Council Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 (repealed)Show full title

ANNEX VII U.K. Regional observer programme

ASSIGNMENT OF OBSERVERS U.K.

1. Member States shall notify the Commission, by 15 January each year, a list of its observers. U.K.

2. The observers shall have the following qualifications to accomplish their tasks: U.K.

(a)

sufficient experience to identify species and fishing gear;

(b)

satisfactory knowledge of the ICCAT conservation and management measures assessed by a certificate provided by the Member States and based on ICCAT training guidelines;

(c)

the ability to observe and record accurately;

(d)

a satisfactory knowledge of the language of the flag of the vessel or farm observed.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE OBSERVER U.K.

3. Observers shall: U.K.

(a)

have completed the technical training required by the guidelines established by ICCAT;

(b)

be nationals of one of the Member States;

(c)

be capable of performing the tasks set forth in point 4;

(d)

be included in the list of observers maintained by ICCAT;

(e)

not have current financial or beneficial interests in the bluefin tuna fishery.

OBSERVER TASKS U.K.

4. The observer tasks shall be in particular: U.K.

(a)

as regards observers on purse-seine vessels, to monitor the purse-seine vessels’ compliance with the relevant conservation and management measures adopted by ICCAT. In particular the observers shall:

(i)

record and report upon the fishing activities carried out;

(ii)

observe and estimate catches and verify entries made in the logbook;

(iii)

issue a daily report of the purse-seine vessels’ transfer activities;

(iv)

sight and record vessels which may be fishing in contravention to ICCAT conservation and management measures;

(v)

record and report upon the transfer activities carried out;

(vi)

verify the position of the vessel when engaged in transfer;

(vii)

observe and estimate products transferred, including through the review of video recordings;

(viii)

verify and record the name of the fishing vessel concerned and its ICCAT number;

(ix)

carry out scientific work such as collecting Task II data when required by the Commission, based on the directives from the SCRS;

(b)

as regards observers in the farms, to monitor the farms’ compliance with the relevant conservation and management measures adopted by ICCAT. In particular the observers shall:

(i)

verify the data contained in the transfer declaration and caging declaration, including through the review of video records;

(ii)

certify the data contained in the transfer declaration and caging declaration;

(iii)

issue a daily report of the farms’ transfer activities;

(iv)

countersign the transfer declaration and caging declaration;

(v)

carry out such scientific work, for example collecting samples, as required by the Commission, based on the directives from the SCRS;

(c)

establish general reports compiling the information collected in accordance with this paragraph and provide the master and farm operator the opportunity to include therein any relevant information;

(d)

submit to the Secretariat the aforementioned general report within 20 days from the end of the period of observation;

(e)

exercise any other functions as defined by the Commission.

5. Observers shall treat as confidential all information with respect to the fishing and transfer operations of the purse seiners and of the farms and accept this requirement in writing as a condition of appointment as an observer. U.K.

6. Observers shall comply with requirements established in the laws and regulations of the flag or farm State which exercises jurisdiction over the vessel or farm to which the observer is assigned. U.K.

7. Observers shall respect the hierarchy and general rules of behaviour which apply to all vessel and farm personnel, provided such rules do not interfere with the duties of the observer under this programme, and with the obligations of vessel and farm personnel set forth in Article 31. U.K.