This Resolution of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) establishes a strengthened monitoring and control regime for transhipments of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) by large-scale tuna longline vessels with freezing capacity, addressing risks of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, tuna laundering, and data gaps while protecting the integrity of the Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS). It creates a CCSBT Record of authorised carrier vessels, requires Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on both fishing and carrier vessels, mandates detailed advance notifications and standardized transhipment declarations, and encourages rigorous port inspections and cross-checks. A CCSBT Regional Observer Program for at-sea transhipments obliges authorised carrier vessels to carry approved observers to verify compliance, quantities, documentation, and VMS operation, with specific trial provisions for Indonesia’s national observers under strict conditions. Members and Cooperating Non-Members must ensure enforcement, validate CDS documents only after confirming compliance, report annually on transhipment activities and observer findings, and maintain traceability of SBT until first sale.
2025-10-09