide certification by legal counsel or a registered professional accountant verifying that any shares, voting and non-voting, are issued to and controlled by the Independent Core licence holder or, in the case of licences issued in the coastal sector, the individual coastal licence holder.
3. The company must file a declaration confirming that the sole shareholder of the company has not transferred the use or control of any of the rights or privileges conferred under the licence, unless authorized as per s.19(5) of the AFRs or s.29.2(5) of the MPFRs.
4. The company must provide a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation showing the registration number and the official name of the company.
5. The sole shareholder of the company does not hold shares in another wholly-owned company that has been issued an inshore or coastal licence for that same species or has been issued a licence for the same species as an individual (with the exception of section 11.8 Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy of Eastern Canada - historical exemption clauses in Maritimes Region, and other licensing flexibility tools - e.g. Combining).
When exercising their discretion to renew a licence, the Minister reserves the right at the time of renewal to confirm that wholly-owned companies in the inshore and coastal fisheries sectors continue to meet the requirements of policy, as listed in subsection (1).

Rules applicable in the case of death of the sole shareholder

The following rules apply upon the death of the sole shareholder of a company holding an inshore or coastal licence.

Where a licence is issued to a wholly-owned company and the sole shareholder dies, the Department will only authorize an officer of the company, to conduct transactions on behalf of the wholly-owned company:
- The officer will be granted the authority to submit:
  1. A request for a substitute operator to continue to prosecute the fishery on the company's behalf; or
  2. A request to reissue the licence to another licence holder who meets the eligibility criteria laid out in the applicable sections of DFO regulations and policies.
The request for a substitute operator or to reissue the licence must not exceed five years from the date of death of the original licence holder who was the sole shareholder of the wholly owned company:
- If the wholly owned company intends to continue to be issued the licence beyond the 5 year maximum, all shares of the company must be transferred and controlled by one individual who meets the eligibility criteria as per DFO regulations and policies.
- If the death of the sole shareholder occurs after a fishing season has started, the wholly owned company may continue to be issued and benefit from the licence(s) up to the end of that season.
The licence must be renewed annually and maintained in good standing with the fees paid prior to the licence being issued.

16. Change of licence holder

Current legislation provides that licences are not transferable. However, subject to regulations, the Minister in "their absolute discretion" may for administrative efficiency prescribe in policy those conditions or requirements under which they will issue a licence to a new licence holder as a "replacement" for an existing licence being relinquished. These prescribed conditions or requirements are specified in this document.
Subject to subsection (5), a replacement licence may be issued upon request by the current licence holder to an eligible individual or company recommended by the current licence holder.
Upon request by the current licence holder, licences may be relinquished and following approval by DFO, may be issued to an Indigenous organization as a new communal commercial licence under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations.
A licence may only be issued as a replacement licence once in every twelve (12) month period.
Subject to subsection (6), reissuable inshore licences for fisheries where only vessels less than 19.8m (65') are permitted to be used may only be issued as a replacement to the head of a core enterprise.
All inshore licences held by the head of a core enterprise may be issued as replacement licences only as a package to a qualified new entrant.
Entry into the Independent Core group is possible only by acquiring a Core enterprise. In addition, to qualify as a new entrant into the core group, an individual must meet all regional eligibility criteria, please see the DFO regional licensing policies listed in Annex VII for further instruction.
The core status is transferred to the new licence holder upon issuance of the replacement licences.
The head of a core enterprise will lose their core status immediately upon relinquishing the last key licence issued to them, except in Maritimes Region where the criteria is the last inshore licence. For the purpose of this policy, licences listed in Annex I are designated as key licences, or in the Maritimes Region, licences listed in Annex I are designated as inshore licences.
Subject to section (14), where there is a change in the controlling interest of a corporation that holds a licence, Ministerial approval will be required for renewal of the licences upon their expiry. Except for pre-1979 corporations, where a licence holder previously owned the controlling interest in that corporation, inshore licences held by that corporation will not be renewed upon expiry.
Licences for coastal fisheries may be issued as replacement licences to any individual unless provided otherwise in a species management plan. Until 1997, or earlier where management plans have been approved, eligibility rules that existed in 1995 will apply. Fisheries deemed either inshore or coastal for the purpose of this licensing policy are listed in Annex II.
The following licences may not be issued as replacement licences to another licence holder:
1. category B lobster licences;
2. exploratory licences;
3. herring fixed gear licences where vessels 15.2m (50') LOA and over are used (Gulf Region);
4. salmon;
5. groundfish licences (including handlines) held by heads of non-core enterprises that are not pre-79 corporations;
6. special groundfish gillnet licences for Canso Area;
7. bait-fishing licences;
8. mackerel handline licences;
All conditions specified in a licence (i.e. area, gear type etc.) will be maintained upon the issuance of a replacement licence with the exception of the following:
1. Authorized overlaps will, under the Sector Management Policy, expire when:
  1. a replacement groundfish licence is issued to an individual residing in an alternate homeport division (e.g. 4Vn to 4X); or
  2. the present groundfish licence holder takes up residence in an alternate homeport division.
2. Subject to paragraph (c), historical overlap privileges under the Sector Management Policy will expire when:
  1. a replacement groundfish licence is issued to another individual;
  2. the vessel is lost through repossession by a lending authority; or
  3. the vessel is replaced.
3. Historical overlap privileges will not expire when a vessel is lost through fire, sinking, through circumstances beyond the licence holder's control etc.

Provisions regarding the issuance of replacement licences are specific to individual DFO Region/Sectors, please refer to the applicable DFO regional licensing policy listed in Annex VII.

17. Licence Splits

The splitting of mobile gear groundfish and mobile gear shrimp licences used on the same vessel is permitted provided the recipient of the shrimp licence combines it with a mobile gear groundfish licence for the same vessel size class.
The splitting of swordfish longline and non-bluefin tuna licences is not permitted.

18. Residency, homeport, or area of historical fishing

Residency, area of historical fishing or homeport may be used as eligibility requirements when new or replacement licences are issued.
Where residency, area of historical fishing or homeport are not used as eligibility requirements of licence issuance, then the proposed recipient of a replacement licence must meet the eligibility requirements for the area of residence of the present licence holder.
Unless provided otherwise in a management plan or applicable DFO regional licensing policy, a replacement inshore licence may only be issued to the head of a core enterprise or qualified new entrant:
1. who is resident of the same DFO Administrative Area where the head of the core enterprise who is relinquishing that licence was a resident when the licence was originally issued to them.
Requests for the issuance of any replacement licences for vessels 19.8m (65') LOA and over, will be reviewed and decided upon on a case by case basis.
Notwithstanding subsection (4), a swordfish longline replacement licence may be issued to any qualified individual or company in any of the four regions (Gulf, Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador, or Quebec).
For regional details on residency, homeport or the area of historical fishing requirements, please refer to the applicable DFO regional licensing policy listed in Annex VII.

19. Disposition of licence(s) in case of death of licence holder

Where the holder of a licence dies, a replacement licence may be issued in accordance with the policy on change of licence holder as stipulated under section 16, taking into consideration the request of the executor or of the legally appointed administrator. The estate may be given up to five years after the death to recommend an eligible individual to whom a reissuable replacement licence may be issued. The estate cannot be issued additional licences.
A non-reissuable licence expires upon the death of a licence holder.
During the five-year period referred to under subsection (1), the licence must be renewed annually and the Department may authorize the use of a substitute operator.
For the purpose of renewing all licences or issuing of a replacement licence to a new licence holder, the executor or the legally appointed administrator must sign any related documents.

20. Disposition of licence(s) in case of bankruptcy of a corporation

Where a corporation that holds a licence is put into receivership, the licence held by the corporation remains valid, but will not be amended.
Once this licence expires and in the absence of notification from the officers of the corporation that the corporation is continued, the Licensing Authority will either:
- not renew the licence in question; or
- issue a replacement licence to an eligible applicant.

21. Issuance of new commercial licences

New inshore licences for fisheries where only vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA are permitted to be used will be offered only to heads of core enterprises.
The issuance of new licences requires approval by the Minister unless provided otherwise under the applicable DFO regional licensing policy set out in Annex VII.
For the issuance of new inshore licences for fisheries where only vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA are permitted to be used, where the number of new licences is limited and where there are more applicants than licences available, licence holders will be selected through a random draw among heads of core enterprises who meet criteria established in consultation with appropriate industry representatives.
For the issuance of midshore and offshore licences for vessels 19.8m (65') LOA and over, eligibility criteria and applicant selection mechanisms will be developed on a case by case basis.

22. Issuance of exploratory licences

If a fishery is new, developing or underutilized, exploratory licences may be issued upon approval of the Minister.
New exploratory licences for fisheries using vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA will be offered only to heads of core enterprises.
The issuance of an exploratory licence does not imply any further commitment by the Minister to issue a similar licence to the same licence holder upon expiry of the exploratory licence.
A licence holder who is issued an exploratory licence will be required to meet established participation requirements and other program requirements to be eligible to be issued a similar licence once that exploratory licence expires.
Holders of exploratory licences may be given priority to receive regular licences for the same fishery.
For the issuance of new exploratory licences for fisheries where vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA are permitted, where the number of exploratory licences is limited and where there are more applicants than licences available, licence holders will be selected through a random draw among heads of core enterprises which meet criteria established in consultation with appropriate industry representatives.
For vessels 19.8m (65') LOA and over, eligibility criteria and applicant selection mechanisms will be developed on a case by case basis.

23. Vessel repossession

Subject to subsection (2), licence(s) remain(s) with a licence holder when their vessel has been repossessed:
1. On receipt of written notification from a Government Lending Authority (e.g., Provincial Loan board) of vessel repossession, all fishing licences issued in respect of the vessel involved will remain valid, but will not be amended.
2. The Licensing Authority will maintain the eligibility to the fishing licence(s) in the name of the present licence holder for a maximum period of 60 days. This period is intended to enable the licence holder to settle or renegotiate their loan.
3. Following the expiry of the 60-day period, and in the absence of notification of a settlement from the Government Lending Authority involved, the licence holder will lose their eligibility to renew the licence(s) held in respect of the vessel repossessed and the Licensing Authority will either:
  1. not reissue the licence(s) in question; or
  2. issue a replacement licence(s) to eligible applicant(s).
4. In the case of vessel repossessions involving enterprise allocation:
  1. licence holders with one vessel: any licence and enterprise allocations held will revert to the Licensing Authority for possible reallocation.
  2. (ii) licence holders with more than one vessel: a portion of the licence holder's enterprise allocations equivalent to the average historical catch of the vessel repossessed will revert to the Licensing Authority for possible reallocation.
For the purpose of section 23, the expression "Government Lending Authority" includes a governmental authority which provides guarantees for loans granted by private institutions.

Chapter 4 - Vessel replacement rules for vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA

24. Vessel replacement rules

The replacement of a vessel utilized in more than one fishery (e.g. groundfish and shrimp) will be governed by the most restrictive vessel replacement rules.
If a vessel less than 65' (19.8m) LOA in any fishery is replaced with one of a smaller size than the vessel being replaced, a licence holder will retain their eligibility to reenter in the future a vessel as large as the replaced vessel.

All Regions

A. Groundfish

The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 10.7m (35') LOA may not have the licence amended to authorize the use of any vessel 10.7m (35') LOA or longer.
The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 13.7 m (45’) LOA may not have the licence amended to authorize the use of a vessel 13.7m (45’) LOA or longer.
The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 15.24 m (50’) LOA may not have the licence amended to authorize the use of a vessel 15.24 m (50’) LOA or longer.
The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 19.8m (65’) LOA may not have the licence amended to authorize the use of a vessel 19.8m (65’) LOA or longer.
Notwithstanding subsection 6 above, in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region, the holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 19.8m (65’) LOA may register a vessel up to a maximum of 27.4m (89’11”) LOA, providing they meet the licence criteria in the Fisheries Licensing Policy Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

Quebec Region

B. Scallop

The holder of a scallop licence may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.2m (50') LOA or longer, except for Scallop Fishing Areas 16A, 17A, 18B and 18C where vessels up to 19.8m (65') LOA may be utilized.

C. Snow crab, lobster, whelk, capelin, mackerel, herring, sea urchin, or surf clam

The holder of an inshore snow crab (for Areas 12A and Area 16 group B), lobster, whelk, capelin, mackerel, herring, sea urchin or surf clam licence may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.2m (50') LOA or longer.

D. Snow crab Area 12 Traditional Fleet

The holder of a Snow Crab Area 12 licence who is a member of the Traditional fleet is authorized to use a vessel less than 30.5 m (100’) LOA, and may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 30.5 m (100’) LOA or longer.

Newfoundland and Labrador Region

E. All species

The same vessel replacement rules applicable to groundfish also apply to all other species.

Gulf Region

F. Crab

Snow Crab Area 12 Traditional Fleet in Eastern New Brunswick (ENB) and Gulf Nova Scotia (GNS):
1. The holder of a Snow Crab Area 12 licence who is a member of the traditional fleet in ENB and GNS is authorized to use a vessel less than 30.5 m (100’) LOA, and may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 30.5 m (100’) LOA or longer.
Snow Crab Area 12 in Eastern New Brunswick (ENB) and Gulf Nova Scotia (GNS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI):
1. The holder of a Snow Crab Area 12 licence who is not a member of the traditional fleet in ENB and GNS is authorized to use a vessel less than 19.8m (65’) LOA, and may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 19.8m (65’) LOA or longer.
Snow Crab Area 19:
1. The holder of a Snow Crab Area 19 licence who is not a member of the traditional fleet in ENB and GNS is authorized to use a vessel less than 13.7m (45’) LOA, and may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 13.7m (45’) LOA or longer.

G. Other species

The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 13.7m (45') LOA may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 13.7m (45') LOA or longer.
The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel between 13.7m (45') LOA and 15.2m (50') LOA may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.2m (50') LOA or longer.
The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel between 15.2m (50') LOA and 19.8m (65') LOA may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 19.8m (65') LOA or longer.

Maritimes Region

H. Lobster

The holder of a lobster licence for Lobster Fishing Area 33 or 34 may not have the licence amended to authorize the use of a vessel 15.24m (50’) LOA or longer.

I. Herring

The holder of a herring drift net licence may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.24m (50’) LOA or longer.

J. Scallop

Scallop Fishing Area 29 (inshore Scotian Shelf):
1. The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 15.24m (50’) LOA may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.24m (50’) LOA or longer.
2. The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel 15.24m (50’) LOA up to but not including 19.8m (65’) may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 19.81m (65’) LOA or longer.
Mid Bay:
1. The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel less than 10.7m (35’) LOA may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 10.7m (35’) LOA or longer;
2. The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel 10.7m (35’) LOA up to but not including 15.24m (50’) LOA may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.24m (50’) LOA or longer;
3. The holder of a licence authorized to use a vessel 15.24 (50’) LOA up to but not including 19.8m (65’) LOA may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 19.8m (65’) LOA or longer.
Upper Bay:
1. The holder of a scallop licence for upper bay may not have the licence issued to them amended to authorize vessels 15.24m (50’) LOA or longer.

K. Mackerel

The holder of a mackerel purse seine licence may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.24m (50’) LOA or longer.
Vessels attached to hand line-only licences held by licence holders with no other licences may be replaced by vessels less than 7.62m (25') LOA, or by vessels the same LOA as the vessel being replaced, whichever is greater. If the licence holder holds other licences, replacement vessels must meet the Maritimes regional vessel replacement policy for the licence with the most restrictive LOA, not including the hand-line only Mackerel licence.

L. Inshore clam (Stimpson Surf Clams, Ocean Quahogs, and Propeller Clams)

The holder of an inshore quahaug licence for mechanical harvesting may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 15.24m (50’) LOA or longer.

M. Inshore hagfish (slime eels)

With the exception of licences authorized to fish NAFO Divisions 4X, vessels are restricted to less than 19.8m (65') LOA.
Vessels attached to licences with access to NAFO division 4X are restricted to less than 15.24m (50') LOA.

N. Sea urchin

The licence holder of a sea urchin licence may be authorized to use auxiliary vessels up to 7.3m (25’) LOA.

O. Other species

The holder of a licence for any other species may not have the licence amended to use a vessel 19.8m (65') LOA or longer, unless specified in the applicable DFO regional licensing policy or under a historical exemption.

Chapter 5 - Policies for vessels 19.8m (65') LOA and greater

25. Processing at sea policy

Licence holders are permitted to process at sea (filleting) only the following non-traditional groundfish species: silver hake, grenadier, argentine.

26. Factory freezer trawler policy Groundfish -1996-2000

A maximum of three groundfish factory freezer trawler (FFT) licences may be issued to selected East coast fishing companies.
One licence each is reserved for National Sea Products and Fishery Products International, while the third licence is reserved for a corporation or consortium from the remaining offshore groundfish corporations.
At least 50 per cent of a factory freezer trawler's catch must be made up of previously underutilized Enterprise Allocations as identified prior to the licence being issued.
No more than 6,000t of a corporation's 2J3KL (Northern) cod allocation can be harvested by a FFT in any one year.
FFTs will not be permitted to operate in the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the Bay of Fundy.
To operate a FFT, a corporation must retire a vessel from its present fleet in accordance with the existing vessel replacement guidelines under the Enterprise Allocation program.
A corporation must outline an acceptable plan to minimize the socio-economic/community impact.
All information associated with the operation of the FFTs must be made available to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans upon request.
FFTs must be registered immediately as Canadian vessels and crewed fully by Canadians.
Canadian Conversion Factors for the purpose of quota monitoring will apply. The provisional factors for cod, redfish, small flatfish and Greenland halibut to the round state are identified in STACAC Standards Documents.
FFTs should meet DFO plant certification and regulations subject to adjustments for processing at sea.
There will be 100 per cent observer coverage required and the cost will be paid by the licence holder. Provisions must be made on board for up to two observers, if required.
The Department will be charging a licence fee based on a company's individual Enterprise Allocations.

27. Vessel replacement rules

The holder of a groundfish or shrimp licence authorized to use a midshore vessel 19.8m (65') LOA and over but less than 30.5m (100') LOA may not have the licence amended to authorize the use of a vessel:
1. with a LOA greater than 105 percent of the LOA of the original vessel, up to a maximum of 30.5m (100') LOA; and
2. with a hold capacity that exceeds 110 percent of the hold capacity of the original vessel.
Notwithstanding subsection (1) and subject to section (28), the holder of a groundfish licence participating in the Midshore EA Program may have the licence amended to authorize the use of only one vessel less than 30.5m (100') LOA per vessel authorized on the licence.
Subject to section (28), the holder of a groundfish licence authorized to use an offshore vessel 30.5m (100') LOA and over may have the licence amended to authorize the use of only one vessel of any length per vessel authorized on the licence.
A wetfish vessel may be replaced by a freezer vessel.

28. Temporary vessel replacement program

This program does not apply to vessels or licence holders based in 2J3KLPs.
The use of vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA by midshore or offshore EA groundfish licence holders must be for a well-defined period of time. It is not the intent of this policy to permit vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA to regularly switch between offshore, midshore and inshore sectors. A vessel less than 19.8m (65') LOA will be identified on a midshore or offshore EA groundfish licence for a minimum period of 2 months. The deadline for approving the use of a vessel less than 19.8m (65') LOA under the Program is October 25 of each calendar year.
A maximum of two vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA will be permitted to replace one midshore or offshore vessel at any one time, subject to the following exception:
- Midshore and offshore companies may replace one offshore or midshore vessel with more than two vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA providing that the replacement vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA are licensed for inshore groundfish in the name of the company.
If the replacement is a "one for one" replacement, then the less than 19.8m (65') LOA vessel would have access to the offshore or midshore competitive quotas.
If the replacement is "two for one" replacement, then the less than 19.8m (65') LOA vessels would not have access to the offshore or midshore competitive quotas.
Vessels less than 19.8m (65') LOA participating in the Program will be subject to the same specific licence condition or requirements as the midshore or offshore vessels being replaced, including the use of observers where required, participation into the dockside monitoring program, as well as conforming to all reporting and regulatory requirements.
While their vessels are fishing for a midshore or offshore EA groundfish licence holder, inshore fishers participating in the program must have these vessels removed from any inshore licence they have been issued.

Chapter 6 - Seal licensing policy for Eastern Canada

This Seal Licensing Policy, made under the authority of the Fisheries Act and its Regulations, forms part of the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada and should be interpreted accordingly.

Note: In this policy, the expression "hunting for" has the same meaning as the expression "fishing for" as used in the Marine Mammal Regulations.

29. Application of policy

This policy applies to the registration of fishing vessels and the issuance of licences to all persons hunting (fishing) for, taking, or killing seals or otherwise engaging in sealing operations throughout the Canadian Fisheries Waters on the Atlantic Coast and, more specifically, the Sealing Areas 4 to 33 and the northern Quebec and Labrador portions of Sealing Area 3.

30. Interpretation

In this Policy, expressions have the same meanings as in the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada or as defined below:

"Beneficiary" means a person enrolled as a beneficiary under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
"Sealing" means, for the purpose of the present policy, the hunting (fishing) for, killing and skinning of seals, the handling and transporting of raw seal pelts, meat or carcasses from the place where they are killed to the land and the transporting of persons engaged in sealing to and from the killing area, and includes searching for seals from helicopters and other aircraft.
"Sealing Licence" means that licence which is issued in respect of hunting (fishing) for seals under the authority of the Marine Mammal Regulations.
"Subsistence" means for personal use or for community use as defined in chapter 24 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

31. Exemptions

An Indigenous person other than a Beneficiary may, without a licence, hunt (fish) for seals for food, social and ceremonial purpose.
A Beneficiary may, without a licence, hunt (fish) for seals for subsistence purposes within the area covered by the agreement under which he is enrolled.
A person other than a person referred to in subsection (1) or (2) above, residing immediately adjacent to any of Sealing Areas 1 to 4 may hunt (fish) for seals without a licence in those Sealing Areas for food, clothing and personal utilization purposes.

32. Type of licence

Professional sealing licences are those licences issued to persons who may engage in sealing on their own and who may supervise assistant sealers.
Assistant sealing licences are those licences issued to persons who do not meet the eligibility criteria to receive professional sealing licences and who may not engage in sealing except under the supervision of a person who holds a professional sealing licence.
Personal-use sealing licences are those licences issued to authorize the taking of up to six seals a year for personal use only.

33. Eligibility

Professional sealing licences may only be issued to persons who held a professional sealing licence during the previous year.
Assistant sealing licences may only be issued to persons who are not eligible to receive a professional sealing licence and who are in possession of a written confirmation from a professional sealer to the effect that the assistant sealer will be hunting (fishing) under the supervision of this professional sealer during the following sealing season.
Notwithstanding section 33(1), professional sealing licences may be issued to persons who meet the following conditions:
1. Are 18 years of age or more; and
2. Have been issued assistant sealing licences and have actively participated in the seal fishery during the two preceding years.
Notwithstanding sections 33(1) and 33 (3), professional sealing licences may be issued to Beneficiaries, Indians or Inuit who are recognized as commercial hunters by their community or their band. Regarding Beneficiaries, licences must be issued according to article 24.3.18 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.
Licences may specify any one or more of the following conditions:
1. the species and the stage of development of seals and quantities thereof that are permitted to be taken;
2. the waters in which sealing is permitted to be carried out;
3. the period during which sealing is permitted to be carried out;
4. the vessel that is permitted to be used;
5. the person or persons permitted to operate the specified vessel;
6. the type and quantity of sealing gear and equipment that is permitted to be used and the manner in which it is to be used;
7. the specific location at which sealing gear is permitted to be set;
8. whether seals taken are for personal use only and may not be sold, bartered or traded;
9. whether seal carcasses are to be landed; and
10. the information that shall be reported to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The holder of a sealing licence may not be authorized to use a vessel 19.8m (65') LOA or longer.
Where a vessel is being used in sealing, all members of the vessel crew including the captain/operator must hold valid sealing licences and at least one member of the crew must hold a professional sealing licence.
Where a vessel longer than 10.7m (35') LOA is used, the vessel must be registered and specified as a condition on the professional sealing licence of a person who is on board the vessel during the sealing operations.
Personal-use sealing licences may be issued to:
1. individuals who held a personal-use sealing licence the previous year and who hold a valid provincial hunting licence for big game or a hunter's capability certificate; or
2. individuals who held or were eligible to hold a professional or assistant sealing licence the previous year and who hold a valid provincial hunting licence for big game or a hunter's capability certificate; or
3. individuals, 18 years of age or older, residing immediately adjacent to established sealing areas throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the Quebec North Shore, the Gaspé Peninsula, the Magdalen Islands, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia who hold a valid provincial hunting licence for big game or a hunter's capability certificate and have attended a mandatory training session.
Mandatory Humane Harvesting:
1. It is mandatory that all Commercial Seal harvesters (Professional and Assistant) be trained in the three-step process of Humane Harvesting through an accredited DFO Humane Harvesting course.
2. Participation in Personal Use Humane Harvesting training cannot be used to substitute for the successful completion of the mandatory Commercial Humane Harvesting training.

Chapter 7 - Appeal process and procedures

34. Access to appeal process

Eligible inshore and coastal licence holders who are not satisfied with licensing decisions taken by DFO officials have a right to appeal those decisions. To appeal a licensing decision, a written request must be filed within three years of a Departmental licensing decision or a change in policy that impacted a licensing decision.
Decisions regarding licence eligibility requirements outlined in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations, cannot be appealed through the appeal process.

35. Appeal system (structure)

The Departmental Appeal Committee structure is described in Annex IV.
The role of the Regional Licensing Appeal Committee is to review all pertinent information and recommend to the Regional Director General that an appellant's request be approved or denied.
Appellants will be notified in writing of the time and location of their appeal hearing.
An appellant has the right to appear in-person and/or to be represented by another individual at all appeal levels.
An appellant will be notified in writing as to the outcome of the appeal hearing.
If the decision of the Regional Director General is negative, the appellants will be informed of the details respecting how an appeal may be made to the Atlantic Fisheries Licence Appeal Board.
Each of the four DFO regions in Eastern Canada have its own appeal board: Newfoundland and Labrador, Maritimes, Gulf and Quebec.
The Atlantic Fisheries Licence Appeal Board will only hear appeals requested by licence holders who have had their appeals rejected following hearings by Regional Licensing Appeal Committees:
1. The Board will consider only those licensing appeals which deal with policies for vessels less than 19.7m (65') LOA.
2. The Board will only hear appeal requests made within three years from the date of a licensing decision or a change in policy.
3. The Board will make recommendations to the Minister on licensing appeals rejected through the Regional Licensing Appeal Structure by:
  1. determining if the appellant was treated fairly in accordance with the Department's licensing policies, practices and procedures;
  2. determining if extenuating circumstances exist for deviation from established policies, practices, or procedures;
4. Where the Board recommends making an exception to policy, practice or procedure in an individual case, the Board will provide a full rationale for its recommendation to the Minister.
5. The Board may make recommendations to the Minister on changes to licensing practices and procedures where, in the opinion of the Board, they are inappropriate or unfair, by:
  1. the Chairman advising the Board Liaison Officer of any issues or concerns;
  2. addressing such concerns at full Board meetings;
  3. providing a written rationale or justification supporting the recommended change;
  4. providing a written assessment of the perceived implications of the proposed change.
Notwithstanding subsection (8), the Minister may refer to the Board any decision they may wish to have reviewed.

Chapter 8 - Policy amendments

36. Amendment procedures

Where the need to change a policy arises, the proposed changes will be submitted to the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, for review and approval.

37. Consultations

The Department recognizes the need to provide opportunities for public review and input in the development of licensing policies.
It is the policy of the Department to consult the fishing industry and provincial governments on major or controversial licensing issues and on the development of new policies and legislation with respect to licensing.
The Minister may consider all views expressed in arriving at a decision, consistent with the government's stated objectives.

38. Notification of licensing policy amendments

Every reasonable effort will be taken by the Department to inform members of the fishing industry of all changes to licensing policy, through press announcements, regional newsletters and through the existing consultative process, allowing sufficient lead time for fishers to adjust to the new policy.

Annex I

Key licences (or inshore licences for the Maritimes region)

A. Newfoundland and Labrador Region

Key licences are groundfish, cod handline, capelin, lobster, snow crab, scallop, shrimp, all species using purse seine, and, on the Labrador coast, salmon and Arctic char.

B. Maritimes Region

Inshore licences are clam (Stimpson surf, Ocean Quahogs, Propellor), Crab (Jonah, Red, Snow, Rock), groundfish (except ITQ fleets and handline-only), hagfish, herring (except purse seine, trap net, and weir), category A lobster, mackerel (except trap net and weir), scallop (except the Full Bay fleet), sea cucumber, sea urchin, shrimp (SFA 16 and Chedabucto Bay trap nets), swordfish (harpoon only), Bluefin tuna (Tobin 10 and Dhaliwal 10).

C. Gulf Region

Key inshore licences:

Shrimp, snow crab, category A lobster, groundfish other than handline, scallop, bluefin tuna and herring.

Key coastal licences:

In ENB Administrative Area- softshell clams, eel, gaspereau, oysters, smelt;
In PEI Administrative Area – clams-unspecified, American eel, marine plants, oysters, oyster relay, smelt; and
In GNS Administrative Area – clams-unspecified, eel, gaspereau, smelt.

D. Quebec Region

Key licences are shrimp, snow crab, lobster, groundfish other than handline, scallop, herring and, on the Lower North Shore, capelin.

Annex II

Fisheries deemed either inshore or coastal fisheries

Inshore fisheries

Billfish
Capelin
Crab
Groundfish
Hagfish
Herring
Lobster
Mackerel
Clam (Mechanical gear)
Periwinkle
Salmon/Char
Scallop
Sea Cucumber
Sea Urchin
Shark
Shrimp
Silverside
Squid
Swordfish
Tuna
Whelk

Coastal fisheries

Alewives
Bass
Clam (Hand tools)
Eel
Gaspereau
Herring Weir
Marine Plants
Mussels
Oysters
Seal
Shad
Smelt

Any species not listed above are deemed coastal fisheries, unless otherwise listed in DFO regional licensing policy. Maritimes Region has inshore exempted fleets, which can be found under Annex I in the Maritimes Region Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy.

Annex III

Open Entry Fisheries (Regions)

Quebec

Clams (Atlantic surf clam, Stimpson’s surf clam, Mussels, Atlantic Razor Clam):

No licence is required for the manual collection of up to 300 of these shellfish in a single day for personal consumption.
Free access for residents of the Magdalen Islands area and certain areas of the North Shore to obtain a commercial fishing licence for hand harvesting of these molluscs.

Seals: Licences issued as per chapter 6 of this document.
Bait: Licences issued as per Chapter 3, section 11.5, of this document.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Squid: Trap or jigger licences available to the head of a core enterprise who have a vessel less than 19.8m (65') LOA registered. Licences available for all groundfish licence holders operating vessels 19.7m (65') LOA or greater.
Seals: Licences issued as per chapter 6 of this document.
Whelk: Licences are available to heads of a core enterprise in NAFO divisions 2HJ, 3KL, 4R3Pn who have a vessel less than 19.8m (65') LOA registered. There are no new licences available in NAFO division 3Ps.
Scallop: New licences available in Scallop Fishing Area 1 subject to the provisions of Land Claims Agreements.
Bait: Licences issued as per Chapter 3, section 11.5, of this document.

Maritimes

Marine Plants: Nova Scotia marine plant harvest is open entry.
Squid: Jigger and handline licences are available to licence holders who hold at least one other inshore or exempted fleet licence. Otter trawl or purse seine licences are available to licence holders who hold licences for otter trawl or purse seine for another species.
Herring/Mackerel Bait: May be issued to a licence holder who holds a licence to fish commercially by a method which historically includes the use of bait.
Seal: Licences issued as per chapter 6 of this document.

Gulf

Mussels: Limited entry except licences to fish by hand or with hand held tools which are available to Coastal or Independent Core licence holders.
Squid: Open access except for trap licences, providing applicant is head of a core enterprise, or full-time licence holder and is licensed for same gear type (e.g. groundfish mechanical jigger may be licensed for squid mechanical jigger).
Mackerel: Limited entry except for gillnet licences which may be issued to any Independent Core fish licence holder, or their wholly owned company who holds a herring fixed gear licence for a vessel less than 15.2m (50') LOA. Handline and mechanical device licences which may be issued to any head of a core enterprise.
Seal: Licences issued as per chapter 6 of this document.
Bait: Licences issued as per Chapter 3, section 11.5, of this document.

Any fisheries not listed above for open entry fisheries are considered limited entry fisheries.

Annex IV

Appeal Committee Structure

First Level – Regional Licensing Appeal Committee

Committee Composition: DFO Staff who are not employed in the Fisheries Management Branch
Reports to: Regional Director General

Second Level – Atlantic Fisheries Licence Appeal Board

Committee Composition:
1. One Chairperson; and
2. Up to six individuals appointed by the Minister to each of the four Eastern Canada Regions.
3. One Departmental Representative (non-voting)
Reports to: Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Annex V

List of inshore licences held by corporations prior to 1979

I. Maritimes Region
Corporation	Species	Licence No.	Maximum LOA
Claredon S. Nickerson Ltd.	Groundfish	100490	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Clearwater Seafoods Limited	Swordfish	108410	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108413	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108417	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108601	Less than 19.8m (65’)
D.B.K Seafood Ltd.	Shrimp	107479	Less than 19.8m (65’)
D.B.K Seafood Ltd.	Swordfish	108736	Less than 19.8m (65’)
GM Newell Co. Ltd.	Swordfish	108353	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	111216	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Lobster	111464	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Inshore Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	108289	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108298	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108421	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108531	Less than 19.8m (65’)

II. Gulf Region
Corporation	Species	Licence No.	Maximum LOA
Produits Belle-Baie Ltée	Groundfish	029103	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Produits Belle-Baie Ltée	Snow crab	015349	Less than 30.5m (100’)
Pêcheries Jimmy L. Ltée	Snow crab	015361	Less than 30.5m (100’)

III. Quebec Region
Corporation	Species	Licence No.	Maximum LOA
Lucien Doucet et fils	Groundfish	11734	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Herring	11297	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Whelk	11154	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Snow crab	11242	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Les Crustacés de Gaspé Ltée	Snow crab	9166	Less than 30.48m (100’)
	Snow crab	9170	Less than 30.48m (100’)
	Herring	9372	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Snow crab	9171	Less than 30.48m (100’)
	Herring	9371	Less than 15.24m (50’)

IV. Newfoundland and Labrador Region
Corporation	Species	Licence No.	Maximum LOA
Oceans Choice International	Snow crab	27757	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Snow crab	27754	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Snow crab	27756	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Snow crab	27758	Less than 19.8m (65’)

Annex VI – List of inshore licences held by corporations prior to 1989

Maritimes Region
Corporation	Species	Licence No.	Maximum LOA
B & J Draggers Ltd.	Mackerel	107228	Less than 19.8m (65’)
B & K Trawlers Ltd.	Herring	104767	Less than 19.8m (65’)
B & K Trawlers Ltd.	Lobster	111531	Less than 15.24m (50’)
B. Leblanc Fisheries Ltd.	Herring	104545	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108653	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	110394	Less than 19.8m (65’)
D&M Fisheries Ltd.	Crab (Jonah)	100041	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Herring	104542	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Mackerel	106146	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108711	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Double Don Fisheries Ltd.	Herring	104841	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Mackerel	107422	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108683	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	111004	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Lobster	112153	Less than 15.24m (50’)
E.E Morash Fisheries	Groundfish	100936	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Herring	104982	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Mackerel	106446	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Flat Rock Fisheries Ltd.	Herring	103859	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Flat Rock Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	109129	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Four Links Fisheries Ltd.	Hagfish (slime eel)	336700	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Hazelton Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	108345	Less than 19.8m (65’)
J Fralic & Sons Fisheries	Groundfish	101199	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Herring	104190	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Mackerel	105825	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Janet and Jamie Fisheries Ltd.	Snow crab	100148	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Herring	105320	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Mackerel	106813	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Jenny May Fisheries Ltd.	Mackerel	107218	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Jenny May Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	108317	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Just our luck Fisheries Ltd.	Groundfish	100758	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Scallop	107989	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Swordfish	108669	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Kate Fisheries Ltd.	Groundfish	101043	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Lady Gaudet Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	108703	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Lawrence Corkum Fish Ltd.	Herring	103929	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Link & Sons Fisheries Ltd.	Lobster	112210	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Little Lahave Trawlers Ltd.	Snow crab	100123	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Shrimp	107475	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	110155	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Nippard Fisheries Ltd.	Groundfish	101025	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Nippard Fisheries Ltd.	Groundfish	100461	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Philip C. Irwin Fisheries Ltd.	Groundfish	102320	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Herring	105125	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Mackerel	106544	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Swordfish	108666	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	112206	Less than 15.24m (50’)
RJ King Fisheries Ltd.	Mackerel	105492	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Special K Fisheries Ltd.	Groundfish	100602	Less than 10.7m (35’)
	Groundfish	101779	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Herring	103856	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Shrimp	107491	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Scallop (mid-bay)	107619	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	109944	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	111292	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	112491	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	112555	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Stacey & Curtis Fish Ltd.	Groundfish	100793	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Herring	104471	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Mackerel	106123	Less than 19.8m (65’)
	Lobster	110824	Less than 15.24m (50’)
	Lobster	110981	Less than 15.24m (50’)
Vanco Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	108311	Less than 19.8m (65’)
Vanco Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	108610	Less than 19.8m (65’)
W T Grover Fisheries Ltd.	Swordfish	108342	Less than 19.8m (65’)

Annex VII – Regional licensing policies

Maritimes Region Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy
Fisheries Licensing Policy Newfoundland and Labrador Region
Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for the Gulf Region
Commercial fisheries licensing policy for Eastern Canada for the Quebec Region, or contact fishing-peche@dfo.mpo.gc.ca or 1-877-535-7307.

Date modified:: 2026-06-30