• Fishing Permits
  • Commercial Fishing Permits
  • Endorsements
  • Special Permits
  • Other Forms

• Dealer Permits
  • Seafood Dealer Permits
  • Primary Buyer & Quota Monitored Species Authorization

• Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines

Fishing Permits

Commercial Fishing Permit application
All persons who land and sell finfish, shellfish, lobsters, edible crabs or other living marine resources in Massachusetts must have a commercial fishing permit from the Division of Marine Fisheries and must sell only to permitted Massachusetts dealers. Commercial permits may be endorsed for access to the many "regulated" fisheries. Regulated fisheries include most gear types (other than hook fishing), and species that are restricted by quota. For a complete list of regulated fisheries, see the endorsements section below. All commercial permits, except Rod & Reel and Seasonal lobster, may be endorsed for shellfish at no additional cost.

Clarification Letter Pertaining to Commercial Permit Holders Who Fish From a Boat or Boats

Commercial Permit Types

Coastal Lobster Permit allows the taking, landing and sale of lobsters (to a licensed dealer) harvested from within the coastal waters of the Commonwealth. There is a maximum of 800 lobster pots per vessel that may be set in state waters. The permit may be endorsed to take and sell shellfish and finfish at no additional cost. In the case of skin or scuba divers, only the licensee is covered.

Offshore Lobster Permit allows the landing and sale of lobsters (to a licensed dealer) taken outside of the coastal waters of the commonwealth only; pursuant to a federal lobster permit. The permit may be endorsed to take and sell shellfish and finfish at no additional cost.

Seasonal Lobster Permit is issued to full-time students only (verification required), and allows the licensee only to take and sell lobsters (to a licensed dealer) from June 15 - Sept. 15. A maximum of 25 pots may be used. Diving is not permitted, sale of fish and/or shellfish in not permitted.

Seasonal Lobster permit applicants must submit verification of full-time student status (letter attesting to full time status on school letterhead) & parental consent if under the age of seventeen.

Boat Permits allows the taking, landing and sale of fish (to a licensed dealer) and may be endorsed for shellfish. The permit covers everyone aboard the vessel. Price varies with vessel size. No lobsters may be taken.

Individual Permit allows the holder only to take, land and sell fish (to a licensed dealer) and may be endorsed for shellfish. No lobster may be taken.

Shellfish Permit allows an individual to take, land and sell (to a licensed dealer) shellfish and seaworms. A shellfish ID card, from the Division, and town permit are also required.

Rod & Reel Permit allows the holder only, to catch and sell finfish (to a licensed dealer) caught by Rod & Reel only. No other gear types may be used.

Endorsements
Certain commercial fisheries require an endorsement. Several endorsements may be attached to a single commercial fishing permit.

• American Eel
• Bay Scallop Shucking
• Black Sea Bass
• Black Sea Bass (Fish Pot) *
• Bluefin Tuna Seine *
• Bluefish Gillnet *
• Coastal Access Permit (Mobile Gear) *
• Conch Pot *
• Dogfish
• Fish Weir
• Fluke *
• Gillnet *
• Horseshoe Crab
• Inshore Net
• Northern Shrimp
• Ocean Quahog *
• Quahog Dredge *
• Scup
• Scup (Fish Pot) *
• Sea Herring
• Sea Scallop Diving
• Sea Scallop Shucking
• Sea Urchin Diving
• Sea Urchin Dredge
• Shellfish
• Striped Bass
• Surf Clam *
• Surf Clam (Contaminated)
• Surface Gillnet
• Statewaters Groundfish *

* denotes limited entry fishery - endorsements may be available by transfer

Special Permits - special permits application shellfish aquaculture
Special permits are required for scientific collection, shellfish aquaculture, shellfish propagation, contaminated shellfish harvest, and for the non-commercial harvest of lobster. Regulated fisheries are now issued as endorsements on commercial permits. See the DMF Abstracts for information on the various types of special permits required.

Other Forms

Request for Verification of Permit Transferability

Dogfish Control Notice

Vessel Replacement Form for Limited Entry Permits

Sea Urchin Fishery Affidavit

2013 Lobster Trap Tag Order Form Form ST-12 (Exempt Use Certificate)

2013 Fish Pot Trap Tag Order Form

Gear Conflict/Catastrophic Gear Loss Report

In order to harvest green crabs you must obtain a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from DMF. Please contact Kerry Allard for an LOA or more information.

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Dealer Permits

Dealer Permit - application instructions
All persons engaged in the wholesale or retail trade of raw fish, shellfish, lobsters, or bait, whether frozen or unfrozen must have a Dealer permit from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and may be subject to inspection from the Department of Public Health. Shellfish dealers must check Food & Drug regulations for tagging and record keeping.

Dealer Permit Types

Bait Dealer allows the holder to take and sell marine bait. No inspection is required. Consult local regulations (i.e. on worms, eels, etc.)

Retail Boat Seafood Dealer allows the holder to sell “whole” fish and lobsters from his/her boat only (does not include shellfish). A commercial fisherman’s permit is required in addition to this permit. A boat waiver (*see below) must be filed in lieu of a health inspection.

Retail Seafood Dealer allows the holder to sell raw fish, whether frozen or unfrozen, shellfish and lobsters at one retail location. The holder must purchase shellfish only from a holder of a wholesale dealer or wholesale truck permit, or from a certified out-of state wholesale dealer. Shellfish CANNOT be purchased directly from a harvester. Does not allow the holder to shuck, relabel or repack shellfish. An approved inspection from the Division of Food and Drugs must be submitted to Division of Marine Fisheries. The name and address must be the same on the inspection report and permit. This permit may be endorsed for bait (excluding shellfish). The inspection must specifically state “Approved for retail and bait license”.

Retail Seafood Truck Dealer allows the holder to sell fish or lobsters at retail from a mobile unit (does not include shellfish). Does not allow the holder to process, fillet, shuck, cook, etc. An inspection is required from a town or county Board of Health. A copy of the inspection must be submitted with the application. The name and address must be the same on the inspection report and permit. A Hawkers and Peddlers permit may also be required. Contact the Division of Standards at (617) 727-3480 for further information.

Wholesale Seafood Broker allows the holder to act as an agent who negotiates contracts of purchase and sale of seafood. The brokerage activities will not involve the actual handling, processing or reshipping of finfish, shellfish or other marine resources. A “broker only” waiver (*see below) must be filed in lieu of a health inspection.

Wholesale Seafood Dealer allows the holder to acquire, handle, store, distribute, process, fillet, ship or sell raw fish and/or shellfish, whether
frozen or unfrozen, in bulk or for resale. Also allows retail sales from the same single, fixed location. An approved inspection from the Division of Food and Drugs is required. A copy of the inspection report must be submitted with the application to Division of Marine Fisheries. The name and address must be the same on the inspection report and permit. This permit may be endorsed for bait (excluding shellfish), the inspection must specifically state, “Approved for retail and Bait License”. Requires a HACCP plan.

Wholesale Seafood Truck Dealer allows the holder to acquire, handle, distribute, ship or sell raw fish, whether frozen or unfrozen, in bulk or for resale from a truck only.· Does not allow the holder to process raw fish, whether frozen or unfrozen, lobster or shellfish. Does not allow the holder to purchase shellfish or shuck, relabel or repack shellfish. An approved inspection from the Division of Food and Drugs is required. A copy of the inspection report must be submitted with the application to the Division of Marine Fisheries.

Primary Buyer & Quota Managed Species Authorization - 2012 application 2013 application
Beginning in 2004, any MA seafood dealer who purchases seafood products, even if for bait purposes, directly from fishermen is considered a primary buyer, and must indicate so on this application. For businesses with multiple locations, this application must be completed for each location in MA which is purchasing any seafood product(s) directly from fishermen. In addition, all Federally permitted dealers must complete this application regardless whether they are a primary buyer or not.