Resolution 13/02 Concerning the IOTC record of vessels authorised to operate in the IOTC area of competence

The Commission shall maintain an IOTC Record of fishing vessels that are:

1. larger than 24 metres in length overall; or
2. in case of vessels less than 24 meters, those operating in waters outside the Economic Exclusive Zone of the Flag State;

and that are authorised to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the IOTC area of competence (hereinafter referred to as ‘authorised fishing vessels’, or AFVs). For the purpose of this Resolution, AFVs that are not entered in the Record are deemed not to be authorised to fish for, retain on board, tranship or land tuna and tuna-like species.

All CPCs which issue authorisations to fish to their flag vessels to fish for species managed by the IOTC shall submit to the IOTC Executive Secretary, by 15 February of 2014, an updated template of the official authorisation to fish outside National Jurisdictions, and update this information whenever this information changes. This information includes:

1. name of the Competent Authority;
2. name and contact of personnel of the Competent Authority;
3. signature of the personnel of the Competent Authority;
4. official stamp of the Competent Authority.

The IOTC Executive Secretary shall publish the above information in a secure part on the IOTC website for MCS purpose.

Each CPC shall promptly notify, after the establishment of their initial IOTC Record, the IOTC Executive Secretary of any addition to, any deletion from and/or any modification of the IOTC Record at any time such changes occur.

The flag CPCs of the vessels on the record shall:

1. authorise their vessels to operate in the IOTC area of competence only if they are able to fulfil in respect of these vessels the requirements and responsibilities under the IOTC Agreement and its Conservation and Management Measures;
2. take necessary measures to ensure that their AFVs comply with all the relevant IOTC Conservation and Management Measures;
3. take necessary measures to ensure that their AFVs on the IOTC Record keep on board valid certificates of vessel registration and valid authorisation to fish and/or tranship;
4. ensure that their AFVs on the IOTC Record have no history of IUU fishing activities or that, if those vessels have such a history, the new owners have provided sufficient evidence demonstrating that the previous owners and operators have no legal, beneficial or financial interest in, or control over those vessels; the parties of the IUU incident have officially resolved the matter and sanctions have been completed; or that having taken into account all relevant facts, their AFVs are not engaged in or associated with IUU fishing;
5. ensure, to the extent possible under domestic law, that the owners and operators of their AFVs on the IOTC Record are not engaged in or associated with tuna fishing activities conducted by vessels not entered into the IOTC Record in the IOTC area of competence;
6. take necessary measures to ensure, to the extent possible under domestic law, that the owners of the AFVs on the IOTC Record are citizens or legal entities within the flag CPCs so that any control or punitive actions can be effectively taken against them.

1. CPCs shall take measures, under their applicable legislation, to prohibit the fishing for, the retaining on board, the transhipment and landing of tuna and tuna-like species by the vessels which are not entered into the IOTC Record.
2. To ensure the effectiveness of the IOTC Conservation and Management Measures pertaining to species covered by Statistical Document Programs:
   1. Flag CPCs shall validate statistical documents only for the vessels on the IOTC Record;
   2. CPCs shall require that the species covered by Statistical Document Programs caught by AFVs in the IOTC area of competence, when imported into the territory of a Contracting Party, be accompanied by statistical documents validated for the vessels on the IOTC Record; and
   3. CPCs importing species covered by Statistical Document Programs and the flag States of vessels shall cooperate to ensure that statistical documents are not forged or do not contain misinformation.

1. If a vessel mentioned in paragraph 10 is flying the flag of a CPC, the IOTC Executive Secretary shall request that Party to take measures necessary to prevent the vessel from fishing for tuna and tuna-like species in the IOTC area of competence;
2. If the flag of a vessel mentioned in paragraph 10 cannot be determined or is of a non-Contracting Party without cooperating status, the IOTC Executive Secretary shall compile and circulate such information to all CPCs, without delay.

Each Contracting Party and Cooperating Non-Contracting Party with the IOTC shall:

1. Ensure that each of its fishing vessels carry on board documents issued and certified by the competent authority of that Contracting Party or of that Cooperating Non-Contracting Party with IOTC, including, at a minimum, the following:
   1. License, permit or authorisation to fish and terms and conditions attached to the licence, permit of authorisation;
   2. Vessel name;
   3. Port in which registered and the number(s) under which registered;
   4. International call sign;
   5. Names and addresses of owner(s) and where relevant, the charterer;
   6. Overall length;
   7. Engine power, in KW/horsepower, where appropriate.
2. Verify above documents on a regular basis and at least every year;
3. Ensure that any modification to the documents and to the information referred to in 13.a) is certified by the competent authority of that Contracting Party or of that Cooperating Non-Contracting Party with the IOTC.

1. Each Contracting Party and Cooperating Non-Contracting Party with the IOTC shall ensure that each gear used by its fishing vessels authorised to fish in the IOTC area of competence is marked appropriately, e.g., the ends of nets, lines and gear in the sea, shall be fitted with flag or radar reflector buoys by day and light buoys by night sufficient to indicate their position and extent;
2. Marker buoys and similar objects floating and on the surface, and intended to indicate the location  of  fixed  fishing gear,  shall  be  clearly  marked  at  all  time  with  the letter(s)  and/or number(s) of the vessel to which they belong;
3. Fish  aggregating  devices  shall  be  clearly  marked  at  all  time  with  the  letter(s)  and  /  or number(s) of the vessel to which they belong.