You will require this licence if you intend to operate a business that harvests (catches) seafood for human consumption. There are two types of seafood harvesting licences:
- wildcatch licences
- aquaculture licences.
An aquaculture licence is required for seafood businesses that grow and harvest seafood (usually under the authority of an aquaculture licence). An aquaculture licence is required where all products are harvested from one location. There are three categories of aquaculture licences:
- abalone
- blue mussels and other shell fish
- fin fish (including trout and yabbies).
A wildcatch licence is required by businesses that harvest wild seafood under a Victorian or Commonwealth fisheries licence. There are three categories wildcatch licence:
- crustaceans (excluding rock lobster)
- general - all species except abalone, crusaceans and noxious fish
- noxious fish permit.
Under a seafood harvesting licence, processing of the seafood is only permitted to the extent that it is required to preserve and maintain the seafood in a condition fit for sale. Selling harvested seafood from a vessel at the point of unloading is also permitted.
