Primary commercial fishing licence

A Queensland primary commercial fishing licence allows you to commercially operate a nominated primary boat and associated tender boats as permitted in accordance with the fishery symbols appearing on that licence.

To use the nominated boat to fish under the primary commercial fishing boat licence, it must be operated by a person who holds an active commercial fisher licence. The primary commercial fishing licence holder will nominate the commercial fisher in control who is responsible for all of the reporting requirements during a commercial fishing operation.

The licence card must be available for immediate inspection if requested by a fisheries inspector.

Existing fees and charges did not increase on 1 July 2024 in line with the government's indexation policy.

Transfer a licence

Fisheries Queensland does not issue new primary commercial fishing licences. However, you can lease or buy one from an existing licence holder.

The licence cards need to be passed onto the new owners, unless Fisheries Queensland requests they be returned.

Permanent transfer

Both the former owner (transfer owner) and proposed new owner (transferee) of the licence must register the transfer with Fisheries Queensland.

If the new owner wants to use a different boat than the one recorded on the licence:

Either party can submit the form and pay the fee.

Temporary transfer

Both the owner of the licence and the temporary transferee must complete the temporary transfer application form.

If the temporary transferee wants to use a different boat than the one recorded on the licence, the owner of the licence must submit a separate amendment request.

Move fishery symbols

The primary commercial fisheries licence shows the fishery symbols, which define what you are allowed to do.

Many fisheries have conditions that:

  • specify an area where the licence can be used (i.e. a small subsection of the fishery depicted by the maps)
  • restrict how many tender boats can operate with the primary boat in that fishery.

To permanently move fishery symbols between primary commercial fishing licences:

You must have written approval from both current licence holders to move symbols.

You cannot:

  • temporarily move symbols
  • move eel fishery symbols (E) at all.

Surrender fishery symbols

You can surrender fishery symbols if you no longer want to operate in a fishery. The fishery symbols will be removed from your primary commercial fishing licence.

To surrender fishery symbols:

Transfer quota

You can transfer your quota to another commercial fisher, if they have the same fishery symbol on their primary commercial fishing licence.

Primary and tender boats

Any person driving a boat (whether the commercial fisher licence holder or a crew member) must comply with domestic commercial vessel manning or operating requirements.

Boat marks

Each primary commercial fishing licence is assigned a boat mark (e.g. FABC) by Fisheries Queensland.

Each boat in your operation must:

  • display this mark in several places at an appropriate size in relation to the boat's length
  • write the mark in black, on a yellow background
  • ensure the mark is clearly visible both:
    • above the waterline on both sides of the hull
    • in a place on the deck or other surface where it can be seen from above.

You must give each tender boat in your operation a unique identifier by adding a dash and a number after the boat mark (e.g. FABC-1, FABC-2).

For more information, refer to Part 4 of the Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019.

Tender boats

Tender boats are used with a primary boat in certain fisheries. Tender boats cannot be longer than 10m.

Some fisheries have restrictions on how many tender boats can operate with the primary boat in that fishery. This will be recorded on your licence card. The number will appear in brackets after that fishery symbol.

For example, 'L1 (2)' on a licence means the primary boat and 2 tender boats can operate in the L1 fishery.

By decreasing the number of tenders on one licence it will increase, by the same quantity, the tenders on another licence with the same fishery symbol.

To trade tenders between licences:

The application form must be signed by all of the individuals or entities that are recorded as the current holder.

Rename a boat recorded on your licence

To rename a boat already recorded on your licence:

The application form must be signed by all of the individuals or entities that are recorded as the current holder.

Replace the primary boat

To replace the primary boat of your operation:

You must wait for Fisheries Queensland to process the request before you can use the new boat.

Forms

See the full list of forms and processes for primary commercial fishing licensees.