The Food Fish and Crustacea (FF&C) Dealers and Shippers License allows the license holder (or employees of the license holder) to:
- purchase and resell, trade or barter marine food fish, crustaceans, horseshoe crabs, or whelks as food or bait;
- operate a facility for packing, holding or storing marine food fish, crustaceans, horseshoe crabs, or whelks prior to consignment, transport or sale;
- ship, transport or traffic in marine food fish, crustaceans, horseshoe crabs, or whelks for resale, trade or barter to persons other than the final consumer within the state;
- export food fish, crustaceans, horseshoe crabs, or whelks landed in New York to outside the state.
License Details
| Fee | License Duration | Age Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| $250.00 | Expires December 31 of each year. | Applicants 16 years old or under must have application signed and notarized by parent or legal guardian. |
A list of current FF&C Dealers and Shippers License holders can be found on Open Data NY. To view the list, click the link and then click the "Data" tab in the upper left corner of the page.
How to Apply
- You may contact the Marine Permit Office and request an application be mailed to you.
- An online application (PDF) is also available for download.
- Complete the application and submit it and the license fee to the Marine Permit Office at the address below.
Renewing & Reporting
License Renewal
A renewal application will be sent by mail prior to the permit expiration date. If a license renewal form is not received at least 2 weeks prior to the expiration date, please contact us at the address or number below.
Annual Reporting
Effective January 1, 2012, state regulations require dealer reports to be submitted electronically on the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) reporting system, known as SAFIS.
- NYSDEC Data Management Unit will assist New York State seafood dealers with meeting this requirement by providing training and technical support, including helping dealers set up their initial user accounts.
- If you need assistance entering dealer reports or enrolling in the ACCSP reporting system, please contact NYSDEC at 631-444-0849.
- If you already have a user ID and password, visit the ACCSP Data Warehouse login page.
- All FF&C Dealers and Shippers must annually complete and return a Reporting Status Form (PDF). This form satisfies the New York State reporting requirements for dealers who hold federal dealers permits and report to NMFS and for state dealers who do not make purchases directly from fishermen. All other FF&C dealers must submit weekly reports.
- State licensed FF&C dealers are required to submit reports of all purchases of food fish, crustacea, horseshoe crabs and whelk from fishermen and harvesters landing in New York. Reports must be submitted weekly, by Tuesday of the following week, and a separate report must be submitted for each harvester purchase. If no purchases are made during a given week, a report must still be submitted stating that no purchases were made.
Only direct purchases from fishing vessels and harvesters landing in New York State are required to be reported. Please note the following exceptions to the state's weekly dealer reporting requirement:
- If you are a licensed dealer and do not purchase seafood products directly from fishing vessels or harvesters (e.g., only purchase from other dealers), you can register as a secondary dealer. Weekly reporting is not required by secondary dealers. However, any direct purchases from fishing vessels or harvesters will still require a report. If the DEC determines that regular direct purchases are made from fishing vessels or harvesters, the dealer will be notified to submit weekly reports.
- Licensed New York dealers who also hold a federal dealers permit issued by NOAA must satisfy their federal reporting requirements. Once the DEC Marine Commercial Fisheries Unit has been notified that a dealer holds a valid federal dealer permit and is reporting federally, compliance with NOAA reporting requirements will be considered compliance with state reporting requirements. Federally licensed dealers reporting to NOAA Fisheries should not report direct purchases from vessels or harvesters to the state reporting system unless specifically requested to do so.
- More information about New York State dealer reporting requirements can be found in Part 40.1(c) of 6 NYCRR. If you have additional questions or comments about dealer reporting requirements, please contact the DEC Marine Commercial Fisheries Unit at [email protected], 631-444-0482 or 631-444-5621.
Laws & Regulations
New York Codes Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)
Environmental Conservation Law (ECL)
To find a law click on the link, click on ENV, find Article 13, click on the appropriate law.
13-0334 Food fish and Crustacea Dealers and Shippers License
Harvest Limits
Commercial harvest limits for quota managed Species can be found at: Commercial Fishing Limits Quota Managed Species
Quota managed species include:
- Summer Flounder (Fluke)
- Scup (Porgy)
- Black Sea Bass
- Striped Bass
- Bluefish
- Spiny Dogfish
- Horseshoe Crab
- Menhaden (Bunker)
Commercial harvest limits for all food fish are available at: Commercial Fishing Regulations
Contact Information
Marine Permit Office - Division of Marine Resources
123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, New York 11754
Phone: 631-444-0470
Email: [email protected]
Other Information and Similar Licenses
- More information for Food Fish and Crustacea Dealers and Shippers
- Marine Bait Permit
- Shellfish Shippers & Processors Permits
