Commercial Fishing in Hawaiʻi
Everything You Need to Fish Commercially
The commercial fishing industry in Hawaiʻi holds significant importance, contributing both economically and culturally to the islands. Individuals or vessels, including charter fishing services, that take marine life for profit or gain, or as a means of livelihood, when the marine life is taken in or outside of the State, and when the marine life is sold, offered for sale, landed, or transported for sale anywhere in the State are fishing for “commercial purposes” and must obtain a Commercial Marine License. Additional licenses and permits may be required.
Choose the type of Commercial Fishing License or Permit you need:
Commercial Fisher Licenses and Permits
For more information, please visit the DAR website – Licenses & Permits: Commercial Fishers Section.
Commercial Marine
License
Applies to:
Commercial fishers
Required for:
Any person to take (catch or harvest) marine life for commercial purposes. Includes persons providing vessel charter services.
Requirement:
Catch report
Hawaiʻi Resident Fees:
$100
Non-Resident Fees:
$250
Commercial Marine
Vessel License
Applies to:
Commercial fishers
Prerequisite:
Commercial marine license
Requirement:
Longline vessels must submit end of year report
Fees:
Less than 22 feet non-longline vessel: $100
22 feet or greater non-longline vessel: $200
Longline vessel: $1,500
Bottomfish Vessel
I.D. Registration
Applies to:
Bottom fishers
Required for:
Any vessel used to take or possess any of the Deep 7 bottomfishes for commercial or non-commercial purposes, must be registered and assigned an identification number with DAR. Vessel identification required.
Prerequisite
Valid vessel registration
Fees:
$0
Bait License
Applies to:
Commercial fishers
Required for:
Any commercial marine licensee to use a small mesh net to take ʻiao, Marquesan sardine, nehu, pīhā, tabai, and threadfin shad as live bait.
Any licensee employed on a live-bait tuna boat as their principle means of livelihood to use small mesh net to take nehu as live bait. The baitfish is to be used in the commercial fishing operation and its sale is prohibited.
Requirement:
Bait fishing report
Prerequisite:
Commercial marine license
Fees:
$100
Lay Net Permit
Lay net fishers
Required for:
Any person to use or possess a lay net in State waters.
Hawaiʻi Resident Fee:
$0
Non-Resident Fee*:
$25
*Additional online processing fees may apply
For more information please visit the DAR website – Licenses & Permits: Lay Net Permit Section.
Commercial Uhu
Fishing Permit
Apply in Person at any DAR Office
Applies to:
Commercial fishers
Required for:
Any commercial marine licensee wishing to catch and sell uhu.
Prerequisite:
Commercial marine license
Fees:
$100
Commercial Kala
Fishing Permit
Apply in Person at any DAR Office
Applies to:
Commercial fishers
Required for:
Any commercial marine licensee wishing to catch and sell kala.
Prerequisite:
Commercial marine license
Fees:
$100
Dealer Licenses and Permits
For more information, please visit the DAR website – Licenses & Permits: Commercial Dealers Section.
Commercial Marine
Dealer Registration
Wholesaler, retailer, hotel/restaurant, auction, online business
Required for:
Any wholesaler, retailer, hotel/restaurant, auction, online business wishing to purchase marine resources from commercial marine licensees
Requirement:
Dealer report
Fees:
$0
Commercial Uhu
Dealer Registration
Aquaculture Dealer
License
Applies to:
Dealers, retailers, wholesalers, restaurants
Required for:
Any dealer, retailer, wholesaler, or restaurant to resell regulated marine life raised in a licensed aquaculture facility.
Aquaculture Facility License
Applies to:
Fish pond owners and operators
Required for:
Any fishpond owner or operator to take regulated marine life, including youngmullet, from the ocean, or to acquire regulated marine life from non-ocean sources to stock their pond or facility with the intention of raising the marine life for commercial purposes.
Requirements:
Initial site inspection
Letter of authorization
Take report
Kona Crab/Lobster Closed
Season Sales License
Applies to:
Wholesaler, retailer, hotel/restaurant
Required for:
Any dealer or restaurant to sell or serve during the closed season any Kona crab or lobster lawfully caught during the open season.
Prerequisite:
Inventory statement
Special Marine Product
License
Applies to:
Importers, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants
Required for:
Any importer, wholesaler, retailer, or restaurant to possess, sell, or offer for sale any marine animal or product obtained out of state and are prohibited or restricted by regulations.
Prerequisite:
Inventory statement
Specialized Licensing and Permits
for Commercial Fishing
For more information, please visit the DAR website – Licenses & Permits: Special Activity Permit Section.
Molokini Shoal MLCD Use Permit
Apply in Person at the Maui Nui DAR Office
Lay Net
Specifications
Species Harvested Annually
Annual Economic Impact of Commercial Fishing
$100+million
Fishing Resources
Regulations
Specialized and Less Common
Licensing and Permits
FAQs
Download our Fishing
Regulations App
Fishing Around Protected Species
Regulated Fishing Areas Map
The State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) proudly protects Hawaiʻi’s aquatic resources and ecosystems. Learn more about the work they do >