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Commercial Fishing & Aquaculture Permits

Use the links to jump to a section of licenses/permits by activity or category:

Marine and Freshwater Bait Collection/Sale
License/Permit Name Brief Description Fees Additional
Information
Freshwater Bait Fish Dealer
(fish & insects)
For taking and selling (wholesale or retail) certain freshwater fish and aquatic insects as bait, such as: minnows, darters, sticklebacks, tadpoles, smelt or ice fish, suckers, alewives or sawbellies. Varies To apply or get more details, view the license/permit page
Marine Bait Allows the taking of Atlantic menhaden (bunker), silversides, and killifish and the selling of these fish as bait at retail only. $50
To apply or get more details, contact Bureau of Marine Resources at 631-444-0470.
Surfclam Bait Allows the taking of surfclams from uncertified areas of the Atlantic Ocean for bait purposes only. Only issued to holders of a shellfish diggers permit. None
Ribbed Mussel Bait (Town of Hempstead only) Allows the harvest of ribbed mussels from uncertified areas within the Town of Hempstead for use as bait only. Only issued to holders of a shellfish diggers permit. None
Aquaculture & Hatcheries
License/Permit Name Description/Requirements Additional Information
Freshwater Fish Hatcheries
(black bass or trout/salmon)
For breeding, rearing and selling black bass (largemouth bass and smallmouth bass) or trout/salmon for stocking or exhibition purposes. Largemouth bass may also be sold and distributed for human consumption. To apply or get more details, view the license/permit page
Import and Possess Grass Carp & Hybrid Grass Carp Allows the licensee to import, hold, and sell certified triploid grass carp.
Marine Hatchery For raising and breeding marine plant and animal life, including but not limited to molluscs, lobster, crab, shrimp and fish. Also allows for the sale of hatchery products of legal or less than legal size to other permitted marine hatcheries and hatchery/culture permit holders. To apply or get more details, contact Bureau of Marine Resources
at 631-444-0489.
On/Off Bottom Culture For raising and culturing marine plant or animal life, including containment on, or in, any rack, raft, float, cage, or similar structure and/or in any natural waters of New York State. Products are raised for eventual sale as a food product.
Marine Fish Importation Allows the importation and introduction of marine fish for cultivation purposes. Only issued to holders of a marine hatchery permit or an on/off bottom culture permit.
Shellfish Importation Allows shellfish culturist to import shellfish of legal or less than legal size into New York State for cultivation/aquaculture purposes. Only issued to holders of a marine hatchery permit or an on/off bottom culture permit.
Shellfish Bed Allows a shellfish grower to cultivate and market shellfish harvested from waters designated as "certified" on the permit. Used on privately owned underwater lands. Deed or title of underwater land, or letter of permission from landowner must be provided.
Temporary Marine Area Use Assignment 5-acre circular grant of state owned underwater lands to be used for shellfish cultivation purposes. Shellfish must be held in off-bottom culture gear only.
Lobster & Crab Fisheries
License/Permit Name Description/Requirement Resident
Fee
Non-Resident
Fee
Contact & Additional Information
Commercial Lobster (moratorium on new permits) Allows the taking and landing of lobsters from state waters or the landing of lobsters taken from outside states waters for commercial purposes $150 $225 Bureau of Marine Resources:
631-444-0470
Lobster Landing Allows the landing of lobsters legally harvested from waters outside of New York State at New York State ports and marinas. $300
Lobster Recreational (Resident, non-commercial) Allows the taking or landing of no more than six legal lobsters in one day by any legal method for the holder's own or family use. No commercial sale is permitted. $10
Lobster Bait Gill Net Allows commercial lobster harvesters to take bait fish with a single 300 foot long gill net set in an area where the use of gill nets is otherwise prohibited by law. Only issued to holders of a commercial lobster permit. None
Crab (limited entry) Allows the taking and landing of crabs for commercial purposes. $30 $50
Horseshoe Crab Permit Allows the landing and taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial purposes. Only issued to holders of a crab permit. None
Commercial Finfish (Food Fish)
License/Permit Name Description/Requirement Resident Fee Non- Resident
Fee
Contact for Additional Information
Hudson River Marine Permit
(Hudson River south of Troy Dam)
Allows the taking and landing of fish from the Hudson River with commercial gear for commercial purposes. Fee:
Varies by gear type (link leaves DEC's website)
Application for Hudson River Marine Permit (PDF)
Food Fishing Allows the taking and landing of food fish from state waters or the landing of food fish taken from waters outside the state for commercial purposes. $250 $1,250 Submit a Vessel Trip Report or report online.

Bureau of Marine Resources at 631-444-0470.
Food Fish Landing Allows the landing of food fish legally taken from waters outside of the state for commercial purposes. $500
Menhaden Purse Seine Vessel Allows the taking of menhaden by the use of a purse seine. Only issued to holders of a food fishing license. Varies by vessel size Bureau of Marine Resources:
631-444-0470

Shellfish and Whelk
License/Permit Name Description/Requirement Resident
Fee
Non-Resident
Fee
Contact for Additional Information
Shellfish Digger Allows the harvest of clams, mussels, oysters and scallops from certified or open state waters for commercial purposes. $50 $150 Bureau of Marine Resources at
631-444-0470.
Blue Mussel Allows the taking of a limited number of blue mussels by dredge from specified waters. Without this permit, blue mussels must be taken with hand gear only. Only issued to holders of a shellfish digger's permit. None
Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Allows the harvest of surfclams or ocean quahogs by mechanical means from selected waters of the marine and coastal district. Only issued to holders of a shellfish digger's permit. None
Whelk/Conch Permit
(limited entry)
Allows the taking and landing of whelks from state marine waters for commercial purposes $30 $50
Shellfish Transplant & Salvage
License/Permit Name Description/Requirement Additional Information
Seed Relay Allows commercial harvesters working on privately owned underwater lands to possess and transplant shellfish that are less than legal size. Only issued to holders of an On/Off Bottom Culture Permit. Contact the Bureau of Marine Resources at 631-444-0489.
Shellfish Transplant Authorizes the harvest, transplant, and relay of shellfish (oysters, scallops and all kinds of clams and mussels) from uncertified areas of the state for cleaning and eventual marketing as a food product, or to transfer shellfish from areas in other states into New York State shellfish lands. Only issued to holders of an On/Off Bottom Culture Permit.
Shellfish Transplant - hand harvest Allows a person to hand harvest shellfish in connection with the activities allowed by a shellfish transplant permit. Only issued to holders of a Shellfish Digger's Permit.
Scallop Salvage and Relay Allows a person to salvage and transplant bay scallops at any age to prevent destruction from predators, wind and tidal action, or other causes. Only issued to holders of a Shellfish Digger's Permit.
Shellfish Population Survey Authorizes the harvesting and surveying of shellfish in "uncertified" or "certified" waters of New York State, for the purpose of determining the quantity of shellfish in a specific location. Population surveys are undertaken as part of shellfish management programs.
Party & Charter Boat
License/Permit Name Description/Requirement Resident/Non-Resident Fee Additional
Information
Party & Charter Boat Allows the operation of a party boat or charter boat within state waters and the carrying of paying customers on fishing trips to catch and land fish according to state recreational regulations $250 Contact the Bureau of Marine Resources at 631-444-0470.

Dealers/Shippers/Processors
License/Permit Name Description/Requirement Resident Fee Non-Resident Fee Additional
Information
Food Fish & Crustacea Dealers & Shippers Allows a person or their employees to:
  • purchase and resell, trade or barter marine fish or crustacea as food or bait;
  • operate a facility for packing, holding or storing such marine fish or crustacea prior to consignment, transport or sale;
  • ship, transport or traffic in marine fish or crustacea for resale, trade or barter to persons other than the final consumer within the state ·
  • export food fish or crustacea landed in New York to outside the state.
$250 Bureau of Marine Resources at
631-444-0470.
Shellfish Shippers & Processors
(Classes A-E)
There are 5 different types of permits for shipping, processing and/or packing shellfish.
  • Class A - Shellfish Shipper
  • Class B - Shellfish Processor
  • Class C - Shellfish Reshipper
  • Class D - Shellfish Digger/Shipper
  • Class E - Bay Scallop Shucker/Packer

Class A: $300
Class B: $600
Class C: $200
Class D: $75
ClassE: $50