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
Commercial Marine
License
Commercial fishers
Required for:
Any person to take (catch or harvest) marine life for commercial purposes. Includes persons providing vessel charter services.
Prerequisite
Catch Report
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
$100
Non-Resident Fees:
$250
Resources:
Commercial Fishing Info
Commercial Marine Fisheries Individual License Renewal Application
Specific Terms and Conditions
General Terms and Conditions
Commercial Marine
Vessel License
Applies to:
Commercial fishers
Required for:
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
Non-Resident Fees:
Resources:
Bottomfish Fishing
Vessel Registration
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
Commercial Marine License
Trip report
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
$0
Non-Resident Fees:
$0
Resources:
Commercial Fishing Info
Annual Bottomfish Vessel I.D. Registration
Bait License
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.
Prerequisite:
Commercial Marine License
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
$150
Non-Resident Fees:
$50
Resources:
Commercial Fishing Info
Non-Aku Boat Terms and Conditions
Aku or Live-bait Tuna Boat Terms and Conditions
Dealer Licenses and Permits
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.
Prerequisite:
–
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
$0
Non-Resident Fees:
$0
Resources:
Aquaculture Facility License
Applies to:
Fish pond owners and operators
Required for:
Any fish pond owner or operator to take regulated marine life, including young mullet, 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.
Prerequisite:
Initial site inspection Letter of authorization Take report
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
$50
Non-Resident Fees:
$50
Resources:
Commercial Marine
Dealer License
Applies to:
Dealers, retailers, wholesalers, restaurants
Required for:
–
Prerequisite:
–
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
–
Non-Resident Fees:
–
Online Processing Fee:
–
Resources:
–
Kona Crab/Lobster Closed
Season Sales License
Applies to:
Wholesaler, retailers, hotels, restaurants
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:
–
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
$50
Non-Resident Fees:
$50
Resources:
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:
–
Hawaiʻi Resident and Military Fees:
$50
Non-Resident Fees:
$50
Resources:
Species Harvested Annually
Hawaiʻi’s commercial fishing industry boasts a remarkable diversity with more than 100 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
