Licenses and Permits

Licenses and Permits

The Division of Aquatic Resources issues various permits and licenses for fishing, selling aquatic life, and other activities involving aquatic resources. These permits and licenses are authorized by State law and often require applicants to meet minimum qualifications and agree to specific conditions for their use. In some cases, special exemption permits allow persons or organizations to conduct certain activities that would normally be prohibited.

Note: most licenses and permits require the license/permit holder to report activities and take of marine life to the department. Non-reporting or delinquent reporting could lead to revocation or refusal of renewal.

Most licenses and permits are available from DAR offices statewide, except for Anuenue Fisheries Research Center. The Freshwater Game Fishing License is also available from certified license agents on O'ahu and Kaua'i and online. Please contact the nearest DAR office for more information.

No license is required for marine recreational fishing.

1) Commercial Marine License (Resident, Non-resident) - required for anyone to take marine life for commercial purpose. Also known as the commercial fishing license. Fees vary. Report required. HRS §189-2 & 3.

2) Bait License - required for any commercial marine licensee to use a small mesh net to take certain fish for use as live bait. A current Commercial Marine License is also required. Fee. HRS §188-45.

3) Kona Crab/Lobster Closed Season Sales Licenses (Wholesaler, Retailer, Hotel/Restaurant) - 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. Fee. Inventory report required. HRS §188-57.

4) Freshwater Game Fishing Licenses (Resident, Non-resident, Minor, Tourist 7-day, Tourist 30-day, Senior Citizen, Duplicate) - required for any person to recreationally take any introduced fresh water game fish. Fees vary. HRS §188-50. Available for purchase online.

5) Wahiawa Public Fishing Area Permit (Groups, Special Entry, Tournament) - required for entry to fish in the Wahiawa Public Fishing Area (O'ahu). A current freshwater game fishing license is also required. No fee.

6) Bottomfish Fishing Vessel Registration - required for any vessel owner to take or possess any of the seven species of deep-sea bottomfish regulated by Hawaii Administrative Rule Chapter 13-94. Identification of the vessel is required. No fee. Click here for an application form and more information.

7) Aquarium Permit - required for any person to use fine mesh net for collecting aquatic life for an aquarium. Report required if commercial. No fee. HRS §188-31.

8) Nu'uanu Entry Card - required to enter Nu'uanu Reservoir No. 4 for catfishing during open fishing sessions. A current freshwater game fishing license is also required. No fee.

9) Special Marine Product License for marine animal or product possession and sale - required for an importer, wholesaler, retailer, or restaurant to possess, sell, or offer for sale, any marine animal or product prohibited or restricted by regulations. Fee. Inventory report required. HRS §189-6.

10) Aquaculture Facility License - required for a 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. Fee. Taking report required. HRS §187A-3.5, HAR §13-74-43.

11) Aquaculture Dealer License - required for any dealer, retailer, wholesaler, or restaurant to resell requlated marine life faised in a licensed aquaculture facility. No fee. HRS §187A-3.5, HAR §13-74-43.

12) Special Activity Permit - required for any research, educational, management, or research institution to collect aquatic life or to use certain fishing gear or methods, that are prohibited or restricted by regulations. A Special Activity Permit, for example, is required for anyone conducting sea turtle research in the State of Hawai'i. Reports usually required as a condition of permit. No fee. HRS §187A-6. The guidelines for application and the application form are available as PDF files.

13) Special Permit - issued to exempt persons from various regulations in Marine Life Conservation Districts, Fishery Management Areas, or Public Fishing Areas. Reports and fees may be required.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Entry Permits

Chapter 60.5, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge, requires an entry permit for all activities taking place in state waters (0-3 miles) in the NWHI. Permit applications and instructions can be downloaded from the NWHI Marine National Monument Management website.

Other NWHI documents (pdf files, 88 KB to 2.7 MB):

Presidential Proclamation
Department of Interior News Release
Federal Regulations
BLNR Permit Guidelines
DLNR Permit Application Review
DLNR Permit Review Form

Also:

BLNR Feb 22 2007 briefing presentation (PowerPoint show, 440 KB)