Commercial fishing is regulated at more than one level at the same time, and each level asks a different question about the person applying. A state fish and wildlife agency wants to know if a vessel and a license holder are eligible to harvest a species in state waters. The federal government wants to know if a vessel is authorized to fish in federal waters or for a federally managed stock. The United States Coast Guard wants to know whether a specific individual is fit to serve in a safety sensitive role on a vessel. Only the last of these routinely includes a real criminal history review. Understanding which license, permit or credential applies, and what each one actually checks, matters for anyone entering the industry or hiring crew.
State commercial fishing licenses are mostly administrative
Commercial fishing licenses for state waters are issued by state fish and wildlife agencies, not by a general business licensing office. The application generally asks for identity information, vessel details, gear type, landing or buyer information, and payment of a license or permit fee tied to the species or fishery. Most state agencies do not run a criminal background check as part of issuing a basic commercial fishing license. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game licensing page and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife commercial licensing page both describe license categories built around vessel type, gear, and species, not a personal history review.
What state agencies do track closely is violation history. Citations for exceeding a quota, using prohibited gear, fishing closed waters or seasons, or failing to report landings accurately can lead to fines, point systems, and license suspension or revocation depending on the state and the fishery. That enforcement record lives with the issuing agency and can follow a license holder from one renewal cycle to the next, but it is a regulatory record, not a criminal background check in the FCRA sense.
Federal fishing permits through NOAA Fisheries
Fishing in federal waters, generally beyond state jurisdiction, or targeting a federally managed species such as many highly migratory or offshore stocks, requires a federal permit from NOAA Fisheries in addition to any state license. NOAA Fisheries lists permit categories and the application process on its permits and forms page for fishing and seafood. The general permitting framework for federally managed fisheries sits in federal regulation at 50 CFR part 600.
A federal fishing permit is not a personal criminal background check either. It is tied to the vessel and, in many fisheries, to a limited number of permits available for a given stock. What it does carry is a sanctions process. Under 50 CFR 600.725, NOAA can deny, suspend, or revoke a permit over unpaid civil penalties, unresolved violations, or a pattern of noncompliance with fishery rules. So while there is no fingerprint check to get a federal permit, a history of enforcement actions can block or pull one.
Where a real background check applies: the Merchant Mariner Credential
The point where commercial fishing intersects with an actual criminal history review is vessel crew credentialing through the United States Coast Guard. Certain roles on larger or inspected commercial fishing vessels, including masters, operators, and some engineering positions, require a Merchant Mariner Credential issued through the Coast Guard National Maritime Center. Unlike a state license or a NOAA permit, this process is built around the individual applicant, not the vessel.
Federal regulation requires applicants to submit evidence of good character, and 46 CFR 10.211 sets out what that evidence covers, including criminal convictions and the circumstances surrounding them. 46 CFR 10.213 addresses specific grounds tied to controlled substance and certain criminal convictions that a reviewer weighs. Once a credential is issued, it can still be suspended or revoked for misconduct, negligence, or a conviction occurring after issuance, under the proceedings described in 46 CFR part 5. A more detailed look at how that review works is covered in a separate article on the Merchant Mariner Credential background check process.
Crew who need access to secure port facilities for loading, offloading, or fuel and supply runs may also need a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, which carries its own separate disqualifying offense list, covered in the article on TWIC card disqualifying offenses. A fishing license alone does not require this card, but many vessel operators end up needing it alongside a mariner credential.
License, permit and credential compared
| Authorization | Issuing authority | Who typically needs it | Personal criminal history reviewed | Common suspension or denial trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State commercial fishing license | State fish and wildlife agency | Vessel owner or operator fishing state waters | Generally no, administrative review | Quota, gear, or reporting violations |
| Federal fishing permit | NOAA Fisheries | Vessels fishing federal waters or managed stocks | No, but compliance history is reviewed | Unpaid penalties, unresolved violations |
| Merchant Mariner Credential | U.S. Coast Guard, National Maritime Center | Masters, operators, certain crew on larger vessels | Yes, character and conviction evidence required | Disqualifying conviction, misconduct finding |
| TWIC | Transportation Security Administration | Crew needing secure port or facility access | Yes, separate federal security threat assessment | Disqualifying criminal offense list |
Employer screening of fishing crew
None of the licenses or permits above substitute for the hiring decisions a vessel owner or fishing company makes about deckhands and other crew. Many commercial operators run their own pre-employment background checks before putting someone on a vessel, particularly where the role involves heavy machinery, isolated work at sea, or handling of cash and product. When an employer uses a third party consumer reporting agency to do that screening, the employer takes on specific duties under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including providing a standalone disclosure, getting written authorization, and, if the employer intends to act on something in the report, sending a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and a summary of rights before a final adverse action notice. Those requirements are implemented in 12 CFR part 1022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Regulation V.
What typically shows up in that kind of screening varies by state and by how far back the report reaches. A background check does not automatically surface every past arrest or violation in every state, and reporting limits differ by jurisdiction, so employers should not assume a report will show a particular record. Wildlife citations and license suspensions generally live with the issuing fish and wildlife agency rather than in standard criminal history databases, so an employer who wants that specific information may need to check with the relevant state agency directly rather than relying only on a standard background report.
Frequently asked questions
Does getting a commercial fishing license require a background check?
Typically no. Most state commercial fishing licenses are issued based on vessel and gear information and payment of fees, without a criminal history review. The agency does track violation history for license holders, which can affect renewal or lead to suspension.
What is the difference between a state commercial fishing license and a federal fishing permit?
A state license authorizes fishing in that state’s waters under state rules. A federal permit from NOAA Fisheries authorizes fishing in federal waters or for species managed under a federal fishery management plan. Many vessels need both, depending on where and what they fish.
Does a wildlife violation affect my commercial fishing license?
It can. State agencies and NOAA Fisheries both maintain enforcement and sanctions processes, and a pattern of violations, unpaid penalties, or serious infractions can lead to license or permit suspension, denial, or revocation under the applicable state program or under federal rules such as those at 50 CFR 600.725.
Do commercial fishing crew members need a Coast Guard credential?
It depends on the vessel and the role. Masters, operators, and certain crew positions on larger or inspected commercial fishing vessels generally need a Merchant Mariner Credential from the Coast Guard National Maritime Center, which does include a review of criminal history and character evidence. Smaller uninspected vessels and many deckhand roles may not require one.
Can an employer run a background check on a deckhand or crew member?
Yes. A fishing company or vessel owner that uses a consumer reporting agency to screen a prospective crew member must follow Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements, including disclosure, written authorization, and pre-adverse and adverse action notices if the employer decides not to hire based on the report.
What shows up on a Merchant Mariner Credential background review?
The review looks at evidence of good character under federal regulation, including certain criminal convictions and drug related findings. The exact grounds and how they are weighed are described in 46 CFR 10.211 and 10.213, and a credential already issued can be suspended or revoked later under separate misconduct proceedings.
If your company hires fishing crew, dock staff, or other maritime workers and needs consistent, compliant pre-employment screening, Reveal Background can help build a program that fits the role.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Licensing and permitting rules vary by state and fishery and change over time, so confirm current requirements with the relevant state agency, NOAA Fisheries, or the Coast Guard before making a hiring or compliance decision.
