Regulations for Tuna Longline or Purse Seine Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the Pacific Ocean for Fishing Operation

Legislative History

Regulations for Tuna Longline or Purse Seine Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the Pacific Ocean for Fishing Operation 

The full text of 99 articles promulgated on 20 January 2017 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1061332074.

Part of these Regulations, Appendix 1 of Article 2, and Appendix 13 of Article 28 amended and promulgated on 30 January 2018 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1061338400.

Part of these Regulations, Appendix 18 of Article 60, Appendix 23 to 25 of Article 74, and Appendix 30 of Article 98-1 amended and promulgated on 21 March 2019 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1081333240.

Article 10 amended and promulgated on 14 October 2019 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1081336988.

Article 7, 10, 12, 18, 58, 76 and 77 as well as Appendix 7 of Article 8 and Appendix 16 of Article 46 amended and promulgated on 31 August 2020 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1091335345.

Article 58 and 59 amended and promulgated on 24 November 2020 by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan under Order No. Nung-yu-tzu 1091337025.

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)    “Tuna longline fishing vessel” means any fishing vessel targeting highly migratory fish species such as tunas, billfishes, sharks, skipjacks or mahi mahi with longline fishing gears.
(2)    “Tuna purse seine fishing vessel” means any fishing vessel targeting tunas and skipjacks with purse seine fishing gears.
(3)    “Catching vessel” means tuna longline fishing vessel and tuna purse seine fishing vessel collectively.
(4)    The Area of “The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (hereinafter referred to as ‘WCPFC Convention Area’)” means the waters of the Pacific Ocean bounded to the south and to the east by the following line: from the south coast of Australia due south along the 141° meridian of east longitude to its intersection with the 55° parallel of south latitude; thence due east along the 55° parallel of south latitude to its intersection with the 150° meridian of east longitude; thence due south along the 150° meridian of east longitude to its intersection with the 60° parallel of south latitude; thence due east along the 60° parallel of south latitude to its intersection with the 130° meridian of west longitude; thence due north along the 130° meridian of west longitude to its intersection with the 4° parallel of south latitude; thence due west along the 4° parallel of south latitude to its intersection with the 150° meridian of west longitude; thence due north along the 150° meridian of west longitude. The WCPFC Convention Area is as shown in Appendix 1.
(5)    The Area of “The Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission” and “The Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica (hereinafter referred to as ‘IATTC Convention Area’)” means the waters of the Pacific Ocean bounded by the coastline of North, Central, and South America and by the following lines: the 50°N parallel from the coast of North America to its intersection with the 150°W meridian; the 150°W meridian to its intersection with the 50°S parallel; and the 50°S parallel to its intersection with the coast of South America. The IATTC Convention Area is as shown in Appendix 2.
(6)    “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).
(7)    “Carrier vessel” means the following vessels that conducts the transshipment of catches from catching vessels 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.
iii.    ‘Part-time carrier vessel’ refers to the tuna longline fishing vessel which conducts part time the transshipment of catches.

Article 3
Types of fishing vessels proceeding to the Pacific Ocean for fishing operation are categorized as tuna longline fishing vessels, tuna purse seine fishing vessels, and carriers of the Republic of China.

Article 4
Fishing vessels proceeding to the Pacific Ocean to catch tunas, billfishes, sharks, skipjacks, or mahi mahi shall be limited to tuna longline fishing vessels of 20 Gross Tonnage (GT) and above or tuna purse seine fishing vessels.

“Regulations on the Management of Catching Pacific Bluefin Tuna” or “Regulations for Fishing Vessels Conducting Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery” shall also be applied to any tuna longline fishing vessel catching Pacific bluefin tuna or southern bluefin tuna. 

Article 5
Fishing areas for tuna longline fishing vessels of 100 GT and above (hereinafter referred to as “large scale longliners”) fishing in the Pacific Ocean are divided as follows, and are as shown in Appendix 3 and 4:
(1)    Bigeye tuna fishing area: the area west of 150°W and between 15°S to 20°N; and the area between 130°W to 150°W and 20°S to 25°N.
(2)    North bigeye tuna fishing area: the area between 130°W to 150°W and 25°N to 40°N.
(3)    East bigeye tuna fishing area: the area east of 130°W and between 20°S to 20°N
(4)    Albacore tuna fishing area: the area between the west of 130°W and the south of 10°S; and the area between the east of 130°W and the south of 15°S.
(5)    North albacore tuna fishing area: the area between the west of 130°W and the north of 10°N; and the area between the east of 130°W and the north of 15°N.

Fishing areas for tuna longline fishing vessels of 20 GT and above and lees than 100 GT (hereinafter referred to as “small scale longliners”) fishing in the Pacific Ocean are divided as follows and are as shown in Appendix 5:
(1)    Western and central Pacific fishing area: the area west of 150°W.
(2)    Eastern Pacific fishing area: the area between 130°W to 150°W and the south of 5°S and the north of 10°N; the area between the east of 130°W and the south of 15°S and the north of 10°N  
(3)    Eastern Pacific swordfish fishing area: the area between 130°W to 150°W and 5°S to 10°N.

The fishing area for tuna purse seine fishing vessels fishing in the Pacific Ocean shall be limited to the area west of 150°W, and such vessels shall not fish on the high seas north of 20°N or south of 20°S.

Catching vessels shall fish only within the fishing area(s) permitted by the competent authority.

Article 6
Tuna longling fishing vessels proceeding to the Pacific Ocean for fishing operation are categorized, in accordance with the GT, catch species and operation patterns, into the following groups:
(1)    For large scale longliners:
i.    Bigeye tuna group: bigeye tuna as the target species.
ii.    Albacore tuna group: albacore tuna as the target species.
(2)    For small scale longliners:
i.    General group: no specific target species.
ii.    Frozen yellowfin tuna group: the fishing vessel with freezing equipment which has more individual vessel quota of bigeye tuna than the fishing vessel of general group.
iii.    Seasonal sharks group: fishing vessels targeting sharks during certain seasons and whose individual vessel quota of bigeye tuna is less than fishing vessels of general group.

Article 7
Limits on the number of catching vessels fishing in the Pacific Ocean are as follows:
(1)    For large scale longliners:
i.    Bigeye tuna group: the number of fishing vessels is limited to 50, among which the number of fishing vessels fishing in the east bigeye tuna fishing area shall be promulgated by the competent authority.
ii.    Albacore tuna group: the number of fishing vessels is limited to 51, among which the maximum number of fishing vessels fishing in the north albacore tuna fishing area is limited to 25.
(2)    For small scale longliners:
i.    Frozen yellowfin tuna group: the number is limited to 50.
ii.    General group or seasonal sharks group: the total number of fishing vessels is limited to 550, among which the maximum number of fishing vessels of the seasonal sharks group is 170. However, the number of fishing vessels fishing in the eastern Pacific fishing area and in the eastern Pacific swordfish fishing area shall be promulgated by the competent authority.  
(3)    The number of tuna purse seine fishing vessels is limited to 34.

Chapter II Application and Issuance of the Distant Water Fisheries Permit
Article 8
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 Pacific Ocean in the following year shall fill in the application form, formats of which are as shown in Appendix 6 to 9, in accordance with types of fishing vessels and groups 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 or Lloyd’s Register (LR) number.
(2)    The color photograph of the fishing vessel no older than three years. The photograph must show a stem-to-stern side view of the vessel; clearly and legibly display the vessel name and international radio call sign; be in the form of a single electronic file and have a resolution of at least 150 pixels per inch at a size of 6 by 8 inches; and be no greater than 500 kilobytes (kB) in size.
(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 vessel tracking agreement form serving as an authorization allowing the competent authority and the international fisheries organization to track vessel positions. He who has already provided such form shall be exempted from this provision.  

Article 9
The distant water fisheries operator who has applied for the distant water fisheries permit pursuant to Article 8 shall choose the fishing area in accordance with the following provisions:
(1)    Fishing vessels of bigeye tuna group can apply to fish in the bigeye tuna fishing area. Such vessels may at the same time apply for the east bigeye tuna fishing area.
(2)    Fishing vessels of albacore tuna group can apply to fish in the albacore tuna fishing area. Such vessels may at the same time apply for the north albacore tuna fishing areas.
(3)    Fishing vessels of frozen yellowfin tuna group can apply to fish in the western and central Pacific fishing area.
(4)    Seasonal sharks group or general group can apply to fish in the western and central Pacific fishing area. Such vessels may at the same time apply for the eastern Pacific fishing area, and for vessels which apply for fishing in the eastern Pacific fishing area, such vessels may also apply for the eastern Pacific swordfish fishing area.

Article 10
Any fishing vessel that applies for the distant water fisheries permit for the following year shall meet any of the following conditions:
(1)    Large scale longliners:
i.    For bigeye tuna group:
(i)    It is a fishing vessel of the bigeye tuna group that obtains the distant water fisheries permit of the current year from the competent authority.
(ii)    It is a newly built fishing vessel which has received the replacement qualification of a fishing vessel of the bigeye tuna group.
ii.    For albacore tuna group:
(i)    It is a fishing vessel of the albacore tuna group that obtains the distant water fisheries permit of the current year from the competent authority.
(ii)    It is a newly built fishing vessel which has received the replacement qualification of a fishing vessel of the albacore tuna group.
(2)    Small scale longliners:
i.    For frozen yellowfin tuna group:
(i)    It is a fishing vessel of the frozen yellowfin tuna group that obtains the distant water fisheries permit of the current year from the competent authority.
(ii)    It is a newly built fishing vessel which has received the replacement qualification of a fishing vessel of the frozen yellowfin tuna group.
ii.    For seasonal sharks group:
(i)    It is a fishing vessel of the seasonal sharks group or general group that has obtained the distant water fisheries permit from the competent authority after 2017.
(ii)    It is a newly built fishing vessel which has received the replacement qualification of a fishing vessel of the seasonal sharks group.
iii.    For general group:
(i)    It is a fishing vessel of the general or seasonal sharks group that has obtained the distant water fisheries permit from the competent authority after 2017.
(ii)    It is a newly built fishing vessel which has received the replacement qualification of a fishing vessel of the general or seasonal sharks group. 

Article 11 
For the application of the distant water fisheries permit of the following year, the documents prescribed in Article 8 shall be submitted in accordance with the following procedures and deadline:
(1)    For any distant water fisheries operator of large scale longliner(s) that is a member of the Taiwan Deep Sea Tuna Boat-owners and Exporters Association (hereinafter referred to as “Tuna Association”), it shall apply to the Tuna Association before October 15 of the current year, which shall compile the applications in accordance with the groups for delivery to the competent authority before October 31 of the current year.
(2)    For any distant water fisheries operator of large scale longliner(s) that is not a member of the Tuna Association, he/she shall apply to the competent authority before October 31 of the current year.
(3)    For any distant water fisheries operator of small scale longliner(s) that is a member of the Taiwan Tuna Longline Association (hereinafter referred to as “Longline Association”), he/she shall apply to the Longline Association before October 15 of the current year. The Longline Association shall compile the applications in accordance with the groups and deliver to the competent authority before October 31 of the current year.
(4)    For any distant water fisheries operator of small scale longliner(s) that is not a member of the Longline Association, he/she shall apply to the competent authority before October 31.
(5)    For any distant water fisheries operator of tuna purse seine fishing vessel(s), he/she shall apply to the Taiwan Deep Sea Tuna Purse Seiners Boat-Owners and Exporters Association (hereinafter referred to as “Purse Seine Association”) before October 15 of the current year. The Purse Seine Association shall deliver the applications to the competent authority before October 31 of the current year.
(6)    For any distant water fisheries operator of carrier vessel(s) of the Republic of China, he/she shall apply to the competent authority before October 31 of the current year. 

Article 12
For fishing vessels applying for the distant water fisheries permit of seasonal sharks group for the following year, the application shall be accepted in accordance with the following sequence of priority:
(1)    First priority: the fishing vessel of the seasonal sharks group that obtains from the competent authority the distant water fisheries permit of the current year.
(2)    Second priority: the fishing vessel of the seasonal sharks group that has obtained from the competent authority the distant water fisheries permit after 2017.
(3)    Third priority: the fishing vessel of the general group that has obtained from the competent authority the distant water fisheries permit after 2017.

In the event that the number of fishing vessels applying for fishing in the east bigeye tuna fishing area exceeds the prescribed limit, the Tuna Association shall, in an equitable and impartial manner, draw lots to decide the priority.

For fishing vessels applying for fishing in the north albacore tuna fishing area, the Tuna Association shall come up with a list of vessel priority in accordance with the following sequence of priority and submit to the competent authority:
(1)    First priority: the fishing vessel of the albacore tuna group that obtains the distant water fisheries permit of the current year and has fished over 75 days in the north albacore fishing area.
(2)    Second priority: the fishing vessel of the albacore tuna group that obtains the distant water fisheries permit of the current year and has fished less than 75 days in the north albacore fishing area.
(3)    Third priority: the fishing vessel of the albacore tuna group that obtains the distant water fisheries permit of the current year but does not obtain the permit to fish in the north albacore tuna fishing area.
(4)    Fourth priority: the fishing vessel of the albacore tuna group that obtains the distant water fisheries permit to fish in the north albacore tuna fishing area in the current year but does not proceed to fish in such area.

For fishing vessels applying for fishing in the eastern Pacific fishing area, the Longline Association shall come up with a list of vessel priority in accordance with the following sequence of priority and submit to the competent authority:
(1)    First priority: the fishing vessel which obtains the distant water fisheries permit to fish in the eastern Pacific fishing area and has historical catch record.
(2)    Second priority: the fishing vessel which obtains the distant water fisheries permit of the current year but does not obtain the permit to fish in the eastern Pacific fishing area.  
(3)    Third priority: the fishing vessel which obtains the distant water fisheries permit to fish in the eastern Pacific fishing area in the current year but does not proceed to fish in such area.

In the event that the number of applying fishing vessels in paragraph 1 or 2 exceeds the limits and the priority cannot be decided in accordance with the provisions on the sequence of priority, the competent authority shall draw lots to decide the priority in an equitable and impartial manner.

In the event that the number of fishing vessels applying to fish in the eastern Pacific swordfish fishing area exceeds the limit, the competent authority shall draw lots to decide the priority in an equitable and impartial manner. 

Article 13
In the event that the number of fishing vessels obtaining the distant water fisheries permits does not reach the limit of each group of the current year, the vacancy shall be filled pursuant to the sequence of priority prescribed in Article 12, and the competent authority may announce in due course to accept applications, notwithstanding the application deadline prescribed in Article 11.

Article 14
The distant water fisheries operator who has obtained the distant water fisheries permit of bigeye tuna group may apply to the competent authority to fish in the north bigeye tuna fishing area from April to September of the current year, notwithstanding the application procedures and deadline prescribed in Article 11. 

Article 15
In case of any of the following conditions, the distant water fisheries operator may submit the documents prescribed in Article 8 and apply for the distant water fisheries permit to the competent authority, notwithstanding the application procedures and deadline prescribed in Article 11:
(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 of the Fisheries Act has expired; 
(5)    The distant water fisheries operator applies for the renewal of the expired 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.

In case that the distant water fisheries operator of any fishing vessel that has obtained the distant water fisheries permit to fish in the east bigeye tuna fishing area, north albacore tuna fishing area, eastern Pacific fishing area, or eastern Pacific swordfish area has changed during the period of validity of the permit, and the new distant water fisheries operator applies for the distant water fisheries permit in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the competent authority shall authorize such fishing vessel to continue fishing in the permitted fishing area(s) in the current year.  

Article 16
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 numbers, GT, length overall (LOA) and fisheries type of the fishing vessel;
(3)    Name of the distant water fisheries operator;
(4)    The authorized fishing Ocean, group, fishing area(s), and fishing period;
(5)    The International Radio Call Sign (IRCS); and 
(6)    The IMO ship identification number or LR 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 17
In the event that the distant water fisheries operator who has obtained the distant water fisheries permit to fish in the north albacore tuna fishing areas or eastern Pacific fishing areas waives such right, he/she shall apply to the competent authority for the revocation of the permit before August 1 of the current year. 

Article 18
Fishing vessels intending to interchange the groups or fishing Oceans shall apply for the application to the competent authority.

In the event that a large scale longliner intends to change the group or fishing Ocean with other fishing vessel, the following provisions shall be met:
(1)    Distant water fisheries operators of both vessels are members of the Tuna Association;
(2)    Both vessels have the valid certificates of distant water fisheries permits;
(3)    The fishing vessel intending to change to the bigeye tuna group shall be equipped with ultra-low temperature devices, and its distant water fisheries operator has made a guarantee letter to assume the duty from the original fishing vessel of bigeye tuna group to pay the reimbursement of the vessel reduction program; and    
(4)    The penalty of suspending the fishing license has been completely executed.

In the event that a small scale longliner intends to change the group or fishing Ocean with other fishing vessel, the following provisions shall be met:
(1)    It is an interchange between a fishing vessel of the frozen yellowfin tuna group of the Pacific Ocean and that of the general group of the Indian Ocean.
(2)    It is an interchange between a fishing vessel of the general group or seasonal sharks group of the Pacific Ocean and that of the general group of the Indian Ocean. 

For any fishing vessel approved to change the group or fishing Ocean, documents shall be provided to prove the fish holds have been empted and the certificate of the distant water fisheries permit originally issued shall be returned for the issuance of the new certificate of distant water fisheries permit after the change of fishing Ocean or group.

For any fishing vessel approved to change the group or fishing area, the permit to fish in the east bigeye tuna fishing area, north albacore tuna fishing area, eastern Pacific Ocean area, and eastern Pacific swordfish fishing area shall be denied. In case that the vessels approved of such change belong to the same distant water fisheries operator, or that there is no applicant applying to fill in the vacancy in the current year, such provision shall not be applied. 

Chapter III Fishing Vessel and Fishing Gear Markings
Article 19
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 20 
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 10.

Article 21
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.     

Article 22
Boats and skiffs carried by any catching vessel shall bear the same IRCS as the catching vessel concerned.

Article 23
Fishing gear(s) of any catching vessel shall be equipped with signal flags, radar reflector buoys or other similar devices so as to identify the position(s) and fishing area(s).

Chapter IV Fishing Gears and Methods, and Mitigation Measures for Incidental Catch 
Article 24
For any catching 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 25
For any tuna longline fishing vessel fishing in the WCPFC Convention Area with hooks at a depth shallower than 100 meters, any of the following mitigations measures shall be used:
(1)    Large circle hooks shall be used; or
(2)    Fishes except for Cephalopods species shall be used as baits, and the bait fishes shall remain intact. Notwithstanding such provision, the bait fishes may not remain intact starting from 1 January 2020.

The large circle hooks as referred to in the preceding paragraph are hooks that are above 3 inches and are circular or oval in shape. The point is turned perpendicularly back to the shank. These hooks shall have an offset not to exceed 10 degrees.

Article 26
Except for fishing vessels of seasonal sharks group, any tuna longling fishing vessel shall not use shark lines as shown in Appendix 11.

Article 27
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall carry on board the line cutter, de-hooker and scoop/dip net, formats of which are as shown in Appendix 12, to release incidentally caught seabirds and sea turtles.

Article 28
Any tuna longline fishing vessel fishing in the WCPFC Convention Area shall use the seabird mitigation measures, specifications of which are as shown in Appendix 13, in accordance with the following provisions: 
(1)    When fishing in the WCPFC Convention Area north of 23°N, the tuna longline fishing vessel shall use at least two seabird bycatch mitigation measures which may be the installation of two sets of tori lines or one set of tori line together with one of the following measures: weighted branch lines, night setting, management of offal discharge, blue dyed bait and deep setting line shooter. 
(2)    When fishing in the WCPFC Convention Area south of 30°S, the tuna longline fishing vessel shall use at least two seabird bycatch mitigation measures, one of which shall be tori lines, and the other shall be weighted branch lines or night setting. 
(3)    Starting from 1 January 2020, tuna longline fishing vessels fishing in the WCPFC Convention Area between south of 20°S and north of 30°S shall use tori lines for seabird mitigation.

Any tuna longline fishing vessel fishing in the IATTC Convention Area south of 30°S and north of 23°N, as well as the area bounded by the coastline at 2°N, west to 2°N-95°W, south to 15°S-95°W, east to 15°S-85°W, and south to 30°S  shall use at least two different seabird bycatch mitigation measures, one of which shall be tori lines and the other shall be night setting, weighted branch lines, management of offal discharge or line shooting device. The area is as shown in Appendix 14, and the specifications of the seabird mitigation measures are as shown in Appendix 15.

Chapter V Catch Limits or Quotas
Article 29 
For the purpose of these Regulations, the species with catch limit (hereinafter referred to as “fish species with catch limit”) as referred to in subparagraph (7) of Article 13, paragraph 1 of the Act means bigeye tuna. 

Article 30
The annual total catch quota (unprocessed round weight, hereinafter the same when referring to “quota” in the following provisions) of the Republic of China in the Pacific Ocean and the individual catching vessel quota shall be promulgated by the competent authority in accordance with the conservation and management measures.  

The percentage of the annual total catch quota in the WCPFC Convention Area allocated to the large scale longliners and small scale longliners fleets is 57% and 43% respectively.

In the event that the total catch amount of a species with catch limit has reached 95% of the annual total catch quota as referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authority may order the whole catching vessels to stop catching the concerned species by a deadline.

In the event that the total catch amount has reached 95% of the quota allocated to large or small scale longliners fleet as referred to in paragraph 2, the competent authority may order the large or small scale longliners fleet to stop catching the concerned species by a deadline.   

The period for using the quota as referred to in paragraph 1 shall be from January 1 to December 31 of the current year.

In case that the number of fishing vessels obtaining the distant water fisheries permits of each group in the current year does not exceed the limit, the total remaining quota may be arranged by the competent authority.

Article 31
The distant water fisheries permit of the current year shall be obtained for granting the quota of the current year to the catching vessel. 

For any catching vessel that has not obtained the distant water fisheries permit of the entire year, the quota shall be granted in accordance with the percentage that the number of month(s) approved accounts for the whole year. Notwithstanding such provision, in the event that the ownership of any catching 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 year, the unused quota of such catching 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 catching vessel concerned in the current year:
(1)    Loss of a catching vessel.
(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 32
The catch amount of the fish species with catch limit or that of striped marlin for any catching vessel shall not exceed the quota allocated to the individual vessel for the current year. In case of excess, the annual quota of such fishing vessel for the following year shall be deducted accordingly.

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

Article 33
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 catching vessel actual fishes accounts for the whole year ; shall retrieve the quota on a pro-rata basis from the catching vessel which has been granted the quota; or shall deduct the quota allocated for the following year in the event that the quota of the current year is unable to be retrieved from the vessel:     
(1)    The catching vessel is punished by the competent authority of the suspension of the fishing license for one month or above.
(2)    The catching vessel is detained in the port by foreign government.

For any catching vessel approved to be engaged in fisheries cooperation by means of being chartered, the quota shall not be granted to such vessel during the period of such fisheries cooperation. In case that the quota has been granted, the competent authority shall retrieve the quota of the current year in accordance with the percentage that the number of month(s) for fisheries cooperation accounts for the whole year. In case that the quota of the current year is unable to be retrieved, the competent authority shall deduct the quota allocated for such vessel in the following year.

Article 34
Any small scale longliner shall not target bigeye tuna.

The targeting of bigeye tuna as referred to in the preceding paragraph means that the bigeye tuna catch amount of the fishing vessel during six months exceeds 50% and above of its total catch amount of the same period.
 
Any small scale longliner fishing in the area north of the equator shall not target albacore tuna.

The targeting of albacore tuna as referred to in the preceding paragraph means that the albacore tuna catch amount of the fishing vessel during six months exceeds 50% and above of its total catch amount of the same period.

Article 35
For any tuna longline fishing vessel which changes the fishing Ocean or group with other vessel pursuant to Article 18, its individual vessel quota for the remaining period of its permit shall be the remaining quota of that other vessel, and its annual individual vessel quota of bigeye tuna shall be limited as follows:
(1)    For any large scale longliner: 330 metric tons.
(2)    For any fishing vessel of the frozen yellowfin tuna group: 40 metric tons.

Article 36
Any large scale longliner may, at its discretion, transfer its bigeye tuna quota allocated for each of its fishing areas in the Pacific Ocean and shall report such transfer to the competent authority for perusal. The total bigeye tuna quota allocated to the individual large scale longliner in the WCPFC Convention Area shall remain the same before and after the transfer.   

Article 37
In the event that the following requirements are met, the bigeye tuna quota of a fishing vessel of the bigeye tuna group may, through the coordination of the Tuna Association which reports to the competent authority for approval, be transferred to other fishing vessel(s) of the bigeye tuna group:
(1)    The bigeye tuna quota of the receiving fishing vessel shall not exceed 330 metric tons after the transfer; and
(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.

In the event that any fishing vessel of the bigeye tuna group has transferred accumulated 30 metric tons of bigeye tuna quota, it shall enter into a port for stop fishing for one month in the current year; for the transfer of accumulated 60 metric tons of bigeye tuna quota, it shall enter into a port for stop fishing for two months, and so forth.   

For the fishing vessel entering into a port for stop fishing in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the starting and ending dates of the period and the berthing location shall be specified at the time when applying for the approval of transferring quota from the competent authority.

In case that fishing vessels of the bigeye tuna group transfer their quota of different fishing areas to each other and, after such transfer, the total quota of such vessel in the entire Pacific Ocean is less than its individual vessel quota in the current year, the provision stipulated in the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply.

Article 38
Fishing vessels of albacore tuna group may, through the coordination of the Tuna Association which reports to the competent authority for approval, transfers their bigeye tuna quotas of different fishing areas to each other. The total bigeye tuna quota of such fishing vessel in the Pacific Ocean shall remain the same before and after the transfer.

Article 39
The competent authority may, after July of each year, announce the additional bigeye tuna quota that can be applied for.

For the application of the additional quota as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the following provisions shall be met:
(1)    For the fishing vessel of bigeye tuna group: such fishing vessel has received the bigeye tuna quota from other vessel(s), and its accumulated 330 metric tons of bigeye tuna quota has been used up to 70%.
(2)    For the fishing vessel of frozen yellowfin tuna group: such fishing vessel has used its bigeye tuna quota up to 70%.

The maximum additional quota for each fishing vessel as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be 70 metric tons for the fishing vessel of bigeye tuna group and 40 metric tons for that of frozen yellowfin tuna group.

The additional bigeye tuna quota acquired pursuant to paragraph 2 shall not be transferred.

Article 40
The competent authority may grant premium quota to the catching vessel which cooperates with the competent authority to carry out relevant experiments, researches or management measures.

12.5 metric tons of premium quota of bigeye tuna may be granted for every accumulated 15 fishing days of any fishing vessel of the bigeye tuna group fishing in the east bigeye tuna fishing area, and the maximum of the premium quota granted may be 50 metric tons. The individual vessel quota of bigeye tuna and the premium quota of such fishing vessel shall not be more than 400 metric tons in total.

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

Article 41
Except for fishing vessels of seasonal sharks group, any tuna longline fishing vessel fishing in the WCPFC Convention Area shall not target sharks.

The targeting of sharks as referred to in the preceding paragraph means the catch amount of sharks during six months exceeds 50% of the total catch amount of the same period.

Article 42
For any tuna longline fishing vessel fishing in the IATTC Convention Area, its catch amount of silky sharks in one fishing trip shall not exceed 20% of its total catch amount of the same fishing trip.

In case that the fishing vessel as referred to in the preceding paragraph fishes with hooks at a depth shallower than 100 meters, the catch of silky sharks of less than 100 centimeters total length shall not exceed 20% of the total number of silky sharks caught during one fishing trip.  

Chapter VI Management of Vessel Position Reporting
Chapter 43
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. The competent authority may subsidize depending on the financial situation of the government. 

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 44
In case that a fishing vessel needs to stay in a domestic port for three days or above; or in a foreign port for dry docking; or in a foreign port for seven days or 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 paragraph 1 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 45
Any fishing vessel of 100 GT and above 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 46
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 for any tuna purse seine fishing vessel or four times consecutively for any tuna longline fishing vessel or carrier vessel. In the event that the ALC is signal-lost for three consecutive days, it is deemed as mal-function. 

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 and the Secretariat of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (hereinafter referred to as “WCPFC”), or to the WCPFC Secretariat through the fishery radio station located in the Republic of China. The vessel positions shall be recorded by automatic recording satellite navigator for perusal in later days. The format of the facsimile is as shown in Appendix 16.

The transmit of vessel positions as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be every six hours for any tuna longline fishing vessel and carrier vessel, and hourly for any tuna purse seine fishing vessel.

For any fishing vessel with spare set of ALC on board, it shall report to the competent authority of using the spare set during the mal-function of the ALC. 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 47
In the event that the ALC onboard is deemed as signal lost 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 personnel dispatched by the competent authority, and the 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 47-1
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 43 to 47 shall apply to such vessel.

Article 48
In case of sighting of any national or foreign fishing vessel in the area of high seas bounded by the exclusive economic zones of the Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Kiribati (hereinafter referred to as “the Easter High-Seas Pocket, EHSP”), the distant water fisheries operator or the captain shall submit a completed sighting report in the format as shown in Appendix 17 to the competent authority within 15 days after departure from the EHSP.

For any fishing vessel fishing in the EHSP, it shall keep at least 5 nautical miles away from the exclusive economic zones of other countries.

Chapter VII Logbooks and Catch Reports
Article 49
In the event that any catching vessel leaves a port, its captain shall daily report catch data through the E-logbook system designated by the competent authority. The catch data reported shall be complete and accurate, and where the catch amount is zero, catch data shall be reported as well.

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 five 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 E-logbook system as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be borne by the distant water fisheries operator.

Article 49-1
In the event that a tuna longline fishing vessel authorized to conduct Pacific bluefin tuna fishing operation and whose fishing area is west of 128°E and north of 17°N, fills in the logbooks designated by the competent authority completely and accurately, such vessel may not report its catch data through the E-logbook system in accordance with Article 49 and 50 to 52. 

In case that there is any discrepancy between any datum recorded in the E-logbook system and the logbook for the fishing vessel as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the datum recorded in the E-logbook system shall prevail

The complete logbooks shall be maintained on board the fishing vessel as referred to in paragraph 1 for at least one year, and a copy of the logbooks shall be submitted to the competent authority for perusal within 60 days starting from the date the fishing vessel enters a port.

Article 50
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall not catch Pacific bluefin tuna or southern bluefin tuna without permission, and in case of bycatch, the fishing vessel shall immediately discard such catch and record the amount of discard in the E-logbook system.  

In the case of any of the following circumstances, any catching vessel shall immediately discard any subsequent catch of the species concerned and record the amount of discard in the E-logbook system:
(1)    The quota of the fish species with catch limit or the quota of striped marlin is exhausted.
(2)    Any Pacific bluefin tuna is subsequently caught after the deadline prescribed by the competent authority in Article 4 of the Regulations on the Management of Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fishing Operation. 

Article 51
In case that any catching vessel finds any sea turtle during fishing operation, such vessel shall, where practicable, bring aboard any comatose or inactive sea turtle as soon as possible, and foster its recovery and return it to the sea at once after recovery. 

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

Article 52
Any fish species of no economic value or no utilizing value caught by any catching vessel shall be released immediately, and number(s) discarded shall be duly recorded in the E-logbook system. 

Article 53
The datum reported through the E-logbook system shall not be altered or amended, unless there is apparent error with the content and the competent authority has approved.

Article 54 (Deleted)

Article 55
The discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the E-logbook during one fishing trip of any tuna longline fishing vessel and its actual landing amount shall not exceed the following margins:
(1)    For fish species with catch limit: 10% of the actual landing amount.
(2)    For yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, swordfish, or striped marlin: 20% of the actual landing amount.
(3)    For fish species except for those referred to in the preceding two subparagraphs: 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 species with catch limit, the discrepancy is less than two metric tons.
(2)    For yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, swordfish, or striped marlin, the discrepancy is less than four metric tons.
(3)    For fish species except for those referred to in the preceding two subparagraphs, the discrepancy is less than six metric tons.

The discrepancy as referred to in subparagraphs (1) and (2) of the preceding two paragraphs shall be calculated by each species. The discrepancy as referred to in subparagraph (3) of the preceding two paragraphs shall be calculated by sharks and other species respectively.   

For any tuna longline fishing vessel which does not report its catch through the E-logbook system pursuant to Article 49-1, the discrepancy as referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be calculated based on the logbooks.

The discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the E-logbook during one fishing trip of any tuna purse seine fishing vessel and its actual landing amount shall not exceed 25%.

Article 56
A tuna longline fishing vessel that is under any of the following circumstances shall be deemed 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 yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, swordfish, or striped marlin, the discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the E-logbook and the actual landing amount exceeds four metric tons as well as 50% of the actual landing amount.
(3)    For fish species except for those referred to in the preceding two subparagraphs, 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.

The discrepancy as referred to in subparagraphs (1) and (2) of the preceding  paragraph shall be calculated by each species. The discrepancy as referred to in subparagraph (3) of the preceding paragraph shall be calculated by sharks and other species respectively.

For any tuna longline fishing vessel which does not report its catch through the E-logbook system pursuant to Article 49-1, the discrepancy as referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be calculated based on the logbooks.

For any tuna purse seine fishing vessel, in case that the discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the E-logbook and the actual landing amount exceeds 50% of the actual landing amount, it shall be deemed as “seriously misreporting” as referred to in subparagraph (12) of Article 13, paragraph 1 of the Act.

Chapter VIII Management of Shark Catch
Article 57
Any fishing vessel of the seasonal sharks group shall not catch or retain on board any shark of less than 100 centimeters total length.

Any fishing vessel of the seasonal sharks group shall not catch sharks in the area north of 35°N, and between 165°E to 175°E from June 1 to October 31 of each year.

In case of catching any shark as referred to in paragraph 1, or catching any shark during the period or area as referred to in the preceding paragraph, such catch shall be discarded and the amount of discard shall be recorded in the E-logbook.

Article 58
For any tuna longline fishing vessel employing ice chilling method to preserve its sharks catches, shark fins shall not be fully cut off and shall be naturally attached to the carcasses (hereinafter referred to as “fins naturally attached”).

For any tuna longline or tuna purse seine fishing vessel, shark fins shall be naturally attached or tied to carcasses. The fins and carcass that are tied together shall be of the same shark. Notwithstanding such a provision, small scale longliners may alternatively process shark catches by:
(1)Storing shark carcass and its corresponding fins in the same bag, or
(2)Attaching identical numbered tags to each shark carcass and its corresponding fins and binding all the fins from the same carcass together or storing them in the same bag. Both the carcasses and fins shall be stored in the same hold.  

Shark catches of any tuna longline or tuna purse seine fishing vessel being processed in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall remain the same processed status until landing.

Numbers of the tag as referred to in subparagraph (2) of paragraph 2 shall include 5-digit CT Number and 6-digit catches number. The 6-digit catches number shall be sequentially numbered starting from Arabic numeral 1, and shall be clear, identifiable, and not prone to be worn. Tag numbers of different sharks shall not be the same.

Article 59
Shark carcasses and corresponding fins shall be transshipped or landed concurrently in the same shipment.

Article 59-1
Catching vessels shall fully utilize the shark catch, which shall not be discarded except the head, guts and skins. 

Chapter IX The Designation and Management of Ports for Transshipment or Landing
Article 60
Any catching vessel intending to conduct transshipment or landing in a domestic port or a foreign port located in the Pacific Ocean shall be limited to the ports stipulated in Appendix 18.

Any fishing vessel with the distant water fisheries permit to fish in the Atlantic or Indian Ocean applying for landing or transshipping in the ports as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall apply for the authorization from the competent authority 14 days before the fishing vessel enters into the port.

Article 61
Any carrier vessel intending to transship catches from catching vessel(s) 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;
(2)    It is a foreign carrier vessel listed on the carrier lists of the WCPFC or the IATTC, and has been installed with the ALC which meets the standards specified by the competent authority. At least one position shall be sent hourly to the commissioned professional institution; or   
(3)    It is a part-time carrier vessel authorized by the competent authority.

Article 62
The distant water fisheries operator of any tuna longline fishing vessel of 80 GT and above may apply for such vessel to conduct part-time transshipment.

The number of part-time carrier vessels shall be limited to ten every year. In case that the number of applications exceeds ten, it shall be decided in accordance with the order of sequence.

The period of the authorization granted to the part-time carrier vessel shall be one year. During such period, any part-time carrier vessel shall not fish, and shall land only in ports of the Republic of China.

The competent authority shall revoke the authorization ofany authorized part-time carrier vessel that does not transship any catch for six months starting from the date of authorization. The competent authority shall, in accordance with the order of sequence as referred to in paragraph 2, authorize the fishing vessel in the next order as the part-time carrier vessel. 

Article 63
Any carrier vessel or part-time carrier vessel of the Republic of China shall not transship with, refuel or supply any fishing vessel not listed in the authorized fishing vessel lists of IATTC or WCPFC, or any fishing vessel that has altered its name or registration numbers. 

Article 64
In case of any of the following circumstances, the competent authority shall list the foreign carrier vessel concerned which transships catches from any catching vessel on the non-cooperative carrier vessels list:
(