Fisheries Agency,Ministry of Agriculture

Regulations for Fishing Vessels Conducting Saury Fishery in North Pacific Ocean

The full text of 48 articles promulgated on 20 January 2017 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1061332417A.

Part of these Regulations, Appendix 2 of Article 5, and Appendix 6 of Article 35 amended and promulgated on 30 January 2018 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1061339850.

Part of these Regulations, Appendix 2 of Article 5, and Appendix 4 of Article 29 amended and promulgated on 22 May 2019 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1081334251.

Article 24 and 32 amended, and Article 12-1 to 12-9 as well as Chapter III-I added and promulgated on 10 April 2020 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1091333069.

Part of these Regulations amended and promulgated on 25 November 2022 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1111336543.

Part of these Regulations amended and promulgated on 28 June 2023 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1121334790.

Article 5, 12-2, 12-6, 25, 26, 31, 31-1, 35, 39-1, 40, and 42 as well as Appendix 6 of Article 36 amended and promulgated on 17 October 2024 by the Ministry of Agriculture under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1131535507.

Chapter I General Principles
Article 1 
These Regulations are established pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 2; Article 10, paragraph 2; Article 11, paragraph 3; and Article 24, paragraph 2 of the Act for Distant Water Fisheries (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”). 

Article 2 
Terms used in these Regulations are defined as follows: 
(1)    “North Pacific Ocean” means the waters of the north Pacific Ocean north of a line extending east along the 20°N from the 140°E to the intersection with the 110°W, and the waters of a line extending east along the 10°N from the 180° meridian to the intersection with the 140°W (as shown in Appendix 1).
(2)    Independent third party” means any of the following institutions recognized by the competent authority:
i.    For Japan:
(i)    Shinken Corporation.
(ii)    Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai, Incorporated Association.
ii.    For areas excluding Japan: the verifying institution which obtains the accreditation for management system certification from the Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (TAF).
(3)    “Carrier vessel” means the following vessels that conduct the transshipment of catches from saury fishing vessel(s) to itself and transports to ports:
i.    ‘Carrier vessel of the Republic of China’ refers to the carrier vessel which has the fishing license of the Republic of China.
ii.    ‘Foreign carrier vessel’ refers to the carrier vessel, excluding container vessel, which has the valid nationality certificate of the flag State of a foreign country.
(4)    “Processing vessel” means any vessel that transfers saury catches from saury fishing vessel(s) to itself for processing onboard. 
(5)    “Auxiliary tender vessel” means any vessel that transships saury catches from saury fishing vessel(s) to itself and transports to a processing vessel to which it belongs to.

Article 3
Any fishing vessels proceeding to the north Pacific Ocean to catch saury (hereinafter referred to as “saury fishing vessel”) shall be limited to a fishing vessel with the squid jigging registered as the main fishery on its fishing license that part-time engages in saury stick-held net fishery .

Article 4
For any saury fishing vessel navigating through the water under national jurisdiction of any foreign country, all fishing equipment on board shall be stowed and secured, and such vessel shall not conduct activities such as arrangement of fishing gears or fishing, except that it has engaged in fisheries cooperation with the foreign country concerned.

Article 4-1
Any saury fishing vessel shall not stay at sea for more than eight consecutive months. The duration may be extended for two months with the consent of the competent authority, provided that there is a cause of force majeure or insufficient berths in port that leads to failing to enter port within the required timeframe. Such extension shall be permitted for one time only.  

For any saury fishing vessel that does not enter port before these Regulations are amended and promulgated on 25 November 2022, its days at sea before the promulgation of the amended Regulations are not counted in the duration as referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 4-2
Any saury fishing vessel shall not conduct fishing operation in the area east of 170°E from June to July of the current year.

Chapter II Application and Issuance of the Distant Water Fisheries Permit 
Article 5 
Any distant water fisheries operator intending to apply for the distant water fisheries permit(s) for his/her fishing vessel(s) to fish in the north Pacific Ocean in the following year shall fill in the application form (format as shown in Appendix 2) and submit it with the following documents:
(1)    A copy of the valid fishing license which shall contain the International Maritime Organization (IMO) ship identification number.
(2)    The following color photographs of the fishing vessel no older than three years and the electronic files. The photos shall clearly show the Chinese/English name of the vessel and its international radio call sign (IRCS), and the size shall not be smaller than 12 cm by 7 cm:
i.    One photo that shows the complete length and structural characteristics of the starboard side of the vessel;
ii.    One photo that shows the complete length and structural characteristics of the portside of the vessel; and
iii.    One photo of the stern of the vessel taken directly from behind the vessel. 
(3)    The document certified by the commissioned professional institution that the automatic location communicator (ALC) on board the fishing vessel can regularly and normally transmit vessel positions.
(4)    The document certified by the commissioned professional institution that the electronic logbook (E-logbook) system on board the fishing vessel can normally transmit catch data.
(5)    The document proving the last port entry or departure of the fishing vessel.

Article 6 
Any distant water fisheries operator intending to apply for the distant water fisheries permit for the current year shall enclose the required documents as stipulated in Article 5 and shall register to the Taiwan Squid and Saury Fisheries Association (hereinafter referred to as “the Squid and Saury Association”) by February 28 of the current year. The Squid and Saury Association shall compile and submit applications to the competent authority by March 15 of the current year.

Article 7 
In case of any of the following conditions, the distant water fisheries operator may submit the documents prescribed in Article 5 and apply for the distant water fisheries permit to the competent authority, notwithstanding the application procedures and deadline prescribed in Article 6:
(1)    The distant water fisheries operator of a fishing vessel has changed; 
(2)    The distant water fisheries operator has obtained the fishing license for the chartered fishing vessel;
(3)    The distant water fisheries operator has obtained the fishing license for the newly-built fishing vessel;
(4)    The distant water fisheries operator who resumes the operation after the suspension of the operation authorized pursuant to Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Fisheries Act has expired;
(5)    The distant water fisheries operator applies for the renewal of the fishing license;
(6)    The suspension of the fishing license has been executed completely or the fine imposed has been paid up; or
(7)    Addition of fishing area(s) for a carrier vessel which has obtained the distant water fisheries permit of the current year.

Article 8 
A certificate of distant water fisheries permit will be issued to the application approved by the competent authority. The maximum period of validity of the permit shall be one year, and shall not exceed that of the fishing license.

The certificate of distant water fisheries permit shall record, both in Chinese and English, the following:
(1)    The number of the certificate;
(2)    The name, CT number, gross tonnage (GT), length overall (LOA) and fisheries type of the fishing vessel;
(3)    Name of the distant water fisheries operator;
(4)    The authorized fishing Ocean and fishing period;
(5)    The IRCS; and
(6)    The IMO ship identification number

The distant water fisheries operator shall place onboard the fishing vessel a copy of the valid distant water fisheries permit in case of inspection.

Article 9 
For any fishing vessel permitted to conduct saury fishery whose information recorded on the application is changed or whose external characteristic(s) differs from the photo(s) of the vessel submitted, the distant water fisheries operator shall provide, within three working days after such change, the Squid and Saury Association with the new vessel information or new photos. The Squid and Saury Association shall submit such information/photos to the competent authority within three working days following the receipt.

Chapter III Fishing Vessel Markings 
Article 10
Fishing vessels shall be marked with vessel markings, including, at least, the Chinese and English vessel name, name of registry port, CT numbers and IRCS. The characters and the edges of characters shall maintain clear and identifiable at all times.

Where fishing vessels are fishing or berthing at ports, the IRCS shall be displayed clearly identifiable for the sighting by other vessels from the water surface or airplanes from the air.

Article 11 
The IRCS of a fishing vessel is its radio call sign.

Vessel markings shall be painted with marine coating. Characters of the Chinese vessel name shall be block letters, and the numbers may be Arabic numerals. Characters of the English vessel name, CT numbers and the IRCS shall be capital letters and Arabic numerals. The height, width, and colors of characters shall meet the specifications as shown in Appendix 3.

Article 12 
Vessel markings shall be placed in accordance with the following:
(1)    The Chinese vessel name shall be placed on the port bow and the starboard bow, and the center of stern or port quarter or starboard quarter, where the vessel name is clearly visible. 
(2)    The English vessel name shall be placed on the port bow and the starboard bow, and the center of stern or port quarter or starboard quarter, under the Chinese vessel name. 
(3)    The CT numbers shall be placed on the port bow and the starboard bow, under the English vessel name. 
(4)    The IRCS shall be placed above the waterline on both sides of any fishing vessels and on a deck where the IRCS is not obscured by fishing gear(s), and shall be clear of the bow, stern, discharge or areas which might be prone to damage or discoloration. In case that the lowest edge of characters is under the waterline when the fish holds are full, the IRCS shall be placed on the fishing vessel’s superstructure.

Chapter III-1 Catch Limits or Quotas
Article 12-1
For the purpose of these Regulations, the species with catch limit (hereinafter referred to as “species with catch limit”) as referred to in subparagraph (7) of Article 13, paragraph 1 of the Act means saury.

Article 12-2
The annual total catch quota of the Republic of China in the north Pacific Ocean and the individual vessel quota of a saury fishing vessel shall be promulgated by the competent authority in accordance with applicable conservation and management measures.  

In any of the following events, the competent authority may order the whole saury fishing fleet to stop catching the concerned species by a deadline:
(1)    The total catch amount of the species with catch limit has reached 95% of the annual total catch quota as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(2)    The Secretariat of the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (hereinafter referred to as “NPFC”) notifies all Members to close the fishery. 

The period for using the quota as referred to in paragraph 1 shall be promulgated by the competent authority. The maximum period shall be 180 days annually.

The total remaining quota of the Republic of China in the north Pacific Ocean may be arranged by the competent authority.

Article 12-3
The maximum for allowed annual individual vessel quota of a saury fishing vessel shall be 4,000 metric tons.

The allowed individual vessel quota as referred to in the preceding paragraph means the sum of the individual vessel quota granted by the competent authority pursuant to these Regulations, the quota received from other vessel(s), the additional quota applied for, and the premium quota; and the quota transferred, deducted, and retrieved have been deducted.   

Article 12-4
The distant water fisheries permit of the current year shall be obtained for granting the quota of the current year to the saury fishing vessel. 

For any saury fishing vessel that has not obtained the distant water fisheries permit of the entire period for using the quota as referred to in Article 12-2, paragraph 3, the quota shall be granted in accordance with the percentage that the number of month(s) approved accounts for the whole period. Notwithstanding such provision, in the event that the ownership of any saury fishing vessel transfers and the quota used by the original distant water fisheries operator exceeds the percentage that the number of month(s) approved accounts for the whole period, the unused quota of such a vessel in the current year shall be granted to the new distant water fisheries operator.

In case of any of the following circumstances, the competent authority shall retrieve the unused quota of the saury fishing vessel concerned in the current year:
(1)    Loss of a saury fishing vessel or the damage of a vessel that renders the fishing operation impossible for the current year. However, the quota received from other vessel(s) will not be retrieved.
(2)    Revocation or withdrawal of the fishing license imposed by the competent authority.
(3)    Revocation or withdrawal of the distant water fisheries permit imposed by the competent authority.   

Article 12-5
The catch amount of the fish species with catch limit for any saury fishing vessel shall not exceed the allowed individual vessel quota for the current year. In case of excess, the allowed annual quota of such a fishing vessel for the following year(s) shall be deducted accordingly until the amount exceeded is fully deducted.

In the event that the catch amount of the species with catch limit of any saury fishing vessel has reached 90% of the allowed individual vessel quota, the competent authority may order such a vessel to stop catching the concerned species by a deadline.

Article 12-6
In case of any of the following conditions, the competent authority shall grant the quota of the current year in accordance with the percentage that the number of month(s) the saury fishing vessel actual fishes accounts for the whole period as referred to in Article 12-2, paragraph 3; shall retrieve the quota on a pro-rata basis from the saury fishing vessel which has been granted the quota; or shall deduct the allowed annual quota for the following year in the event that the quota of the current year is unable to be retrieved from the vessel:     
(1)    The fishing license of the saury fishing vessel is suspended by the competent authority for one month or above.
(2)    The saury fishing vessel is detained in the port by foreign government.

For any saury fishing vessel that has obtained the distant water fisheries permit of the current year but does not leave a port for fishing operation by 31 August of the current year, the competent authority shall retrieve 50% of its individual vessel quota.  

Article 12-7
In the event that the following requirements are met, the allowed individual vessel quota of a saury fishing vessel may, through the coordination of the Squid and Saury Association which reports to the competent authority for approval, be transferred to other fishing vessel(s):
(1)    The allowed individual vessel quota of the receiving fishing vessel shall not exceed the limit as stipulated in Article 12-3, paragraph 1 after the transfer.
(2)    Both the transferring and receiving fishing vessels shall not have been imposed upon any punishment pursuant to Article 35, 36 or 40 of the Act in the current year.
(3)    In case that the transferring or receiving fishing vessel has been imposed upon a fine or the suspension of the fishing license pursuant to Article 41 of the Act in the current year, such punishment has been paid or executed completely.

Article 12-8
Depending on the quota utilization in the current year, the competent authority may announce the additional quota that can be applied for. 

Any saury fishing vessel that meets the following requirements may apply for the additional quota as referred to in the preceding paragraph:
(1)    Its allowed individual vessel quota shall be 80% of the quota for individual saury fishing vessel as promulgated pursuant to Article 12-2, paragraph 1.  
(2)    Its saury catch amount has reached 80% of and not exceeded its allowed individual vessel quota.

In case of any of the following circumstances, the competent authority shall not grant the quota as referred to in paragraph 1:
(1)    The catch amount of species with catch limit in the preceding year exceeds 10% or above of the allowed individual vessel quota of that year.
(2)    After granting the additional quota, the allowed individual vessel quota exceeds the limit as stipulated in Article 12-3, paragraph 1.

The additional quota acquired in accordance with paragraph 1 shall not be transferred.

Article 12-9
The competent authority may grant premium quota to a saury fishing vessel which cooperates with the competent authority to carry out relevant experiments, researches or management measures.

The premium quota as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall not be transferred.

Chapter IV Management of Vessel Position Reporting
Article 13 
The ALC on board shall be maintained functional at all time, whether at sea or in port.

The ALC on board any fishing vessel shall automatically transmit at least one vessel position in every hour.
Fees for the services and communications of the ALC shall be borne by distant water fisheries operators.

Except for the purpose of repair or replacement approved by the competent authority, any ALC which has been installed on board and has transmitted a vessel position shall not be removed from the fishing vessel.

Article 14 
In case that a fishing vessel needs to stay in a domestic port for three days and above; or in a foreign port for dry docking; or in a foreign port for seven days and above, its distant water fisheries operator may apply to the competent authority with documentary proof for switching off the ALC, which may only be switched off after obtaining approval.

In the case of a fishing vessel applying for switching off the ALC during its stay in a foreign port for the purposes except for dry docking, a photograph showing the berthing of such fishing vessel shall be provided weekly. The competent authority may order to switch on the ALC concerned in case of failing to provide the photograph in due course.

The period of switching off the ALC as approved in accordance with paragraph 1 shall not exceed six months for each application. Extension may be applied by the distant water fisheries operator concerned in accordance with the preceding provision before the period is expired.

Any fishing vessel shall not leave the port during the period of switching off the ALC.

In the event that the ALC onboard is rebooted, the fishing vessel may only leave the port after the commissioned professional institution has confirmed that such ALC can regularly and normally transmit vessel positions.

Article 15
Any fishing vessel shall carry at least one spare set of ALC on board.

In case that the identification number of ALC on board has been changed, the distant water fisheries operator shall notify the competent authority or the commissioned professional institution in writing.

Article 16
The ALC is deemed as signal-lost in the event that the commissioned professional institution has not received positions automatically transmitted by the ALC twice consecutively. In the event that the ALC is signal-lost for three consecutive days, it is deemed as malfunction.

The malfunctioning ALC shall be repaired no later than 30 days.

In the event that the ALC on board is signal-lost or mal-functional, the distant water fisheries operator or the captain shall immediately send information related to vessel positions by facsimile to the commissioned professional institution. The vessel positions shall be recorded by automatic recording satellite navigator for perusal in later days.

The transmit of vessel positions as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be hourly for any fishing vessel.

In the event that the ALC on board is mal-functional, the competent authority shall be notified of using the spare set. In case that the spare set is also mal-functional, the spare set from other fishing vessel may be deployed after obtaining the competent authority’s approval.

Article 17 
In the event that the ALC onboard is deemed as signal-lost for an accumulative period of five days and above during one fishing trip, the competent authority may order such fishing vessel to stop fishing immediately and directly navigate to a designated port within the required timeframe for repair and inspection(s) conducted by personnel dispatched by the competent authority, and such vessel shall not leave the port until the commissioned professional institution has confirmed that such ALC can regularly and normally transmit vessel positions. 

Any expense incurred from port return, port entry and confirmation of position transmitting as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be borne by the distant water fisheries operator.

Article 17-1
For any fishing vessel that is not within the water under the national jurisdiction of the Republic of China and without a valid distant water fisheries permit, it shall still maintain its ALC operational year-round, and Article 13 to 17 shall apply to such vessel.

Chapter V Logbooks and Catch Reports
Article 18 
In the event that any saury fishing vessel leaves a port, its captain shall daily report catch data through the E-logbook system designated by the competent authority, and shall also fill in the logbooks designated by the competent authority by fishery types. Catch reports shall be filled in completely and accurately, and where the catch amount is zero, catch reports shall be filled in as well.

In case that there is any discrepancy between any datum recorded in the E-logbook system and the logbook, the datum recorded in the E-logbook system shall prevail. 

Article 19 
In case that the E-logbook system fails to report catch data on the day, the distant water fisheries operator or the captain shall transmit catch data via facsimile to the competent authority or the commissioned professional institution next day. Such catch data shall be signed by the distant water fisheries operator or the captain.

In the event that the E-logbook system fails to report catch data for three consecutive days, it is deemed as mal-function. The malfunctioning E-logbook system shall be repaired no later than 30 days.

In the event that the E-logbook system onboard is deemed as mal-functional for an accumulative period of 15 days and above during one fishing trip, the competent authority may order such fishing vessel to stop fishing immediately and directly navigate to a designated port within the required timeframe for repair and inspection(s) conducted by the personnel dispatched by the competent authority, and the vessel shall not leave the port until the commissioned professional institution has confirmed that such E-logbook system can normally transmit data.

Any expense incurred from port return, port entry and confirmation of the E-logbook system as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be borne by the distant water fisheries operator.

Article 20 
Any salmon, trout, sea turtle, seabird, whale shark, cetacean, penguin or other prohibited species promulgated by the competent authority incidentally caught by any saury fishing vessel shall be released when caught alive or discarded dead, and the number(s) be duly recorded in the logbooks or E-logbook system.  

Article 21
Except for saury caught by saury fishing vessels which shall be retained in full and shall not be discarded, any fish species of no economic value or no utilizing value shall be released immediately, and the number(s) discarded shall be duly recorded in the logbooks or the E-logbook system.

For any saury fishing vessel to discard any spoiled catch, the competent authority shall be notified, in advance of the discard, of the species, amount, and fishing period, and proving documents shall be provided for examination after the discard.

In case that the catch discarded pursuant to the preceding paragraph is fish species with catch limit, the amount discarded shall be counted as the amount of the quota used.

Article 22
In case of bycatch of sharks by any saury fishing vessel, fins shall not be fully cut off and shall be naturally attached to carcasses for the disposal of shark fins, and the species and number(s) of sharks shall be duly recorded in the logbooks or the E-logbook system.

Article 23 
The E-logbook data or the logbook(s) submitted shall not be altered or amended, unless there is apparent error with the content and the competent authority has approved.

Article 24
The discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the E-logbook during one fishing trip of any saury fishing vessel and the actual landing amount shall not exceed the following margins:
(1)    For fish species with catch limit: 10% of the actual landing amount.
(2)    For species except for those referred to in the preceding subparagraph: 25% of the actual landing amount.

In case that the discrepancy exceeds the ratio as referred to in the preceding paragraph, whereas the following provisions are met, the competent authority, at its discretion, may deem such situation as non-misreporting:
(1)    For fish species with catch limit, the discrepancy is less than two metric tons.
(2)    For species except for those referred to in the preceding subparagraph, the discrepancy is less than six metric tons.

Any of the following conditions shall be defined as “seriously misreporting” as referred to in subparagraph (12) of Article 13, paragraph 1 of the Act:
(1)    For fish species with catch limit, the discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the E-logbook and the actual landing amount exceeds two metric tons as well as 20% of the actual landing amount. 
(2)    For species except for those referred to in the preceding subparagraph, the discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the E-logbook and the actual landing amount exceeds six metric tons as well as 50% of the actual landing amount.

For transshipping saury catches from a saury fishing vessel to a processing vessel or an auxiliary vessel, the transshipment amount recorded in the Transshipment Declaration shall be deemed as the actual landing amount. 

Chapter VI The Designation and Management of Ports for Transshipment or Landing
Article 25 
Any saury fishing vessel intending to conduct transshipment or landing in domestic or foreign ports shall be limited to the following ports:
(1)    Foreign ports: Busan, Korea.
(2)    Domestic ports: Chienchen Fishing Harbor, Siaogang Linhai New Residential Quarter Fishing Harbor, Cijin Fishing Harbor, and Pier No. 41 of Kaohsiung Port, Kaohsiung City.

For the landing or in-port transshipment approved by the competent authority to be conducted in Chienchen Fishing Harbor, Siaogang Linhai New Residential Quarter Fishing Harbor, Cijin Fishing Harbor, and Pier No. 41 of Kaohsiung Port, the landing or in-port transshipment may be conducted at any of the two ports within the timeframe approved. 
Any fishing vessel intending to conduct landing in mainland China shall be limited to the designated ports stipulated in the Regulations on Permission and the Management of Fishing Vessels Sailing to Mainland China. 

Article 26 
Any carrier vessel intending to transship catches from any saury fishing vessel shall meet any of the following requirements:
(1)    It is a carrier vessel of the Republic of China and has obtained the distant water fisheries permit; or
(2)    It is a foreign carrier vessel listed on the list of authorized vessels of the NPFC, and installed with the ALC which meets the standards specified by the competent authority, and reports its position hourly to the commissioned professional institution. 

Any processing vessel and auxiliary vessel that receives catches of saury fishing vessel(s) shall be listed on the list of authorized vessels of the NPFC.  

Any carrier vessel and processing vessel that transship saury shall be deployed with observer(s). 
  
Article 27
Any saury fishing vessel and carrier vessel of the Republic of China shall not engage in transshipment, refueling, or supply with any fishing vessel not listed on the authorized vessels list of the NPFC, or any fishing vessel that has altered its name or registration number.

Article 28
In case of any of the following circumstances, the competent authority shall list the foreign carrier vessel concerned which transships catches from saury fishing vessel(s) on the non-cooperative carriers list:
(1)    The foreign carrier vessel has violated any provision regarding vessel position reporting; or
(2)    The foreign carrier vessel has violated any provision regarding transshipment or landing.

In case that any foreign processing vessel or auxiliary tender vessel that transships catches of saury fishing vessel(s) violates any provision regarding transshipment or landing, the competent authority shall list such vessel on the non-cooperative processing vessels or auxiliary tender vessels list.

Article 29 
For any carrier vessel intending to transship at sea, the distant water fisheries operator shall submit the transshipment plan and relevant information (as shown in Appendix 4) and apply to the competent authority five days before the transshipment at sea for approval. In case that the last day for filing the application is a day-off, the application shall be made on the working day before the day-off. 

Any foreign carrier vessel shall, with the enclosure of relevant information as shown in Appendix 4, apply to the competent authority for approval before conducting the transshipment in port with any saury fishing vessel for the first time in the current year.

In case of any addition to the list of saury fishing vessel(s) in the transshipment plan approved by the competent authority, the application shall be submitted two working days before making such addition to the competent authority for approval. The transshipment with the concerned saury fishing vessel(s) may only be conducted after the approval has been granted. Any application submitted after the prescribed deadline shall be denied.

Article 30
In case of any of the following circumstances, the application of in-port transshipment or the transshipment plan as referred to in Article 29 shall be denied:
(1)    The carrier vessel concerned does not meet the requirements stipulated in Article 26;
(2)    Three years have not passed since the carrier vessel concerned was listed on the non-cooperative carriers list, or one year has not passed since the carrier vessel was listed on the non-cooperative carriers list for not submitting the Transshipment Declaration to the competent authority or the NPFC Secretariat within the required timeframe, in violation of Article 35; or
(3)    The fine for violating the Act imposed on the carrier vessel concerned has not been paid completely.

Article 31 
Any saury fishing vessel and carrier vessel that intends to conduct transshipment shall respectively apply for the approval from the competent authority before the transshipment.

Any saury fishing vessel and processing vessel shall apply for the approval respectively from the competent authority, before the transshipment from a saury fishing vessel to a processing or auxiliary tender vessel. 

Any (distant water fisheries) operator or captain applying for the approval as referred to in the preceding two paragraphs shall fill in the transshipment notification (format as shown in Appendix 5) and submit it to the competent authority no later than three days before the estimated date for transshipment. In case that the last day for filing the application is a day-off, the application shall be made on the working day before the day-off. In case of force majeure that prevents a fishing vessel from applying within the deadline, the application shall be submitted before the completion of the transshipment. Notwithstanding such provision, from 24 July 2024 onward, for any transshipment notification made to the NPFC Secretariat via the NPFC Transshipment Record, such transshipment may be conducted within 72 hours after the approved time for transshipment, but shall only be conducted within 50 nautical miles of the approved location for transshipment.

Saury fishing vessels, carrier vessels, processing vessels, and Auxiliary tender vessels may transship within 24 hours after the approved time for transshipment, but shall carry out such activity within 20 nautical miles of the approved location for transshipment. 

For any transshipment not being able to be conducted within the timeframe or range as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the (distant water fisheries) operator or the captain concerned shall, 24 hours before the estimated time for transshipment, fill in the transshipment notification (format as shown in Appendix 5) and apply to the competent authority for the change of transshipment time and/or location.  Any application made after the timeframe shall be denied. In case that other matter(s) is also changed in addition to the transshipment time and/or location, a new application shall be made in accordance with paragraph 3.

When filing an application in accordance with paragraph 3 or preceding paragraph, the (distant water fisheries) operator or captain shall simultaneously, or no later than 24 hours before the estimated time for transshipment, submit the transshipment notification (format as shown in Appendix 5) to the NPFC Secretariat. In case of force majeure that prevents a fishing vessel from submitting such notification within the timeframe, the notification shall be submitted before the completion of the transshipment. 

If an approved transshipment is cancelled, the concerned (distant water) fisheries operator or captain of the saury fishing vessel, carrier vessel, and Auxiliary tender vessel shall notify the competent authority and the NPFC Secretariat within three days after the approved period for transshipment.   

Article 31-1
For any fishing vessel intending to conduct transfer activities, such as transferring baits, oil, supplies, or crew, the distant water fisheries operator or captain of any receiving fishing vessel shall, 24 hours before the intended transfer, fill in the at-sea transfer notification (format as shown in Appendix 5-1) and submit it to the competent authority and the NPFC Secretariat. In case of force majeure that prevents a fishing vessel from submitting such notification within the timeframe, the notification shall be submitted before the completion of the transfer.

Any transfer activity shall be conducted at the estimated time or within 24 hours after such time, and within 20 nautical miles of the location indicated in the at-sea transfer notification. Notwithstanding such provision, from 24 July 2024 onward, for any transshipment notification made to the NPFC Secretariat via the NPFC Transshipment Record, such transshipment may be conducted within 72 hours after the approved time for transshipment, but shall only be conducted within 50 nautical miles of the approved location for transshipment.

Any transfer activity not being able to be conducted within the timeframe or range as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the distant water fisheries operator or the captain of the receiving fishing vessel shall file a new application in accordance with paragraph 1.

If an approved transfer is cancelled, the distant water fisheries operator or captain of the receiving fishing vessel shall notify the competent authority and the NPFC Secretariat within three days after the estimated period for transfer.  

Article 32
For any saury fishing vessel, carrier vessel, processing vessel, or auxiliary tender vessel that is under any of the following circumstances during the current fishing trip, the competent authority shall not authorize such vessel to transship at sea: 
(1)    The ALC on board is mal-functional and has not been repaired.
(2)    There is concrete evidence to identify such vessel has involved in any serious infringement as prescribed in subparagraph (4) to (14) or (18) of Article 13, paragraph 1 of the Act.
(3)    The discrepancy between the amount to be transshipped and the catch amount reported through the E-logbook system exceeds 10% of the latter.

For any saury fishing vessel or carrier vessel that is under any of the following circumstances during the current fishing trip, the competent authority may not authorize such vessel to transship at sea:
(1)    For the catches to be transshipped, it is suspected that the vessel applying for the transshipment has operated within the water under the jurisdiction of any other country without valid authorization.
(2)    Any of the following infractions found by the competent authority or the independent third party, or reported by personnel of international fisheries organization(s), have not been improved:
i.    No valid fishing license on board.
ii.    No logbook as designated by the competent authority on board.
iii.    Any vessel marking that is not marked in accordance with Article 10 to 12.

Article 33 
In the event that the catch of any saury fishing vessel has been landed in a port and is subsequently transported by a carrier vessel for port departure, it shall be deemed as transshipment, and Article 31 shall apply.

Article 34
The saury fishing vessel or carrier vessel which obtains the approval to transship pursuant to Article 31 shall not conduct the transshipment in the event that the ALC on board is signal-lost and has not been repaired.

Article 35
For any carrier vessel that receives catches, it shall separate catches from each individual saury fishing vessel and shall have onboard a plan indicating the planned locations for catches of each saury fishing vessel (hereinafter referred to as “Catch Plan”) as well as a stowage plan that records completely and accurately the actual locations of catches for inspections.

Any (distant water) fisheries operator or captain of a saury fishing vessel, carrier vessel, and processing vessel shall:
(1)    Respectively fill in the transshipment declaration (format as shown in Appendix 6) and submit it to the competent authority and the NPFC Secretariat, within five working days after the completion of transshipment.
(2)    Place onboard for inspection the transshipment declaration(s) of each transshipment that has been engaged in during the current trip.

 

Article 36 
For any saury fishing vessel landing its catch in a domestic or foreign port, the following person(s) shall fill in the Advance Notice of Landing (as shown in Appendix 7), and submit it to the competent authority for approval by the following deadline; and in case that the last day for filing the application is a day-off, the application shall be made on the working day before the day-off:
(1)    For the landing conducted by a saury fishing vessel, its distant water fisheries operator or captain shall submit it no later than three days before the estimated date for landing.
(2)    For the landing conducted by a saury fishing vessel with the catch subsequently being transported by commissioning a container vessel, the distant water fisheries operator or the captain of such saury fishing vessel shall submit it no later than three days before the estimated date for landing.
(3)    For the landing conducted by a carrier vessel, the distant water fisheries operator of a saury fishing vessel shall submit it no later than three days before the estimated date for landing. 
(4)    For the landing conducted by a carrier vessel with the catch subsequently being transported by commissioning a container vessel, the distant water fisheries operator of a saury fishing vessel shall submit it no later than three days before the estimated date for landing.

Fishing vessels approved by the competent authority to conduct landing may land the catch within seven days starting from the date approved to conduct landing. For any fishing vessel that is approved to land in the domestic port as referred to in Article 25, paragraph 2, the landing may be conducted within 11 days.

For any landing not being able to be conducted within the timeframe as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the distant water fisheries operator or the captain of a saury fishing vessel may apply for the change of landing date before the end of the timeframe, and the landing shall only be conducted after obtaining the approval from the competent authority. Any application made after the timeframe shall be denied.

For any saury fishing vessel whose catch is landed at a foreign port and transported to a domestic port by a container vessel, the distant water fisheries operator of such saury fishing vessel shall, no later than three days before the container vessel’s port entry, notify the competent authority of the time for port entry and the name of the port.

Fishing vessels may only apply for navigating from the fishing area to the port(s) of Mainland China for landing in accordance with paragraph 1 after the completion of fishing operations in the current year, and shall not load any object from the Mainland China. 

Article 37
Upon the completion of landing of any saury fishing vessel, the following person(s) shall fill in and submit to the competent authority the Landing Declaration (as shown in Appendix 7), by the prescribed deadline: 
(1)    For the landing conducted by a saury fishing vessel, its distant water fisheries operator or captain shall submit the Declaration within ten working days after the completion of landing.
(2)    For the landing conducted by a saury fishing vessel with the catch subsequently being transported by commissioning a container vessel, the distant water fisheries operator of such saury fishing vessel shall submit the Declaration within ten working days after the container(s) containing such catch unloads and completes customs clearance.
(3)    For the landing conducted by a carrier vessel, the distant water fisheries operator of a saury fishing vessel shall submit the Declaration within ten working days after the completion of landing by the carrier vessel.
(4)    For the landing conducted by a carrier vessel with the catch subsequently being transported by commissioning a container vessel, the distant water fisheries operator of a saury fishing vessel shall submit the Declaration within ten working days after the container(s) containing such catch unloads and completes customs clearance.

The term “completion of landing” as referred to in these Regulations means the whole weighing process has been completed for the catch landed at a port.

Article 38 
The distant water fisheries operator and captain of any fishing vessel shall accept port inspections conducted by the competent authority or the independent third party for the verification of the catch landed or transshipped.

The distant water fisheries operator or captain of any saury fishing vessel that is designated by the competent authority to be inspected shall comply with the following:  
(1)    For inspections conducted by the competent authority, the landing or transshipment shall be started only after the person(s) of the competent authority has arrived.
(2)    For inspections conducted by the independent third party, the contact with the independent third party shall be made, and the landing and transshipment shall be started only after the person(s) of the independent third party has arrived.

Article 39
The distant water fisheries operator of any saury fishing vessel shall, within 60 days after the completion of sale or landing, submit sales or inventory information to the competent authority. The sales information shall at least include buyer(s), fish species and quantities.   

Article 39-1
Any of the following circumstances shall be imposed with punishment(s) in accordance with Article 36 of the Act:
(1)    Any transshipment is conducted without approval, or in case of force majeure, application is not filed before the completion of transshipment, in violation of Article 31, paragraph 1 or 2.
(2)    Any transshipment is conducted not within the approved timeframe or range, in violation of Article 31, paragraph 4. Notwithstanding, the circumstances as stipulated in paragraph 2, subparagraph (3) and (4) of this Article are not subject to this provision.
(3)    Any landing is conducted without approval, in violation of Article 36, paragraph1.
(4)    Any landing is conducted not within the approved timeframe, in violation of Article 36, paragraph 2. Notwithstanding, the circumstances as stipulated in paragraph 2, subparagraph (14) of this Article are not subject to this provision.
(5)    Any inspection for verification of the catch is evaded, obstructed, or refused, in violation of Article 38, paragraph 1; or the requirements as stipulated in Article 38, paragraph 2 are not complied with. 

Any of the following circumstances shall be imposed with punishment(s) in accordance with Article 41 of the Act:
(1)    Any fishing vessel engages in refueling or supply with any fishing vessel not listed in the authorized fishing vessel list of NPFC, or any fishing vessel that has altered its name or registration number, in violation of Article 27.
(2)    Any carrier vessel of the Republic of China transships with, refuels, or supplies any fishing vessel not listed in the authorized fishing vessel list of NPFC, or any fishing vessel that has altered its name or registration number, in violation of Article 27. 
(3)    Any carrier vessel or fishing vessel authorized to transship in Chienchen Fishing Harbor Siaogang Linhai New Residential Quarter Fishing Harbor, Cijin Fishing Harbor, or Pier No. 41 of Kaohsiung Port conducts such activity after the timeframe approved, in violation of Article 31, paragraph 4.
(4)    Any transshipment for which the notification is not made via the NPFC Transshipment Record is conducted after 24 to 72 hours after the approved time for transshipment, or in a location exceeding 20 to 50 nautical miles of the approved location for transshipment, in violation of Article 31, paragraph 4.
(5)    The transshipment notification is not submitted to the NPFC Secretariat within 24 hours before the estimated time for transshipment or, in case of force majeure, before the completion of the transshipment, in violation of Article 31, paragraph 6.
(6)    Failing to notify the competent authority or NPFC Secretariat within three days after the approved period for transshipment, in the case of cancellation of transshipment, in violation of Article 31, paragraph 7.
(7)    Failing to submit the at-sea transfer notification to the competent authority or NPFC Secretariat within the timeframe, in violation of Article 31-1, paragraph 1. Notwithstanding, in case of transferring foreign crew employed overseas by distant water fisheries operators of fishing vessels of the Republic of China, if the at-sea transfer notification has been submitted to the NPFC Secretariat within the timeframe and permission from the competent authority has been applied for in accordance with Article 27 or 28 of the Regulations on the Authorization and Management of Overseas Employment of Foreign Crew Members, it shall be exempted.
(8)    Any transfer activity is conducted not within the estimated period or range, in violation of Article 31-1, paragraph 2.
(9)    Failing to notify the competent authority or NPFC Secretariat within three days after the estimated period for transfer activity, in the case of cancellation of transfer, in violation of Article 31-1, paragraph 4.
(10)      Transshipment is conducted when the ALC on board is signal-lost and has not been repaired, in violation of Article 34.
(11)    A Catch Plan and stowage plan that records completely and accurately the actual locations of catches are not placed onboard, in violation of Article 35, paragraph 1.
(12)    The transshipment declaration is not submitted before the deadline to the competent authority or NPFC Secretariat, in violation of Article 35, paragraph 2, subparagraph (1).
(13)    Failing to place onboard the transshipment declaration(s) of each transshipment that has been engaged in during the current trip, in violation of Article 35, paragraph 2, subparagraph (2).
(14)    A fishing vessel that is under the circumstances stipulated in the proviso clause of Article 36, paragraph 2 lands in Chienchen Fishing Harbor or Siaogang Linhai New Residential Quarter Fishing Harbor after the timeframe approved.
(15)    The Landing Declaration is not submitted before the deadline, in violation of Article 37.

Chapter VII Observation or Inspection during Fishing Operations
Article 40
The distant water fisheries operator of any fishing vessel that receives the observer dispatched by the competent authority, any foreign country with which the fisheries cooperation is engaged, or any international fisheries organization shall comply with the following: 
(1)    He/she shall notify the competent authority in writing seven working days before the date of intended port entry or departure.
(2)    To embark and disembark the observer at the time and place informed by the competent authority.
(3)    To provide the observer, while onboard the vessel, with food, accommodation, adequate sanitary amenities, and medical facilities of a reasonable standard equivalent to those normally available to an officer onboard the vessel.
(4)    To instruct the captain and crew of the vessel matters related to the cooperation with or assisting the observer in carrying out the duties and to ensure the safety of the observer.

Article 41 
The captain of any fishing vessel that receives the observer dispatched by the competent authority, any foreign country with which the fisheries cooperation is engaged, or any international fisheries organization shall comply with the following:
(1)    The captain shall attend the pre-sail training course given by the competent authority.
(2)    When an observer is on board the fishing vessel, the captain shall inform the observer of the daily routine, personal safety and vessel equipment.
(3)    The captain shall cooperate with and assist the observer in carrying out duties, and shall not evade, obstruct or refuse to answer the inquiry related to the observation mission.
(4)    The captain shall not interfere with, assault, intimidate, or bribe the observer.
(5)    The captain shall provide the observer with adequate space, facilities, equipment and information on the vessel necessary for his daily living and for carrying out his/her duties.
(6)    The captain shall request the crew to comply with the provisions stipulated in the preceding three subparagraphs.
(7)    The captain shall sign on the record(s) of observation written by the observer. In case there are different views on the record(s) of the observer, captain’s opinions may be added.
(8)    The captain shall ensure the safety of the observer. In case of emergency or distress, special care and refuge shall be provided to the observer.

Article 41-1
In the event that an observer dies or the search and rescue are ceased for a missing observer fallen overboard, the fishing vessel shall immediately cease fishing operations, and the competent authority shall order such vessel to navigate directly to the port designated by the competent authority for investigation.

In the event that an observer suffers from a serious illness or injury that threatens his or her health or safety, the fishing vessel shall immediately cease fishing operations and facilitate the disembarkation of the observer for appropriate medical treatment.

In the event that an observer is assaulted, intimidated, threatened, or harassed, the competent authority may order such vessel to immediately cease fishing operations and navigate to the designated port within the required timeframe.

Article 42 
In the event of boarding and inspection conducted by inspector(s) dispatched by the competent authority, any foreign country with which the fisheries cooperation is engaged, or any international fisheries organization, any captain and crew of the inspected vessel shall cooperate with and facilitate the safe boarding and disembarkation of the inspector(s), as well as provide the inspector(s) with adequate space, boarding ladder(s), facilities, and equipment necessary for accommodation and carrying out the duties onboard. 

Chapter VIII Special Management Measures for High Risk Fishing Vessels 
Article43 
Matters related to the management of high risk fishing vessels categorized by the competent authority shall be governed by this Chapter. Matters not stipulated in this Chapter shall be governed by these Regulations. 

Article 44 
Any distant water fisheries operator of the high risk fishing vessels shall, starting from the date that the competent authority informs the distant water fisheries operator of such vessel, comply with the special management measures as follows:
(1)    Any high risk fishing vessel shall not engage in fisheries cooperation by means of being chartered to any foreigner. 
(2)    For each fishing trip of such vessel, the observer dispatched by the competent authority shall be carried on board, or the functional electronic monitoring equipment shall be installed on board before leaving a port. For such vessel that has carried on board the observer who meets the requirement of the international fisheries organization(s), it shall be exempted.
(3)    Vessel positions shall be transmitted in accordance with Chapter VI.
(4)    Catch reports shall be conducted in accordance with provisions stipulated in Chapter V.
(5)    Such vessel shall not conduct at-sea transshipment.
(6)    For transshipment in port, the Transshipment Notification shall be filled in to apply for the approval of the competent authority, no later than seven days before the estimated date for transshipment.
(7)    For landing in port, the Advance Notice of Landing shall be filled in to apply for the approval of the competent authority, no later than seven days before the estimated date for landing.
(8)    In case of transshipment or landing in port, inspections shall be conducted by the competent authority or the independent third party.

Article 45 
In the event that any high risk fishing vessel does not violate any regulation for one year starting from the date of being listed as high risk fishing vessel, such vessel shall be de-listed and exempted from the special management measures.

Chapter IX Supplemental Provisions
Article 46 
To prevent harming marine living species, any fishing vessel shall not dispose any type of garbage or discharge any sewage and oil at sea.

Article 46-1
For any saury fishing vessel proceeding to north Pacific Ocean for fishing operations, it shall not discard or abandon fishing gear at sea. A fishing vessel shall make every reasonable effort to retrieve any fishing gear released to sea due to force majeure. 

Article 47
Cartons for packing saury shall be marked with the date of harvesting the catch in an appropriate manner. 

Article 48 
These Regulations shall become effective on January 20, 2017.

Amendments to these Regulations shall become effective on the date of promulgation.