Commercial fishing vessel registration

How to apply to register your fishing vessel

There are 3 steps to registering your vessel as a commercial fishing vessel.

The steps are the same for:

New Zealand-owned vessels
foreign-owned vessels (FOVs).

However, FOVs have different registration requirements to New Zealand-owned vessels.

Find requirements for FOVs

1. Register as a New Zealand ship

Visit the Maritime New Zealand website to register.

Ship registration – Maritime New Zealand

2. Get a FishServe client number

If you don't already have a client number, you'll need to register with FishServe and complete an application form.

Becoming a client – FishServe

To find the right application form that you need, check the "Clients" section on FishServe's "Forms" web page.

Forms – FishServe

Or, update your FishServe details

If you already have a client number, and you need to update your details, contact FishServe.

3. Apply to register on the Fishing Vessel Register

FishServe manages the Fishing Vessel Register on our behalf. You can apply to register your vessel with them either:

online (if you've registered for FishServe's Online Services)
by completing an application form.

The form you need will depend on:

the size of the vessel, and
whether the vessel is foreign-owned.

To find the form that you need, check the "Vessels" section on FishServe's "Forms" web page.

Forms – FishServe

What to expect after registration

Once your vessel is registered, FishServe will give you a certificate of registration. It'll show your vessel’s registration number. Details will be entered into the public Fishing Vessel Register.

Contact FishServe for information from the register

Registering a foreign-owned vessel (FOV) as a fishing vessel

Vessels that are registered in a foreign country cannot fish in New Zealand waters. To fish, foreign-registered vessels need to:

When you apply to register a FOV, we check for:

past fisheries offences by anyone involved with the vessel
any issues with:
- fisheries management
- vessel safety
- employment
compliance with maritime rules around:
- pollution
- discharge of waste material.

Why your vessel must be flagged to New Zealand

Re-flagging ensures that all vessels operating in our waters have to follow New Zealand law around:

fisheries
maritime safety
employment.

The requirement that FOVs must be flagged to New Zealand was introduced in 2016. This happened after a ministerial inquiry into foreign charter vessels. The re-flagging rules involve: