California Commercial Fishing Permits and Licenses

If you have a passion for angling, commercial fishing could be the career for you. Though the hours can be long and physically taxing, you may find spending your days out on the water casting lines to be immensely rewarding. You should know, however, that there is a bit more to this process than simply heading out on your boat and catching fish to sell back on land. On top of figuring out logistical matters, you will also need to make sure that you have the correct California commercial fishing permits before you leave the dock.

Why California, you may ask? Well, for one, California sits on a vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, leaving ample room for commercial fishing operations. There is also a diverse array of species available, including high-dollar catches like tuna. The weather is also especially conducive to fishing year-round, allowing you to maximize your catch, and in turn, your profits. If this all sounds appealing to you, you are going to want to learn the ins and outs of fishing permits and licenses in the Golden State.

Becoming Familiar with the Different Types of Licenses and Permits
As you can likely imagine, navigating the bureaucratic labyrinth of permits and licenses can be a bit complicated. In California, there are a number of different permits available for both state and federal fisheries, so it is helpful to identify your starting point. You may wish to do this by determining if you will be fishing on state or federal waters.

Federal waters, which fall under the jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), encompass the area between three and 200 nautical miles from shore. State waters, on the other hand, are everything from zero to three miles from the land. Depending on what you are seeking to catch, it is possible that you will need permits for both jurisdictions.

Identifying the Correct Permits for Your Business
Before you can apply for any species-specific permits in California, you will first need to apply for a commercial fishing license. These are available to residents and non-residents alike (though at different fees) and can be granted to generally anyone over the age of 16. Once you have obtained this license, you can then seek out the correct endorsements for your business.

Non-restrictive commercial fishing permits are broken down by different types of catch, and there are options for everything from anchovies to sea urchins. Remember, it is crucial that you have the correct permits before you sell anything you catch as you could be in violation of state law.

If you find yourself fishing in federal waters, you will want to review what the NOAA makes available in the West Coast region. They offer a similar, though slightly more broad approach, to the species-specific permits that they make available.

How to Obtain California Commercial Fishing Permits Online
You can save yourself a considerable amount of time by seeking out the permits you need online. At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we offer easy-to-use web forms for all of the permits and licenses you need. To learn more, take a moment to browse our site, or contact one of our customer service representatives by phone or email.

How to Get a Bill of Sale for Your Boat

Now is the time to consider getting a bill of sale for your U.S. Coast Guard-registered yacht to ensure your rights as the owner and your investment are safe. This will not only serve as additional proof of ownership in the event of a legal issue, but it will also provide peace of mind if you are denied a loan or insurance coverage owing to insufficient registration details.

This page will guide you through the whole process of acquiring a bill of sale, from the first step of collecting information on your yacht to the last stage of submitting papers via the USCG. Follow along as we break down the steps necessary to draft and get a Bill of Sale for a vessel documented with the United States Coast Guard.

Make Sure You Have the Right Paperwork in Order
Getting the necessary paperwork when selling a yacht might take a lot of work. If you’re going to purchase a boat from someone, you’d better be ready to investigate to make sure they own it, or you may end up in some serious trouble. It’s only sometimes obvious how a boat purchase is legitimate. You need a bill of sale, similar to a sales receipt or title slip.

It’s proof that the vendor has legitimately handed over the boat’s title to you. Because all it does is verify that the ownership has been transferred, a bill of sale doesn’t need any stamps or signatures from any authorities. It won’t affect your insurance (which you should keep up to date) or registration, but it might be helpful if there’s any doubt as to whether you own the boat you claim to.

Get it Notarized
You should get your bill of sale notarized as a first step in ensuring its legitimacy and validity. You may accomplish this in person, but having a notary public come to your home to witness the signatures may be more convenient if you sell your boat over state lines or if the buyer and seller live far apart. The notary will want to know what transaction you’re closing (this will be covered in the following section) and whether the title is in good standing before signing any documents. The notary will likely approve the transaction, even if this is your first time buying or selling a boat. All you need to know is that there will probably be some expenses involved if you want to transfer the title from one person to another, so continue.

Sign the Bill Of Sale with Both Parties Present
You may take two measures to prevent the unwanted sale or theft of your boat should you decide to sell it. One option is to have both parties sign a bill of sale. They will take legal possession of the item after a bill of sale has been signed. The presence of both parties is required for the execution of a bill of sale (or at least have signed a power of attorney to give someone else, like an escrow agent, legal authority).

With the help of these services, you and the buyer may fill out a secure online form that will establish a contract and request payment before the item is sent. You may also visit numerous financial institutions (with a valid ID in hand) and ask the teller for a blank form to be printed out on the institution’s letterhead. After submitting this form with your and the buyer’s details, you may arrange payment using your bank’s online banking system or send a check.

Do Not Transfer Ownership Until All Parties Have Agreed on the Price and Signed Off On Everything
There is a binding contract between the buyer and the sale of a boat. You are responsible for purchasing the ship from them, and they are responsible for selling it to you, so if one of your plans changes, you must let the other know so that they may locate a replacement (assuming they want to). One way to formalize and provide legal force to such an agreement is via a bill of sale. The agreed-upon selling price will be included in the bill of sale that you and the buyer will sign.

After both parties have signed the bill of sale, it is sent to the appropriate governmental agency (or a notary public or legal representative) for validation. A certificate of title is the name given to this document. Make sure the new owner’s name is on the bill of sale if you purchased the item in your name but are transferring it to another individual.

Are you ready to get a bill of sale for your boat? More importantly, are you sure that’s what you want? The Commercial Fishing Permits Center is prepared to help you make this decision. If you’re not sure yet, that’s okay—contact us today for more information.

Tips for Filling out A USCG Ship Documentation Renewal Application

If you own a boat, keeping your documentation updated by the US Coast Guard (USCG) is important. The USCG ship documentation renewal application is typically expected to be submitted once every five years. Many other factors affect the time between one application and the next. To avoid issues involving having your vessel decommissioned while it’s not in use, it’s best to know what you must do beforehand.

When it comes time to renew your USCG documentation, you’ll probably be dealing with a lot of paperwork. While the process is relatively straightforward, there are still some things you should know before submitting your application. Here are tips for filling out a ship documentation renewal application:

Make Sure You’re Using The Right Form
Create a duplicate of the document before you start completing it. When dealing with PDF files, no function allows you to save your work, which means that if you dismiss the file inadvertently or switch off your computer, you will lose everything you’ve done. Because the application has a lot of sections that need to be filled out, it is essential to ensure that you are utilizing the appropriate form for the task at hand.

The reference to vessel documentation provided by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) describes how to ascertain which form you are required to use based on the type of vessel in question and how the USCG categorizes vessels of that type.

Use form CG-1340 C, for instance, if you are applying for documentation for a vessel that is considered to be engaged in “coastal trade.” On the other hand, use form CG-1340 F if you are applying for documentation for a boat that is regarded as involved in “foreign trade.”

Make Sure Your Vessel Meets All Safety Requirements
Filling out the USCG ship documentation renewal application for your ship’s paperwork is a long and tiresome process, but you must do it correctly, or your renewal will be postponed. Some helpful hints for filling out the questionnaire correctly are provided below.

Your ship must comply with all safety regulations and survive a US Coast Guard examination. The US Coast Guard offers a comprehensive checklist for ensuring your vessel is seaworthy. For details on updating your permits, visit the Commercial Fishing Permits Center online.

Make careful to update your information on the application if you’ve moved or altered your name since your last registration. Providing untrue or deceptive information, even if it would benefit the recertification process, could place your license at risk of sanctions and fees should the USCG decide to inspect you later.

Keep Copies Of All Documentation And Maintenance Records For Your Uscg Ship Documentation Renewal
You must apply along with the necessary paperwork to update your USCG ship papers. You must provide images of all previous licenses and upkeep documents to renew your certification. When it’s time to file your recertification application, you’ll save yourself time and trouble if you’ve kept duplicates of all relevant documents.

You should be doing this regardless of the deadline, but if you’re like most people, there’s a lot of documentation for vessels that you need to keep track of. You may be putting it off because it seems like a huge undertaking to compile everything or because you’re hoping it won’t be needed after all.

If that’s the case, what’s the worst that could happen? If you put it off for too long and then remember that you need to do it, at least you’ll have more time to figure out how to organize everything.

Know what type of Certificate of Inspection (COI) you need
As you begin your USCG ship documentation renewal application, how exactly to fill out this thing? The answers to that question differ depending on whether you need a Certificate of Inspection (COI) or a Certificate of Documentation (COD).

The COI renewal application is as simple as gathering all the required documents, filling out a few sections with your personal information, and sending that in. It’s more about collecting the necessary paperwork and ensuring you have everything.

For example, if you need an updated Safety Management Certificate and your vessel has been used for fishing since your last inspection, make sure you have proof of those activities: maybe an insurance policy that includes fishing coverage or some sort of bill from a repair shop with notes about all the fishing gear on board.

If you need help filling out a USCG ship documentation renewal application, don’t hesitate to call the Commercial Fishing Permits Center. We’re here to help you get your permit quickly and easily, with no hassle.