Registrations and filings required for businesses - Department of Fish & Wildlife

You may be required to have a license, registration, or permit from the list below based on the business activity you selected from the Business Licensing Wizard. For more information, please contact the Department of Fish & Wildlife at 360-902-2200.

Baitfish Purse Seine

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of anchovy & smelt using specified gear in designated Washington waters.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail applications directly to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife - Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504-3154

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$450 - Resident
$835 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Burrowing Shrimp

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of ghost or mud shrimp using specified gear in designated Washington waters.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW):

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife - Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$340 - Resident
$725 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Carp

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of carp using specified gear in designated Washington waters.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife - Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504-3154

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$250 - Resident
$635 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Change of Angler (Angler Transfer - Charter Salmon)

Purpose

Authorizes the angler permits, all or a portion of, to be transferred to another salmon charter license holder (no new licenses may be issued). Charter boats used for salmon fishing by transferring an existing license.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish and Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504-3154

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$125 - Resident
$125 - Non-Resident

License renewals

As needed

Commercial Fishery

Purpose

To regulate the taking of and sale to licensed wholesale dealers of food fish (other than salmon, except for by using specified gear in specific locations) and shellfish (other than geoducks and razor clams). Commercial fishermen.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504-3154

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

License renewals

Annually

Fish Dealer

Purpose

A business engaging in commercial dealing of food fish or shellfish within Washington state.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$505 - Resident
$890 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Fish Stocking - Finfish

Purpose

To stock live fin fish, viable eggs, or gametes. Any business that stocks live fish products within the state.

How to submit

Mail permit application to:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
PO Box 43150
Olympia, WA 98504-3150

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$94

License renewals

As needed.

Fish Transport - Finfish

Purpose

To import, export, or transfer live fin fish, viable eggs, or gametes. Any business that imports, exports, or transfers live fish products within the state.

How to submit

Mail permit application to:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
PO Box 43150
Olympia, WA 98504-3150

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$94

License renewals

As needed.

Food Fish Drag Seine

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of bottom fish using specified gear in coastal waters.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Mail payment to Department of Fish & Wildlife - Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$250 - Resident
$635 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Food Fish Set Line

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of bottom fish using specified gear in coastal waters.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$250 - Resident
$635 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Hagfish

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of hagfish using specified gear in designated Washington waters.

How to submit

Make fees payable to the Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504-3154

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$440 - Resident
$825 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Limited Fish Seller Endorsement

Purpose

Allows commercial harvesters and designated alternate operators to sell their catch directly to market.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife License Division
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$175 - Resident
$560 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Non-Salmon Delivery

Purpose

Authorizes delivery of food fish or shellfish other than ocean pink shrimp or Dungeness crab in offshore waters (beyond the three mile limit).

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$400 - Resident
$785 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Oyster Reserve

Purpose

Authorizes a person to commercially take shellfish from Washington state oyster reserves.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail payment to:
Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$250 - Resident
$635 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Scientific Collection

Purpose

To collect fish, shellfish or wildlife for display, instruction, research, and stream assessment (under the Forest Practices Act). Capturing, banding, marking, attaching radio telemetry equipment, and salvaging dead fish, shellfish, or wildlife.

How to submit

Applications and annual reports must be submitted by e-mail to scp@dfw.wa.gov.

Processing time

Permit processing time is no more than 60 days.

Fees

$117

License renewals

As needed.

Shrimp Trawl Puget Sound Fishery

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of shrimp using specified gear within Puget Sound.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$440 - Resident
$825 - Non-Resident
$1,277.50 - Resident Transfer
$2,625.00 - Non-Resident Transfer

License renewals

Annually

Squid

Purpose

Authorizes the taking of squid using specified gear in designated Washington waters.

How to submit

Make fees payable to the Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Application to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504-3154

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$405 - Resident
$790 - Non-Resident

License renewals

Annually

Vessel Use in Geoduck Harvesting

Purpose

All vessels used in the commercial harvest of sea cucumber, sea urchin and/or geoduck in Washington are required to display a Harvest Identification Number.

How to submit

Make fees payable to Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).

Mail Applications to:

Department of Fish & Wildlife Commercial Licensing
PO Box 43154
Olympia, WA 98504

Processing time

Five to ten days from the date the application is received.

Fees

$105 - Resident/Non-Resident

License renewals

As needed