Commercial fishers across Canada will soon be required to register and pay for their fishing licences online.
On April 1, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) began transitioning to a national online licensing system.
The system replaces the in-person service previously offered at regional offices across the country.
In order to use the system, fishers will need to have email addresses and bank accounts. The site accepts both credit and debit cards, though fishers may also pay in person at a national bank providing they have an invoice for the fees owed (printed from their online account) or their online licensing account number.
To access the site for the first time, fishers will need an individual pass code. DFO will mail these pass codes to commercial and communal-commercial licence holders (including fisher registration card holders) and to an appointed person in organizations that hold commercial fishing licences.
DFO will mail the passcode to harvesters in a phased approach, so not all fishers will receive their codes at the same time. During the phase-in, DFO licensing personnel will be available as usual at existing DFO offices.
After harvesters receive their passcodes, however, they should use the online system. (Pass codes will only be valid until June 30, 2013.) Upon registering with the new online system, each fisher will be able to view their holdings, pay licensing fees, and renew and print their licences.
The new system is available 24-hours a day and is one of several changes being introduced in 2013 as the federal government transfers the cost of managing the fishery from taxpayers onto the industry.
Fishers unable to access the internet may designate an alternate person to access their accounts and make payments. Instruction manuals and video tutorials are available online through the DFO Web site at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/sdc-cps/licence-permis-eng.htm
Help is also available at 1-877-535-7307 or by e-mail at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
In-person support for using the system is available by appointment.
