15A NCAC 03O .0108      LICENSE and commercial fishing vessel registration TRANSFERS

(a)  To transfer a license or Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration, the license or registration shall not be expired prior to transfer.

(b)  Upon transfer of a license or Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration, the transferee becomes the licensee and assumes the privileges of holding the license or Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration.

(c)  A transfer application including a certification statement form shall be provided by the Division of Marine Fisheries. A transfer application shall be completed for each transfer including, but not limited to:

(1)           the information required as set forth in Rule .0101(a) of this Section;

(2)           a notarized statement from the transferee listing any violations involving marine or estuarine resources in the State of North Carolina during the previous three years; and

(3)           a notarized statement from the transferee that the information and supporting documentation submitted with the transfer application is true and correct, and that the transferee acknowledges that it is unlawful for a person to accept transfer of a license for which they are ineligible.

(d)  A completed transfer application shall be returned to an office of the Division by mail or in person, except as set forth in Paragraph (e) of this Rule.

(e)  A transfer application submitted to the Division without complete and required information shall be deemed incomplete and shall not be considered further until resubmitted with all required information. Incomplete applications shall be returned to the applicant with deficiency in the application so noted.

(f)  A License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean shall only be transferred:

(1)           with the transfer of the ownership of a vessel that the licensee owns that individually met the eligibility requirements of Rule .0101 (b)(1)(A) and (b)(1)(B) of this Section to the new owner of that vessel; or

(2)           by the owner of a vessel to another vessel under the same ownership.

Transfer of a License to Land Flounder from the Atlantic Ocean transfers with it all flounder landings from the Atlantic Ocean associated with that vessel. Any transfer of license under this Paragraph shall only be processed through the Division of Marine Fisheries Morehead City Headquarters Office and no transfer is effective until approved and processed by the Division.

(g)  Transfer of a Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration: If transferring ownership of a vessel bearing a current Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration, the new owner:

(1)           shall follow the requirements in Rule .0101 of this Section and pay a replacement fee as set forth in Rule .0107 of this Section for a replacement Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration; and

(2)           shall submit a transfer application with the signatures of the former owner and the new owner notarized.

(h)  Transfer of a Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License:

(1)           It is unlawful for a person to accept transfer of a Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License for which they are ineligible. Grandparents, grandchildren, and legal guardians of an individual are eligible to transfer a license and receive a transferred license.

(2)           A Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License shall only be transferred if both the transferor and the transferee have no current suspensions or revocations of any Marine Fisheries license privileges. In the event of the death of the transferor, this requirement shall only apply to the transferee.

(3)           For purposes of effecting transfers under this Paragraph:

(A)          "business" shall mean corporations and limited liability companies that have been registered with the Secretary of State; and

(B)          "owner" shall mean owner, shareholder, or manager of a business.

(4)           At the time of the transfer of a Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License, the transferor shall indicate the retainment or transfer of the landings history associated with that Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License. The transferor may retain a landings history only if the transferor holds an additional Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License. Transfer of a landings history is all or none.

(5)           To transfer a Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License, in addition to the requirements in Paragraph (c) of this Rule, the following information is required:

(A)          information on the transferee as set forth in Rule .0101 of this Section;

(B)          notarization of the transferor's and the transferee's signatures on the transfer application; and

(C)          if the transferor is retiring from commercial fishing, evidence showing that such retirement has in fact occurred, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the transfer of all the transferor's Standard Commercial Fishing Licenses, sale of all the transferor's registered vessels, or discontinuation of any active involvement in commercial fishing.

(6)           The Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License that is being transferred shall be surrendered to the Division at the time of the transfer application.

(7)           Fees:

(A)          The transferee shall pay a replacement fee as set forth in Rule .0107 of this Section.

(B)          The transferee shall pay the differences in fees as specified in G.S. 113-168.2(e) or G.S. 113-168.3(b) if the transferee is a non-resident.

(C)          The transferee shall pay the differences in fees as specified in G.S. 113-168.2(e) if the license to be transferred is a Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License and the transferee is less than 65 years old.

(8)           Transfer of Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License for a Business:

(A)          An individual holding a Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License may transfer their license to a business in which the license holder is also an owner of the business in accordance with application requirements as set forth in Rule .0101(a) of this Section.

(B)          If a business is dissolved, the business may transfer the license or licenses of the business to an individual owner of the dissolved business. A dissolved business holding multiple licenses may transfer one license or multiple licenses to one owner or multiple owners or any combination thereof. A notarized statement showing agreement for the transfer of all owners of the business is required to complete this transaction.

(C)          If a business is sold, the business may transfer the license or licenses of the business to the successor business at the time of sale.

(D)          If an owner leaves the business, any license owned by that owner may be transferred back to themselves as an individual at the time the owner leaves the business, provided the owner was the last individual to own the license before the business owned the license. A notarized statement showing agreement for the transfer of all owners of the business is required to complete this transaction.

(9)           Transfer of Standard or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License for a Deceased Licensee:

(A)          If an immediate surviving family member of the deceased licensee is eligible to hold the deceased licensee's Standard Commercial Fishing License or Retired Standard Commercial Fishing License, the Administrator or Executor shall give written notification within six months after the Administrator or Executor qualifies under G.S. 28A to the Division of the request to transfer the deceased's license to the estate Administrator or Executor.

(B)          A transfer to the Administrator or Executor shall be made according to the provisions of Subparagraphs (2) through (4) of this Paragraph. The Administrator or Executor shall provide a copy of the deceased licensee's death certificate, a copy of the certificate of administration, and a list of eligible immediate family members to the Division.

(C)          The Administrator or Executor shall only transfer a license in the Administrator or Executor name on behalf of the estate to an eligible surviving family member. The surviving family member transferee shall only transfer the license to a third party purchaser of the deceased licensee's fishing vessel. Transfers shall be made according to the provisions of Subparagraphs (2) through (4) of this Paragraph.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113‑134; 113-168.1; 113-168.2; 113-168.3; 113-168.6; 113-182; 143B-289.52;

Eff. January 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. March 1, 1994;

Temporary Amendment Eff. August 1, 1999; July 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2000;

Readopted Eff. March 17, 2021.