Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing is legal in Tennessee, with a long history of adapting business operations for the benefit of Tennesseans. When managed properly, commercial fishing provides consumers with a local, healthy, and sustainable food source that helps support local economies. The commercial fishing industry provides fresh or preserved fish and fish products for grocery stores, farmer's markets, and local shops throughout Tennessee.
TWRA closely monitors harvest rates to make sure fish stocks stay at healthy levels. The commercial fishing industry contributes more than $24.5 million dollars annually to Tennessee’s economy.
To fight Invasive Carp, TWRA implemented the Tennessee Carp Harvest Incentive Program (TCHIP) in September 2018 with the assistance of the commercial fishing industry. Invasive Carp removal through commercial fishing is an integral part of the effort to prevent Silver Carp expansion and control Invasive Carp in the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. As of May 31, 2024, the TCHIP program has removed 32,497,118 pounds of Invasive Carp from the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Invasive Carp removal through commercial fishing is vital in protecting Tennessee’s sport fisheries.
In order to commercially harvest a fish or turtle in the State of Tennessee an individual must have a commercial fishing license.
The type of license and/or permit that he/she will need to purchase or obtain will depend on the person’s age and/or residency status.
Those individuals under the age of 70 will need to purchase a type 101 or 103 license. A type 101 license is for residents of the State of Tennessee and a type 103 license is for non-residents.
If an individual is over the age of 70 then he/she must obtain a type 100 annual resident senior citizen commercial fishing license. This type is issued at no charge to those residents 70 years old or older who furnish proof of residency and age.
Licensed commercial fishermen that want to hire a helper (assistant/day labor) can purchase a type 102 permit. This type permit can only be purchased by a licensed commercial fisherman and allows for one individual per permit. Each additional helper will require an additional permit.
Individuals interested in commercially harvesting turtles will first need to purchase a resident or nonresident commercial fishing license (see above). In addition to a resident or nonresident license a type 106 permit is required for commercial harvest of legal species of turtles.
Individuals interested in commercially harvesting paddlefish and bowfin will first need to purchase a resident or nonresident commercial fishing license (see above). An additional type 108 (resident) or a type 110 (nonresident) permit is required for harvesting roe fish species.