This measure of based on the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South East Atlantic Ocean, adopted by the Annual Meeting of the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) in 2015, establishes the System of Observation, Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement, which shall apply to all fishing vessels and fishing research vessels operating or intending to operate in the Convention Area. The System concerns the following matters, each regulated in a specific Chapter: Control Measures (II); Monitoring Of Fisheries (III); At Sea Inspection (IV); Observer Programme (V); Port State Control (VI); Measures to Promote Compliance (VII). The System sets out obligations of Contracting Vessels in respect of vessels flying their flag. Contracting Parties shall designate a competent authority as the contact point for the purposes of receiving reports and notifications and issuing authorisations. Each Contracting Party shall, among other things, authorise their vessels to operate in the Convention Area only if they are able to fulfil in respect of these vessels the requirements and responsibilities under the Convention, this System and its conservation and management measures and take necessary measures to ensure that their vessels comply with this System and all the relevant SEAFO conservation and management measures. Transhipment of fish in the Convention area is prohibited. Another requirement concerns labelling of frozen products. Contracting Parties shall ensure that fish caught in the Convention Area shall only be transhipped in ports of Contracting Parties in accordance with the rules set out in the System. Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with duties under article 15 of the SEAFO Convention, maintain an effective system of port State control for fishing or fishing related activities in the Convention Area and shall designate ports for entry of foreign fishing vessels. The Executive Secretary of SEAFO shall establish a register of all ports designated by Contracting Parties. Contracting Parties shall, before granting entry to a foreign vessel to its port, as a minimum standard, require the information set out in Annex VI to be provided at least 48 hours before the estimated time of arrival and may deny entry into a designated port based on such information if there is cause to believe that a vessel has been engaged in IUU fishing. Denial of entry or landing, transhipping, packaging and processing of fishery resources, and refuelling and resupplying of a vessel shall be communicated to the flag state and SEAFO. The System sets out standards for port inspections (Annex VIII) and requires a port State Contracting Party to include at least the information set out in Annex IX in the written inspection report and to forward such report to the flag State of the vessel and to the Executive Secretary. The System also sets out the role of flag State Contracting Parties in port State control. Each Contracting Party which does not have areas of national jurisdiction adjacent to the Convention Area shall endeavour to apply rules on port measures of the System. Contracting Parties shall every year transmit to the Executive Secretary a list of vessels presumed to be carrying out IUU activities in the Convention Area during the current and previous year. The Commission shall establish a list of such vessels, based on criteria and procedures set out in the System. The System also sets out rules regarding actions to follow IUU listing and deletion from the IUU vessel list.
2019-11-28