Resolution 19/07 On Vessel Chartering in the IOTC Area of Competence

Part I: Definitions

1. Chartering of vessels: means an agreement or an arrangement by which a fishing vessel flying the flag of Contracting Party is contracted for a defined period of time by an operator in another Contracting Party without the change of flag. For the purpose of this Resolution, the “chartering CP” refers to the CP that holds the quota allocation or fishing possibilities and the “flag CP” refers to the CP in which the chartered vessel is registered.

Part II: Objective

2. Charter agreements may be allowed, predominantly as an initial step in the fishery development of the chartering nation. The period of the chartering arrangement shall be consistent with the development schedule of the chartering nation. The chartering agreement shall not undermine IOTC Conservation and Management Measures.

Part III: General provisions

3. The chartering agreement shall contain the following conditions:

3.1     The flag CP has consented in writing to the chartering agreement;

3.2     The duration of the fishing operations under the chartering agreement does not exceed 12 months cumulatively in any calendar year;

3.3     Fishing vessels to be chartered shall be registered to responsible Contracting Parties and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties, which explicitly agree to apply IOTC Conservation and Management Measures and enforce them on their vessels. All flag Contracting Parties or Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties, concerned shall effectively exercise their duty to control their fishing vessels to ensure compliance with IOTC Conservation and Management Measures.

3.4     Fishing vessels to be chartered shall be on the IOTC record of vessels authorized to operate in the IOTC Area of Competence, in accordance with IOTC Resolution 15/04 [superseded by Resolution 19/04] Concerning the IOTC record of vessels authorised to operate in the IOTC Area of Competence (or any subsequent superseding revision).

3.5     Without prejudice to the duties of the chartering CP, the flag CP shall ensure that the chartered vessel complies with both the chartering Contracting Party and the flag Contracting Party or Cooperating Non-Contracting Party shall ensure compliance by chartered vessels with relevant Conservation and Management Measures established by IOTC, in accordance with their rights, obligations and jurisdiction under international law. If the chartered vessel is allowed by the chartering CP to go and fish in the high seas, the flag CP is then responsible for controlling the high seas fishing conducted pursuant to the charter arrangement. The chartered vessel shall report VMS and catch data to both the CPs (chartering and flag) and to the IOTC Secretariat.

3.6     All catches (historical and current/future), including bycatch and discards, taken pursuant to the chartering agreement (including pursuant to a chartering agreement that existed prior to the IOTC Resolution 18/10 [superseded by Resolution 19/07]), shall be counted against the quota or fishing possibilities of the chartering CP.The observer coverage (historical, current/future) on board such vessels shall also be counted against the coverage rate of the chartering CP for the duration that the vessel fishes under the Charter Agreement.

3.7     The chartering CP shall report to the IOTC all catches, including bycatch and discards, and other information required by the IOTC, and as per the Charter Notification Scheme detailed in Part III of this Resolution.

3.8     Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and, as appropriate, tools for differentiation of fishing areas, such as fish tags or marks, shall be used, according to the relevant IOTC Conservation and Management Measures, for effective fishery management.

3.9     There shall be observer coverage of at least 5% of fishing effort, as measured in the manner specified in paragraph 2 of Resolution 11/04 (or any subsequent superseding resolution), for chartered vessels. All other provisions of Resolution 11/04 apply mutatis mutandis in the case of chartered vessels.

3.10   The chartered vessels shall have a fishing license issued by the chartering CP, and shall not be on the IOTC IUU list as established by IOTC Resolution 17/03 [superseded by Resolution 18/03] On Establishing a List of Vessels Presumed to Have Carried out Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Activities in the IOTC Area of Competence (or any subsequent superseding resolution), and/or IUU list of other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

3.11.  When operating under charter agreements, the chartered vessels shall not, to the extent possible, be authorized to use the quota (if any) or entitlement of the flag Contracting Parties or Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties. In no case, shall the vessel be authorized to fish under more than one chartering agreement at the same time.

3.12.  Unless specifically provided in the chartering agreement, and consistent with relevant domestic law and regulation, the catches of the chartered vessels shall be unloaded exclusively in the Ports of the chartering Contracting Party or under its direct supervision in order to assure that the activities of the chartered vessels do not undermine IOTC Conservation and Management Measures.

3.13    The chartered vessel shall at all times carry a copy of the documentation referred to in paragraph 4.1.

Part IV: Charter notification scheme

4. Within 15 days, or, in any case, prior to 72 hours before commencement of fishing activities under a Charter agreement:

4.1     The chartering CP shall notify the IOTC Executive Secretary and copy the flag CP of any vessel to be identified as chartered in accordance with this Resolution by submitting electronically where possible the following information with respect to each chartered vessel:

1. 1. the name (in both native and Latin alphabets) and registration of the chartered vessel, and International Maritime Organization (IMO) ship identification number (if eligible);
   2. the name and contact address of the beneficial owner(s) of the vessel;
   3. the description of the vessel, including the length overall, type of vessel and the type of fishing method(s) to be used under the charter;
   4. a copy of the chartering agreement and any fishing authorization or license it has issued to the vessel, including in particular, the quota allocation(s) or fishing possibility assigned to the vessel; and the duration of the chartering arrangement;
   5. its consent to the chartering agreement; and
   6. the measures adopted to implement these provisions.

4.2     The flag CP or Cooperating Non-Contracting Party, shall provide the following information to the IOTC Executive Secretary and copy the chartering CP:

1. 1. its consent to the chartering agreement;
   2. the measures adopted to implement these provisions; and
   3. its agreement to comply with IOTC Conservation and Management Measures.

5. Upon receipt of the information required in paragraph 4, the IOTC Executive Secretary shall circulate all the information within 5 business days to all Contracting Parties or Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties, via an IOTC Circular.
6. Both the chartering CP and the flag CP or Cooperating Non-Contracting Party shall immediately inform the IOTC Executive Secretary of the start, suspension, resumption and termination of the fishing operations under the chartering agreement.
7. The IOTC Executive Secretary shall circulate all the information pertaining to termination of a chartering agreement within 5 business days to all Contracting Parties or Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties, via an IOTC Circular.
8. The chartering CP shall report to the IOTC Executive Secretary by 28 February each year, and for the previous calendar year, the particulars of charter agreements made and carried out under this Resolution, including information of catches taken and fishing effort deployed by the chartered vessels as well as the level of observer coverage achieved on the chartered vessels, in a manner consistent with IOTC data confidentiality requirements.
9. Each year the IOTC Executive Secretary shall present a summary of all the chartering agreements undertaken in the previous year, to the Commission which, at its annual meeting, shall review compliance with this Resolution under advice of the IOTC Compliance Committee.
10. This Resolution supersedes IOTC Resolution 18/10 On Vessel Chartering in the IOTC Area of Competence.