Local Fishing Vessel Registration (Vessels with no Valid Operating Licence on 15 June 2012)

Local Fishing Vessel Registration (Vessels with no Valid Operating Licence on 15 June 2012)

Vessel Registration

The Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) (“the Ordinance”) requires all local fishing vessels to be registered with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (“AFCD”) for conducting fishing in Hong Kong waters.  One of the registration requirements was that the fishing vessel must possess a valid operating licence issued by the Marine Department on 15 June 2012.  Some vessels were unable to register because they failed to meet the above operating licence requirement.

As such, the Government amended the Ordinance on 6 November 2020.  The Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 is in effect.  The Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (“the Director”) may exercise discretion to consider local fishing vessel registration applications of fishing vessels which did not possess a valid operating licence on the above date.  Applicants must provide proof to the Director’s satisfaction that his vessel was used for fishing up to 14 June 2012.  The vessel on application must be an existing vessel and holds a valid operating licence.  The applicant is also required to produce the vessel for inspection upon the request of AFCD.

Vessel Registration – Provisional Approval of Registration (sold or disposed vessel)

Some vessel owners whose fishing vessels did not fulfill the above registration requirement might have already sold or disposed of their fishing vessels.  The Director is provided with the discretion to consider issuing a Provisional Approval of Registration (“PAR”) to eligible vessel owners, which certifies a right to register a fishing vessel within two years from the issue of the PAR.

Certificate of Eligibility for Registration (trawler)

Those trawler owners whose Certificate of Eligibility for Registration (“CER”) applications were rejected because of failing the above requirement can also re-apply for a CER if their trawlers were used for fishing up to 14 June 2012.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is now accepting applications for local fishing vessel registration, PAR and CER.

Deadline for Application: 5 May 2021

• Notes to Applicant (Chinese version only)
  • Notes to Applicant for Local Fishing Vessel Registration《link》
  • Notes to Applicant for Provisional Approval of Registration《link》
  • Notes to Applicant for Certificate of Eligibility for Registration《link》

• Application forms (Chinese version only)
  • Application form for Local Fishing Vessel Registration《link》
  • Application form for Provisional Approval of Registration《link》
  • Application form for Certificate of Eligibility for Registration《link》

• Application channels
  • Phone number for appointment in person : 9738 0815
  • Submission of completed application form and required documents by post : Fisheries Enforcement and Special Projects Division, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Room 825, 8/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon
  • Submission of completed application form and required documents by email: fish_lic_enf@afcd.gov.hk

• Application fee
  • Local Fishing Vessel Registration︰HK$195
  • PAR or CER︰Free

• Enquiry hotline︰2150 7109 / 2150 7113