Vessel registration requirements for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)

Registration form and disclaimer. Reporting Information and requirements below.

Please complete the application and authorization below to have your tuna vessel added to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Regional Vessel Register. Completed applications must be sent by mail or email to the Tuna Resource Manager (contact information on the reverse).

All applications must be accompanied by a colour photograph of the vessel showing its registration number.

A. Renseignements généraux sur le bâtiment

• Vessel Name:__________________________
• Port of registry:________________________
• Vessel Registration Number (VRN):_____________________
• International Maritime Organization number (if over 12m):__________________________
• International Radio Call sign (if available):__________________________
• Other Communications Types and numbers (e.g. sat phone):__________________________

B. Vessel History

• Year Built:__________________________
• Location built (or shipyard):__________________________
• Previous Name (if applicable):__________________________
• Previous flags (if applicable):__________________________

C. Vessel Details

• Power of Main Engine or Engines (HP):__________________________
• Overall Length (metres):__________________________
• Beam (metres):__________________________
• Gross Tonnage:__________________________
• Moulded Depth:__________________________
• Number of Freezers:__________________________
• Freezer Type:__________________________
• Freezing Capacity (cubic metres):__________________________
• Fish Hold Capacity (cubic metres):__________________________
• Number of Crew:__________________________
• Vessel Type & Fishing Methods (e.g. Troll/Jig, Seine, Longline):__________________________

C. Vessel Owner Information

• Name:__________________________
• Address:__________________________
• City:__________________________
• Postal Code:__________________________
• Province:__________________________
• Country:__________________________

C. Vessel Master Information

• Name:__________________________
• Nationality:__________________________
• Address:__________________________
• City:__________________________
• Postal Code:__________________________
• Province:__________________________
• Country:__________________________

Attestation and Authorization

I, _________________________________ (insert vessel owner’s name), do hereby authorize Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to release the personal information contained in this form to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) for the purposes of meeting vessel registration requirements as set out under IATTC Resolution C-18-06. (If the vessel owner is a company - I hereby certify that I am the authorized signing officer on record with the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit for the above noted company).

I have attached a colour photograph of the above specified vessel showing its registration number.

The information provided of this form can also be used to have your tuna vessel added to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Record of Fishing Vessels. Vessels should not be added to the WCPFC Record of Fishing Vessels unless they are likely to be used to fish in the WCPFC Convention Area in the upcoming season. Owners of vessels listed on the WCPFC Record of Fishing Vessels should inform the Tuna Resource Manger if they no longer intend to fish in the WCPFC Convention Area.

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Record of Fishing Vessels

NOTE: This section should only be completed by owners of vessels intending to fish in the WCPFC Convention Area. North of the equator this area is west of 150° W (more than 1000km from Canadian shores).

I, _________________________________ (insert vessel owner’s name), do hereby authorize Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to release the personal information contained in this form to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Secretariat for the purposes of meeting vessel registration requirements as set out under WCPFC Conservation and Management Measures CMM 2009- 01 and 2014-03. (If the vessel owner is a company - I hereby certify that I am the authorized signing officer on record with the Pacific Fishery Licence Unit for the above noted company).

I will complete and submit a WCPFC Vessel Tracking Agreement Form, and obtain confirmation of approval prior to fishing in the WCPFC area.

Please submit completed forms to the Tuna Resource Manager via mail or email to:

• Resource Manager, tuna
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• 200 - 401 Burrard Street
• Vancouver BC V6C 3S4
• Bradley.Langman@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Additional information on Regional Fisheries Management Organization Vessel Registries for Canadian Tuna Fishing Vessels

Information requirements for the Regional Fisheries Management Organization Vessel Registry Application are subject to changes adopted by the Secretariats of the IATTC and WCPFC.

As a condition of licence, all Canadian vessels must be on the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Regional Vessel Register in order to fish for tuna. Further, all Canadian vessels must on the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Record of Fishing Vessels in order to fish in the high seas of the WCPFC Convention area.

Vessels which harvest tuna in the Convention Areas of the IATTC or WCPFC without being on the list of authorized vessels for these areas will be harvesting contrary their Conditions of Licence and may be subject to enforcement action. The lists of authorized vessels for each organization are available online at the IATTC website at www.iattc.org (IATTC) and www.wcpfc.int (WCPFC).

Inter- American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)

The IATTC is responsible for the conservation and management of tuna fisheries and other fish stocks caught by tuna-fishing vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Convention Area encompasses the waters extending from the western shorelines of North, Central, and South America to 150° W. Canada applies IATTC resolutions throughout its domestic fisheries waters in the Pacific Ocean.

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)

The WCPFC is the central decision making body for management of tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The Convention Area includes the waters of the western Pacific Ocean west of 150° W. As per WCPFC Conservation and Management Measures (CMM) 2009-01 and 2014-03, all vessels must be on a WCPFC list of authorized vessels prior to harvesting within the high seas of the WCPFC Convention Area.

All vessels fishing in the high seas of the WCPFC Convention Area must also have a vessel monitoring system (VMS) registered with the WCPFC. To register a VMS with the WCPFC, vessel operators must submit a Vessel Tracking Agreement Form (VTAF) to the WCPFC Secretariat and the form must be approved prior to commencing fishing. The VTAF form should be submitted through the DFO Tuna Resource Manager. Note that only certain VMS units and service providers are accepted by the WCPFC Secretariat; the accepted list is available here: https://www.wcpfc.int/vessel-monitoring-system.

International Maritime Organization

The IMO is the agency of the United Nation’s responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. The IMO identification numbering scheme (formerly known as Lloyd’s Register) is a mechanism to prevent Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing activities and prevent maritime fraud. The IATTC now requires all vessels over 12m in length that are authorized to fish in the high seas (including all CT Licence holders) to register for an IMO identification number. Numbers are administered by IHS Markit on behalf of the IMO and can be obtained at: https://imonumbers.lrfairplay.com/.