The Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) have a duty to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage the state's fish and wildlife resources.  As a part of this duty, the Commission may authorize fishing seasons by rule and regulate the time, place, and manner by which to take fish and shellfish.  In order to engage in the commercial harvest of fish and shellfish, a person must obtain applicable licenses from the DFW.  In general, commercial fishing license fees are structured by species and fishing technique. 

Crewmembers on commercial fishing vessels must obtain a crewmember license.  Immediate family members, including spouses, children, or grandchildren, of a person who holds a commercial fishing license are exempt from the crewmember licensing requirement.

A commercial fishing license holder may purchase up to two crewmember licenses for any individual working on the vessel named on the commercial fishing license, sometimes referred to as a "John Doe" license.  Each "John Doe" crewmember license covers one crewmember per trip. 

The Fish and Wildlife Commission may adopt fishery-specific rules to increase the number of commercial fishing crewmember licenses that may be held by a commercial fishing license holder and that pertain to the issuance, validity, use, possession, and display of the license.

Individuals required to have a crewmember license must carry at least one piece of identification that contains their photograph and signature.  A "John Doe" crewmember license held by a commercial fishing license holder may not be used to cover an individual who is prohibited from obtaining a crewmember license.