Fishing license

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Sign in the United Kingdom alerts people to the need for a fishing permit. Fishing Permits available - geograph.org.uk - 205766.jpg
Sign in the United Kingdom alerts people to the need for a fishing permit.

A fishing license (US), fishing licence (UK), or fishing permit is an administrative or legal mechanism employed by state and local governments to regulate fishing activities within their administrative areas. Licensing is one type of fisheries management commonly used in Western countries, and may be required for either commercial or recreational fishing.

Contents

Historical licensing

Chinese fishing license from the Qing-era, recorded in Baojiashu jiyao (Bao Jia Shu Ji Yao 
, 1838) Chinese fishing license from the Qing era in the Baojiashu jiyao (1838).jpg
Chinese fishing license from the Qing-era, recorded in Baojiashu jiyao (保甲書輯要, 1838)

In 1765, the Chinese Qing dynasty government required all fishing boat operators to obtain a fishing license under the aojia system that regulated coastal populations. The Dan boat people of Guangdong had to acquire a fishing license as early as 1729. The wooden license issued by the government was to be displayed on the bow or stern of a boat. The information on the license consisted of the name and age of the boat's owner, the ship's status as either a fishing or commercial vessel, the home port of the boat, crew and family members on board, the date the license was issued, and the registration number of the license. [1]

Types by country

Depending on the jurisdiction, licenses or permits may be required by a government, a property owner, or both.

United Kingdom

The government requires a rod licence for anyone over the age of 12 who fishes in England, Wales or the Border Esk area in Scotland for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eels. [2] In addition, anyone who fishes in a non-estuarine stream, lake, or canal needs a permit from the owner of the fishing rights to the water body, which might be a local angling club, a landowner with riparian rights, or an organization such as the Canal & River Trust. [3]

Ireland

In Ireland, rights to fish in non-tidal freshwater also are owned either by the government or by private entities such as angling club. The ownership of fishing rights in Ireland derives from the confiscation of lands by the British Crown in the 17th century; the boundaries of fishing rights areas typically follow the boundaries of estates granted by the Crown. [4]

United States

The U.S. state of Oregon instituted a requirement for commercial fishing licenses in 1899, the same year that the state's sturgeon fishery had collapsed due to over-harvesting. Oregon began requiring recreational fishing licenses in 1901. [5] Indiana began issuing hunting licenses in 1901 and added fishing privileges to its hunting license in 1913. [6] The state of Pennsylvania first issued recreational fishing licenses in 1919. Licenses were required only for nonresidents, and only 50 licenses were issued that first year. In 1922, when the state first required licenses for state residents, over 2,700 nonresident licenses and over 200,000 resident licenses were sold. [7]

License-free fishing

Some countries do not require a license for recreational sea fishing, provided that certain rules in regard to fish size, numbers, and total catch are followed.

Belgium

Recreational fishing in the sea does not require a license in certain spots in Belgium. Size limits need to be followed. Also need to have a freshwater permit when fishing on certain seadocks [8]

Cyprus

Sea angling and spearfishing without diving equipment are allowed in Cyprus without needing a licence. Multiple species including seals, dolphins and turtles are however protected. [8]

Estonia

Estonians have a life-long right to fish with one simple handline in waters owned by the state and local governments, provided that regulations about species, sizes and seasons are followed. [8]

New Zealand

No license is necessary for recreational sea fishing in New Zealand. There are many detailed regulations about fish species, size limits, fishing methods and prohibited areas. [9] [10] But when fishing inland in creeks, rivers or lakes a fishing licence is needed. [11]

Norway

Sea fishing from the coast and from the boat is free for both residents and visitors in Norway, although there are minimum fish rules and other regulations. [12]

Sweden

For fishing in Swedish public coastal waters (Baltic Sea and the west coast), no license is necessary. Foreign citizens are also allowed to fish in these waters without a license, but only with handheld gear. License-free fishing is legal along the sea coast (in many cases also on private land along the coast) and in Sweden's five largest lakes – Vänern, Vättern, Hjälmaren, Mälaren and Storsjön. [13] [14] [15] In the rest of the country, fishing without a license is not permitted and several thousand fishing areas exist, each with their individual fishing permits and local regulations. Fishing permits are available in most of Sweden's fresh waters, but not all.

United Kingdom

Fishing licence for sea fishing is not required in most of the places in the United Kingdom. For salmon and sea trout, game licence is required regardless of location. [16] [17] In places where saltwater and freshwater cross over the regulations are complicated and licence may be required. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing</span> Activity of trying to catch fish

Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques include hand-gathering, spearing, netting, angling, shooting and trapping, as well as more destructive and often illegal techniques such as electrocution, blasting and poisoning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angling</span> Fishing technique

Angling is a fishing technique that uses a fish hook or "angle" attached to a fishing line to tether individual fish in the mouth. The fishing line is usually manipulated via a fishing rod, although rodless techniques such as handlining and longlining also exist. Modern angling rods are usually fitted with a reel that functions as a cranking device for storing, retrieving and releasing out the line, although Tenkara fishing and cane pole fishing are two rod-angling methods that do not use any reel. The hook itself can be additionally weighted with a dense tackle called a sinker, and is typically dressed with an appetizing bait to attract the fish and entice it into swallowing the hook, but sometimes an inedible fake bait with multiple attached hooks is used instead of a single hook with edible bait. A bite indicator, such as a float, a bell or a quiver tip, is often used to relay underwater status of the hook to the surface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spearfishing</span> Hunting for fish using a spear

Spearfishing is a method of fishing that involves impaling the fish with sharp-pointed straight object such as a spear, gig or harpoon. It was one of the earliest fishing techniques used by mankind, and has been deployed in artisanal fishing throughout the world for millennia. Early civilisations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishery</span> Raising or harvesting fish

Fishery can mean either the enterprise of raising or harvesting fish and other aquatic life; or more commonly, the site where such enterprise takes place. Commercial fisheries include wild fisheries and fish farms, both in freshwater waterbodies and the oceans. About 500 million people worldwide are economically dependent on fisheries. 171 million tonnes of fish were produced in 2016, but overfishing is an increasing problem — causing declines in some populations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom to roam</span> Right of public access to land or bodies of water

The freedom to roam, or "everyman's right", is the general public's right to access certain public or privately owned land, lakes, and rivers for recreation and exercise. The right is sometimes called the right of public access to the wilderness or the "right to roam".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recreational fishing</span> Fishing as a hobby

Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing or game fishing, is fishing for leisure, exercise or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is professional fishing for profit; or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival and livelihood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snagging</span> Fishing technique

Snagging, also known as snag fishing, snatching, snatch fishing, jagging (Australia), or foul hooking, is a fishing technique for catching fish that uses sharp grappling hooks tethered to a fishing line to externally pierce into the flesh of nearby fish, without needing the fish to swallow any hook with its mouth like in angling. This is achieved by suddenly and vigorously pulling the line when movement is felt, causing the snag hook to "claw" into any fish unfortunate enough to be grappled by the hook points. Weighted multi-hook rigs can be used to increase chances of success, and modern technologies such as underwater video camera can also be used to visually aid and time the snagging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Game Fish Association</span> Hall of fame in Dania Beach, Florida

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is the leading authority on angling pursuits and the keeper of the most current World Record fishing catches by fish categories. Fishermen who are sport fishers are careful to follow their stringent rules for fair play and line requirements in order to receive the honor of being listed in their annual "World Record Game Fishes" publication. The publication also gives fishing tips, and has an extensive fish identification guide. The IGFA is also an ardent proponent of aquatic habitat conservation, and cooperates with biologists all over the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coarse fishing</span> Type of freshwater angling in the United Kingdom and Ireland

In Britain and Ireland, coarse fishing refers to angling for rough fish, which are fish species traditionally considered undesirable as a food or game fish. Freshwater game fish are all salmonids — most particularly salmon, trout and char — so generally coarse fish are freshwater fish that are not salmonids. There is disagreement over whether grayling should be classified as a game fish or a coarse fish.

A water bailiff is a law-enforcement officer responsible for the policing of bodies of water, such as a river, lake or coast. The position has existed in many jurisdictions throughout history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing techniques</span> Methods for catching sea creatures, especially fish

Fishing techniques are methods for catching fish. The term may also be applied to methods for catching other aquatic animals such as molluscs and edible marine invertebrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lums Pond State Park</span> State park in Delaware, United States

Lums Pond State Park is a 1,790-acre (720 ha) Delaware state park near Bear, New Castle County, Delaware in the United States. The park surrounds Lums Pond, an impoundment built by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on St. Georges Creek. The C&D built the pond as a source of water to fill the locks of the canal that connected the Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware River during the early 19th century. Lums Pond State Park is open for a wide variety of year-round recreation.

This page is a list of fishing topics.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to fishing:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in New Zealand</span>

As with other countries, New Zealand’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone gives its fishing industry special fishing rights. It covers 4.1 million square kilometres. This is the sixth largest zone in the world, and is fourteen times the land area of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (Massachusetts)</span>

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, sometimes referred to as MassWildlife, is an agency of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is responsible for the conservation - including restoration, protection and management - of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. MassWildlife was founded as a state fisheries commission in 1866 in response to citizen concerns about the loss of Atlantic salmon to dams and pollution. The agency's activities are mainly supported by revenue from the sale of hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, stamps and permits; returns from federal taxes on hunting and fishing equipment; various bond initiatives (primarily for land purchase. Additional funding is derived from voluntary donations from businesses, conservation organizations, and individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byske (river)</span> River in Sweden

The Byske is a river in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in Denmark</span>

The fishing industry in Denmark operates around the coastline, from western Jutland to Bornholm. While the overall contribution of the fisheries sector to the country's economy is only about 0.5 percent, Denmark is ranked fifth in the world in exports of fish and fish products. Approximately 20,000 Danish people are employed in fishing, aquaculture, and related industries.

The Angling Trust, based at Leominster, Herefordshire, is an organisation formed from the merger of six angling authorities to form a single and more powerful non-profit organisation for the benefit of anglers. The body oversees the development of angling for three disciplines — coarse, sea, and game fishing. The Angling Trust was set up to promote anglers' rights, fish conservation, preservation of habitat and fish and angler welfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Jersey dispute</span> 2021 dispute over Jersey fishing licences

In 2021, a dispute erupted between French fishermen and the Government of Jersey about the licensing of French fishing boats to fish in Jersey's territorial waters. Jersey is a British Crown Dependency, and despite not being part of the United Kingdom, the licensing of European Union fishing boats to fish in Jersey's territorial waters has changed after the UK exit from the EU. On 6 May 2021, French fishermen held a protest in the waters off Jersey's main harbour. The UK is responsible for the defence of the Channel Islands and sent two patrol boats to Jersey in response to the fishermen's threats to blockade it. French politicians suggested that Jersey's electricity supply fed by undersea cables from France could be cut off in retaliation for Jersey placing limitations on the extent to which French boats can fish in the island's waters.

References

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  2. "Rod Fishing Licence - Frequently Asked Questions". UK: Environment Agency. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  3. "FAQs about fishing at the Canal & River Trust". UK: Canal & River Trust. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  4. "History of fishing rights in Ireland". Inland Fisheries Ireland. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  5. "ODFW History, 1792 - 2000". Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  6. "History of Fish & Wildlife". Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  7. "Pennsylvania Fishing License Sales, 1919 to Present". Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 Pawson, M. G.; Tingley, D.; Padda, G; Glenn, H. (March 1, 2007). "EU contract FISH/2004/011 on "Sport Fisheries" (or Marine Recreational Fisheries) in the EU" (PDF). Prepared For The European Commission Directorate-General for Fisheries. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  9. "New Zealand Saltwater Fly Fishing-Sea and saltwater fly fishing in New Zealand-nzfishing". nzfishing.com. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  10. "FAQ's about New Zealand Fishing Holidays in the Bay of Islands with Blue Sea Charters". www.blueseafishing.co.nz. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  11. "General Fishing Licence Info | Fish & Game New Zealand".
  12. "Sea fishing". Official travel guide to Norway. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  13. "Fishing rules & ecological angling | SwedenFishing". www.swedenfishing.com. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  14. "The Sea - Relax Fishing Sweden" . Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  15. "Hunting and fishing". Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  16. "Sea angling". Northern Ireland direct - government services. November 16, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  17. "Buy a fishing rod licence - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  18. "Do I Need A Fishing Licence for Sea Fishing? | Britishseafishing.co.uk". britishseafishing.co.uk. August 7, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2016.