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6.2(a) Requirements for Inclusion in Record of Large-Scale Purse Seine Vessels Fishing For Tropical Tunas

Initially Adopted

  • May 22, 2012
This measure also applies to the PVR

Processors, traders, importers, transporters, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry shall refrain from transactions in skipjack, bigeye and yellowfin tuna caught by large-scale purse seine vessels that are not listed on ISSF’s Record.

1. Only vessels with all of the following information will be entered in the Record. Vessel information will be subject to verification by government agencies, RFMO secretariats, and other relevant agencies.

  1. Name
  2. Flag
  3. IMO number
  4. RFMO vessel record number(s)
  5. National Registration Number
  6. Radio Call Sign
  7. Length overall (m)
  8. Fish carrying capacity (metric tons)
  9. Fish hold volume (m3)
  10. Year and month built
  11. Shipyard
  12. If applicable: Previous name(s) and flag(s); date(s) changed

2. ISSF will update the Record to include additional vessels in the following  circumstances:

  1. The addition of a large-scale purse seine vessel that was actively fishing for tuna on or before December 31, 2012, but cannot have ceased fishing operations prior to January 1, 2010, that was not included in the Record initially.
  2. The addition of a large-scale purse seine vessel that was under contract for construction on or before December 31, 2012, with construction completed by June 30, 2015. “Under contract for construction” means that there is evidence that a valid contractual obligation was in place for the construction of the vessel. “Construction completed” means that the vessel has been delivered and is ready to commence fishing operations.
  3. A change in the name, flag, or registration number of a vessel already on the Record.
  4. The addition of a new large-scale purse seine vessel that is built as a replacement for a vessel already on the Record that has sunk, has been scrapped or otherwise permanently transferred out of the tropical tuna fishery. The addition of the new vessel will be permitted only to the extent it replaces one or more older vessels on the ISSF Record and its fish hold volume is less than or equal to the fish hold volume of the older vessel(s) that were on the ISSF Record. The request for the addition of new vessels shall come either from the owner of the older vessel, or from a new owner designated by the owner of the older vessel.Vessels that do not provide verified proof of the existence of a fish hold are not eligible for use as replacement capacity under this subsection.In circumstances where the vessel owner does not provide proof of a fish hold volume (m3), an independent auditor will make a conservative calculation in accordance with then-current ISSF technical papers.

3. Vessels on the Record that are refurbished in such a way that their fish hold volume increases will be removed from the Record unless the aggregated replaced capacity is at least 1.0 times the capacity of the vessel before refurbishment.

4. In order to resolve any disputes that may arise with the implementation of paragraphs 1 to 3 above, ISSF will set up an independent Dispute Advisory Body (DAB) composed of experts in relevant legislation.

For the purposes of this measure, large-scale purse seine vessels are those with at least 335 m3 fish hold volume.

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