Limited entry fisheries commercial licenses

These licenses are limited by moratorium. An existing license may be transferred to another owner, but no new licenses may be issued.

Salmon licenses
  • Angler transfer
    Authorizes the angler permits, all or a portion of, to be transferred to another salmon charter license holder.
  • Charter
    A salmon charter license designating a vessel is required to operate a charter boat to take salmon, other food fish, and shellfish, for personal use. A salmon charter boat may not carry more anglers than the number specified in the angler permit. For more information see: Licensing Requirements for Charter Boats and Fishing Guides
  • Grays Harbor-Columbia River gill net
    Authorizes the taking of salmon using specified gear and only in the geographical area for which the license is issued. Incidentally caught food fish other than salmon may, in certain circumstances, be retained.
  • Non-participation renewal (salmon only)
    Authorizes the holder of a salmon license to renew it for the following year but not to participate in the fishery during that calendar year. Call WDFW Commercial Licensing for more information, 360-902-2464. Deadlines for notifying WDFW are: May 1st, for Salmon Delivery, Charter and Troll licenses 3rd Monday in September, for Gillnet, Purse Seine, and Reefnet licenses.
  • Puget Sound gill net
    Authorizes the taking of salmon using specified gear and only in the geographical area for which the license is issued. Incidentally caught food fish other than salmon may, in certain circumstances, be retained. (See WAC 220-354-140)
  • Purse seine 
    Authorizes the taking of salmon using specified gear in Washington state waters. Incidentally caught food fish other than salmon may, in certain circumstances, be retained. (See WAC 220.354.120)
  • Reefnet
    Authorizes the taking of salmon using specified gear in Washington state waters. Incidentally caught food fish other than salmon, in certain circumstances, may be retained. (See WAC 220-354-180)
  • Salmon delivery
    Authorizes the delivery of salmon taken in off shore waters (outside the 3 mile limit) to a place or port in the state.
  • Troll
    Authorizes the taking of salmon using specified gear in Washington state water. This license includes the Salmon Delivery Permit. (See WAC 220-354-300)
  • Willapa Bay-Columbia River gill net
    Authorizes the taking of salmon using specified gear and only in the geographical area for which the license is issued. Incidentally caught food fish other than salmon may, in certain circumstances, be retained.

Herring licenses

Shellfish licenses

Emerging commercial fishery licenses

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife expects to conduct an emerging commercial fishery season for beach seines, purse seines, and pound nets on the lower Columbia River in fall 2024. Applications for the fishery are limited to existing Columbia River commercial license holders. Application materials will be posted here when available. There will be no Columbia River emerging commercial fishery season in 2023.

Other limited licenses