Apply for an international fishing permit

Before you apply for a high seas fishing permit, you will need to:

• have a Fishserve client number
• have registered your vessel as a New Zealand ship with Maritime NZ
• have your vessel on the Fishing Vessel Register through Fishserve
• carry and operate a registered GPR (geospatial position reporting) device that meets the required standards as well as being able to report to MPI's Electronic Reporting System
• complete an international fishing permit application online or manually
• depending on vessel type, operate an onboard camera continuously whilst operating on the high seas.

Fishing in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Convention Area

If you wish to operate in the CCAMLR Convention Area, you will also need to apply for an Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) permit.

Apply for an AMLR permit

You can apply for an international fishing permit through Fishserve. You can either do it online or by downloading the application form.

• Register to use online services – Fishserve
• Download application for high seas fishing permit – Fishserve  [PDF, 252 KB]

You will need to provide information about:

• yourself (as the vessel operator)
• the vessel you want a permit for (including photos)
• the area(s) you want to fish
• the species you want to catch in each area
• the fishing methods you plan to use in each area
• your fishing history
• who the true beneficial owner of the vessel is.

International fishing permits cannot give approval for all high seas fishing areas. For some, you need extra permissions.

Fishing methods and target species

On the application form, you must list for each area:

• the fishing methods you plan to use
• the target species codes.

If there isn't a code for the species, provide its:

• common name, and
• scientific name (family, genus, and species).

Answer questions about your fishing history

You will need to give details of any previous:

• suspension or loss of an international fishing permit
• breaches of fisheries laws (including within New Zealand's EEZ, on the high seas, or in another country's EEZ)
• fishing on the high seas without an international fishing permit.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will consider this information when deciding whether to issue you with a permit.

Check for extra requirements

Some areas and stocks managed under regional arrangements have additional requirements.

If you plan to fish:

• on the high seas or in another country's EEZ - submit an international fishing permit questionnaire with your permit application
• in the CCAMLR area – you will need an Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) permit
• in the  WCPFC area – submit an NZ-WCPFC vessel register form with your permit application [DOCX, 178 KB]
• in another country's EEZ - provide authorisation by the relevant country with your permit application

Submit your completed application

Submit it online or post to Fishserve.

Make sure you include:

• the required supporting documents listed on the application form
• any extra requirements for the areas you plan to fish in.

If your application is approved, Fishserve will:

• issue you with an international fishing permit with the conditions you need to meet
• place your permit details on the public international fishing permit register.

Check your permit thoroughly to make sure you understand the permit conditions – these can change from year to year.

Refer to general permit conditions

1. Always carry the permit or a copy of it on board the vessel.
2. Notify MPI of your intention to:

• leave port for the high seas 
• enter and exit from any EEZ or restricted area
• enter port from the high seas
• dispose of or receive fish by transhipment.

3. You may have to carry observers on your vessel.
4. The vessel must be inspected before leaving a New Zealand port.
5. The vessel must carry and continuously operate a GPR device.
6. The vessel must be marked in accordance with the Fisheries (Commercial Fishing) Regulations 2001. Tenders must also be marked.
7. Landing into a New Zealand port must be to a Licensed Fish Receiver, and a fishery officer or observer must supervise the landing – unless an exemption is issued.
8. Landing into a foreign port requires the prior written approval from MPI
9. You need prior approval from MPI to move fish between vessels (tranship) on a trip – both to and from the vessel.
10. You must complete the appropriate high seas reports for your fishing activities.
11. The vessel must:

• go directly to the high seas when leaving a New Zealand port to fish on the high seas and go directly to port when entering the New Zealand EEZ from the high seas, and not fish in the New Zealand EEZ unless it has prior approval from MPI
• go directly to port when entering a foreign country's EEZ and go directly to the high seas when leaving a foreign port and not fish in that country's EEZ unless it has approval from the foreign country.

12. Whenever the vessel is in an area where fishing, or certain types of fishing, are not allowed, stow the relevant fishing equipment so that it is not available. 
13. Requirements for specific stocks or areas:

• You must have approval from MPI to trawl on the "Westpac Bank" area of the Challenger Plateau next to New Zealand's EEZ.
• You must have approval from MPI to fish for any straddling or highly migratory fish stocks that are subject to measures established by organisations or arrangements listed in the permit.

Find out more

Reporting to Fisheries Communication Centre

International fisheries reporting requirements