Anyone 16 or older fishing commercially in tidal waters, or aboard a commercial fishing vessel, needs a Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fish Harvester Registration Card. Skippers also need Transport Canada certificates.
Skippers and fishers run the vessel to find and catch fish, plot courses and navigate, run the fishing gear and direct the crew. They maintain engines and gear, log catch, weather and sea conditions, and plan budgets and sales. The work is outdoors on the water in all weather. source
| Detail | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Anyone 16+ fishing commercially in tidal waters or aboard a commercial fishing vessel must hold a Fish Harvester Registration Card (FRC); citizens, PRs, refugees or work-permit holders | source |
| Issuing body · Url | Official page | source |
| Credential | FRC ('deckhand licence'): apply via National Online Licensing System; $60 ($50 + $10 conservation fee); valid to Dec 31 | source |
| Jobs requiring it | Deckhands and masters of commercial fishing vessels | source |
| Master certificate | Small fishing vessel (up to 15 GT or 12 m): SVOP for Near Coastal 2 (>2 nm), PCOC within 2 nm or sheltered waters; SVOP holders also need SDV-BS (formerly MED A3) | source |
| Svop | SVOP: age 18+; issued by Transport Canada recognized training institutions; master of fishing vessel up to 15 GT / 12 m on NC2 or sheltered waters | source |
| Typical day | Skippers and fishers run the vessel to find and catch fish, plot courses and navigate, run the fishing gear and direct the crew. They maintain engines and gear, log catch, weather and sea conditions, and plan budgets and sales. The work is outdoors on the water in all weather. | source |
| Licence steps 1 | FRC ('deckhand licence'): apply via National Online Licensing System; $60 ($50 + $10 conservation fee); valid to Dec 31 | source |
| Licence steps 2 | Small fishing vessel (up to 15 GT or 12 m): SVOP for Near Coastal 2 (>2 nm), PCOC within 2 nm or sheltered waters; SVOP holders also need SDV-BS (formerly MED A3) | source |
| Licence steps 3 | SVOP: age 18+; issued by Transport Canada recognized training institutions; master of fishing vessel up to 15 GT / 12 m on NC2 or sheltered waters | source |
| Licence steps 4 | Take SDV-BS (formerly MED A3) as well as SVOP; also needed: ROC-M and Marine Basic First Aid per training provider Provider statement, not Transport Canada | source |
| Renewal | FRC ('deckhand licence'): apply via National Online Licensing System; $60 ($50 + $10 conservation fee); valid to Dec 31 | source |
| Costs | FRC $60/yr; SVOP $592-$859 and SDV-BS about $263 at BC providers (Nov 2026) | source |
| Common gotchas 1 | SVOP has no challenge exam: the course is mandatory | source |
| Common gotchas 2 | Bring your Transport Canada Candidate Document Number (CDN) and photo ID on day 1 | source |
| Common gotchas 3 | FRC expires Dec 31 each year | source |
| School and city | Program and approval | Length | Intakes | Cost | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Institute of Technology North Vancouver (Marine Campus) | NAUT 1015 Small Vessel Operator Proficiency Meets Transport Canada TP 14692; no challenge exam source | 5 days | Nov 2-6, 2026; Winter 2027 registration open | $858.62 domestic; manual extra (BCIT Bookstore) | Program page |
| Camosun College Victoria (Interurban) | NAUT 622V SVOP Recognized for certification through Transport Canada source | 32.5 hours (5 days) | Dec 7-11, 2026; Jan 18-22, 2027 | $795 incl. materials; $500 non-refundable deposit option | Program page |
| FMI Marine North Saanich | SVOP and SDV-BS Offers Transport Canada SVOP course (provider's page) source | SVOP 4 days; SDV-BS 1 day | SVOP Jan 5-8, 2027; SDV-BS Jan 4, 2027 | SVOP $682.50; SDV-BS $262.50 | Program page |
| Western Maritime Institute Ladysmith | Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) Offers Transport Canada SVOP course (provider's page) source | 4 days | Apr 5-8, 2027; May 10-13, 2027 | $825 | Program page |
| QuickNAV Marine Training North Vancouver / Sunshine Coast / Vancouver Island | SVOP States Transport Canada approved source | 26 hours over 4 days | not published on page | $592.25 incl. manual, no GST | Program page |
We could not confirm these on an official page, so we left them out: Camp or remote housing.
It is the Fish Harvester Registration Card. Apply through DFO’s National Online Licensing System. It costs $60 and is valid to December 31.
For a fishing vessel up to 15 gross tonnes or 12 m: an SVOP for Near Coastal 2, or a PCOC within 2 nautical miles or sheltered waters. SVOP holders also need SDV-BS (formerly MED A3).
Only for a small fishing vessel within 2 nautical miles of shore or in sheltered waters.
This page relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.
Links checked November 1, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.