Apply for a Fish Buyer Licence

You are required to have a valid Fish Buyer licence to purchase fish directly from fishers for the purpose of resale or processing. In addition, you are required to provide yearly statistics on all fish purchased and sold during the licence period in accordance with the Fisheries Act Regulations.

Licences are issued annually to an individual or a business under the authority of the Fisheries Act in the following categories:

1. Lobster
2. Other crustaceans (snow crab, rock crab, etc.)
3. Groundfish (halibut, flounder, etc.)
4. Pelagic (mackerel, herring, tuna, smelts, gaspereau, silversides, etc.)
5. Mollusk (mussels, oysters, scallops, clams, etc.)
6. Other (Irish moss, furcellaria)

You can use the online forms below to apply for or renew your licence and submit your annual statement.

You can also request an automated e-mail reminder to renew your licence each year using the Add a Reminder feature on the right side of this page.

What do I need to complete the online form?

You will be asked to enter or submit the following information:

• Full contact information
• Each licence type (you can apply for all six)
• For each buying station:
  • Provide location (harbour)
  • Identify buying agent (contact person)
  • Upload signed Harbour Authority approval letter
  • List each species category
• For each location where fish will be sold or processed:
  • Company name and location
  • Each species to be purchased
  • Estimated poundage
• If you are renewing your licence, you your complete the Fish Buyer Yearly Statement before submitting your Fish Buyer Licence application
• Full payment, based on the number of species categories and buying stations.

How long will it take to complete the online form?

Providing you have the information ready and your annual statement completed, you can complete this form in less than 10 minutes.

What is the fee?

The annual fee for a Fish Buyer licence is $50 per buying station and per licence class (species). There is no HST.

(For example, to purchase four species categories from three buying stations, the cost is calculated as follows: 4 × $50 = $200 × 3 = $600.)

What else should I know about this licence?

In addition to a fish buyer licence, you will require a fish processor licence if you intend to process the product you purchase directly from fishers. 

You can also request an automated e-mail reminder to renew your licence each year using the Add a Reminder feature on the right side of this page.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information contact:
   PEI Department Fisheries and Communities
   Cheryl Campbell
   PO Box 1180
   Montague, PE C0A 1R0
   Telephone: (902) 838-0826
   Fax:  (902) 838-0975