SCFL Eligibility Pool Standard and Retired Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses are required to participate in most commercial fisheries within the state. An individual who does not hold a Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License but wants to purchase a license through the Division of Marine Fisheries can apply to receive the license through the Eligibility Pool process. The application goes before an Eligibility Board that determines if the applicant is qualified based on criteria set out in rule. The number of licenses available in the Eligibility Pool is set annually by the Marine Fisheries Commission. Eligibility Pool Application - Standard Commercial Fishing License For questions on completing the application package, please contact the Division of Marine Fisheries' program assistant for the Eligibility Pool, Ann Bordeaux-Nixon, at 1-800-248-4536 or 910-796-7261. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to apply for a Standard Commercial Fishing License, the applicant must provide proof of prior involvement in commercial fishing based on the following criteria: Significant involvement in the commercial fishing industry three of the last five years; or Significant involvement in commercial fishing or in the commercial fishing industry pror to the last five years; or In the case of an applicant who is under 16 years of age, significant involvement in commercial fishing for two out of the last five years with a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or other adult; or Signficant involvement of the applicant's family in commercial fishing. For the purposes of this sub-item, family shall include mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, grandparents, or legal guardian. *Full information on the Eligibility Board and the rules governing the application process and approval can be found in Rules 15A NCAC 03O .0401 - .0406 in the Marine Fisheries Commission rulebook. Stats and Figures 2020-2021 SCFL Eligibility Annual Report Licenses Available from the Eligibility Pool – Annual Summary License Year Licenses Available Approved by MFC 1999-2000 500 N/A 2000-2001 1,314 1,314 2001-2002 1,423 1,423 2002-2003 1,458 1,458 2003-2004 1,421 1,421 2004-2005 1,423 1,423 2005-2006 1,536 1,536 2006-2007 1,596 1,596 2007-2008 1,562 1,562 2008-2009 1,557 1,557 2009-2010 1,507 1,507 2010-2011 1,420 1,420 2011-2012 1,375 1,375 2012-2013 1,358 1,358 2013-2014 1,368 1,368 2014-2015 1,257 1,257 2015-2016 1,238 1,238 2016-2017* 2,417 100 2017-2018 2,592 1,500 2018-2019 2,723 500 2019-2020 2,973 500 2020-2021 3,064 500 *Calculation used to determine number of available licenses changed.
SCFL Eligibility Pool Standard and Retired Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses are required to participate in most commercial fisheries within the state. An individual who does not hold a Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License but wants to purchase a license through the Division of Marine Fisheries can apply to receive the license through the Eligibility Pool process. The application goes before an Eligibility Board that determines if the applicant is qualified based on criteria set out in rule. The number of licenses available in the Eligibility Pool is set annually by the Marine Fisheries Commission. Eligibility Pool Application - Standard Commercial Fishing License For questions on completing the application package, please contact the Division of Marine Fisheries' program assistant for the Eligibility Pool, Ann Bordeaux-Nixon, at 1-800-248-4536 or 910-796-7261. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to apply for a Standard Commercial Fishing License, the applicant must provide proof of prior involvement in commercial fishing based on the following criteria: Significant involvement in the commercial fishing industry three of the last five years; or Significant involvement in commercial fishing or in the commercial fishing industry pror to the last five years; or In the case of an applicant who is under 16 years of age, significant involvement in commercial fishing for two out of the last five years with a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or other adult; or Signficant involvement of the applicant's family in commercial fishing. For the purposes of this sub-item, family shall include mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, grandparents, or legal guardian. *Full information on the Eligibility Board and the rules governing the application process and approval can be found in Rules 15A NCAC 03O .0401 - .0406 in the Marine Fisheries Commission rulebook. Stats and Figures 2020-2021 SCFL Eligibility Annual Report Licenses Available from the Eligibility Pool – Annual Summary License Year Licenses Available Approved by MFC 1999-2000 500 N/A 2000-2001 1,314 1,314 2001-2002 1,423 1,423 2002-2003 1,458 1,458 2003-2004 1,421 1,421 2004-2005 1,423 1,423 2005-2006 1,536 1,536 2006-2007 1,596 1,596 2007-2008 1,562 1,562 2008-2009 1,557 1,557 2009-2010 1,507 1,507 2010-2011 1,420 1,420 2011-2012 1,375 1,375 2012-2013 1,358 1,358 2013-2014 1,368 1,368 2014-2015 1,257 1,257 2015-2016 1,238 1,238 2016-2017* 2,417 100 2017-2018 2,592 1,500 2018-2019 2,723 500 2019-2020 2,973 500 2020-2021 3,064 500 *Calculation used to determine number of available licenses changed.
