This Conservation and Management Measure of the Meeting of the Parties to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement requires each Contracting Party, cooperating non-Contracting Party (CNCP) and participating fishing entity (PFE) to maintain an effective system of port State control for all vessels that have been engaged in fishing in the Agreement Area. In particular, the parties are required to: designate ports of entry for foreign vessels and to ensure sufficient capacity to conduct inspections consistent with the requirements in the Agreement and this CMM; request a vessel to provide the information set out in Annex I at least 48 hours before the estimated time of arrival; follow prescribed procedures upon on port entry authorisation or denial; deny entry to a vessel or use of port for landing and transshipment in specified circumstances; provide for inspections in accordance with this CMM. Where a Contracting Party, CNCP or PFE has denied the use of its port, it shall promptly notify the State whose flag the vessel is flying and the Secretariat, who shall put this information on the SIOFA website. Each Contracting Party, CNCP and PFE shall require its vessels to cooperate with the port State in inspections carried out pursuant to this CMM and shall request inspection of vessels flying its flag and suspected to be involved in IUU fishing to other parties. Where, following port State inspection, a Contracting Party, CNCP or PFE receives an inspection report indicating that there are clear grounds to believe that a vessel flying its flag has engaged in IUU fishing, it shall immediately and fully investigate the matter and shall, upon sufficient evidence, take enforcement action without delay in accordance with its laws and regulations.
2020-01-01