Fish Permits and Licenses

• Recreational Fishing – Everyone 12 years or older needs a license to fish in Oregon. See these sites for more information: How to Buy an Oregon Fishing License, ODFW Licensing System
  
  
• Commercial Fishing – There are numerous licenses and permits required for commercial fishing and fish dealers. See the Dealer Information, Licenses and Permits, and Forms Library links at the Commercial Fisheries website.

• Pacific Lamprey Harvest Permit (pdf) - Allows for the personal use harvest of Pacific lamprey at Willamette Falls from June 1 - July 31 for non-tribal members.
  
  
• Game Fish Tournament Permit - Allows for the implementation of a tournament to fish for game fish other than bass and walleye, if certain criteria are met.
  
  
• Bass and Walleye Tournament Permit - Allows for the implementation of a tournament to fish for bass and walleye, if certain criteria are met.

• Youth Fishing Event Permit/Authorization (Submit at least 14 days in advance of event)
  • Fishing only youth event
  • Shellfish (includes fishing, clamming, and crabbing) youth event
    
    
• Fish Passage Approval - Approves design and project implementation when barrier owners trigger fish passage
  
  
• Fish Scientific Take Permit - A Scientific Take Permit is required for any person desiring to take marine fish, shellfish, and invertebrates and freshwater fish, mussels/clams, and crayfish from waters of the state for scientific or educational purposes.
• Apply for an Oregon Scientific Taking Permit, Rescue/Salvage Authorization and/or NOAA authorization (Note this is a shared website for both ODFW and NOAA permits)
• Oregon Administrative Rules for Scientific Taking Permits
• When is a permit or authorization needed (pdf) (Including FAQ's)
• ODFW Animal Release Policy (pdf)
• NOAA Electrofishing guidelines (pdf)
• ODFW Lamprey BMP's (pdf)
• Freshwater Mussel BMP's
• https://xerces.org/publications/guidelines/conserving-gems-of-our-waters
• https://xerces.org/publications/guidelines/mussel-friendly-restoration

• Fish Rescue/Salvage Authorization - A Rescue/Salvage Authorization is required to take marine fish, shellfish, and invertebrates and freshwater fish, mussels/clams, and crayfish from waters of the state for rescue and salvage purposes (i.e., collection and movement for protection from potentially lethal impacts due to construction, water temperature, etc...).
  
  
  • Apply for an Oregon Scientific Taking Permit, Rescue/Salvage Authorization and/or NOAA authorization (Note this is a shared website for both ODFW and NOAA permits)
  • NOAA Rescue/Salvage Fact Sheet (pdf)
    
    
• Columbia River Snagging Permit (pdf)- Permit for commercial fishers to operate a snagging net in the Columbia River for the purpose of clearing a drift or drifts of debris prior to a commercial fishery. Return completed permit form to the Columbia River Fisheries Manager by faxing to 971-673-6072.
  
  
• Experimental Gear Permit - Permit for commercial fishers to operate experimental gears to test the efficacy for potential fisheries
  
  
• Fish Propagation License - License allows rearing of fish for sale by private hatchery operator as authorized by ORS 497.288 OAR 635-07-650
  
  
• Fish Transportation Permits - Permit allows for the transport of live fish or eggs in Oregon
  
  
• Grass Carp Permits - Permit allows for the release of triploid grass carp into certain waterbodies.
  
  
• Non-Native Crayfish Permit – This permit is used to authorize the importation, possession, purchase, or intrastate transport of non-native crayfish in Oregon for the purpose of immediate consumption.