Pelagic fisheries — Capacity limitation
Article 81
1. Member States actively exercising fisheries activities in 2008 shall limit the total level of GT of vessels flying their flag and fishing for pelagic stocks in 2009 to the levels of total 63 000 GT in the SPFO area in a manner that sustainable exploitation of the pelagic fishery resources in South Pacific is ensured. 2. Member States with a catch history in the pelagic fisheries in the South Pacific, but not exercising their fisheries activities in 2008, may enter the fishery in the SPFO in 2009 provided that they exercise voluntary restraint of fishing effort. 3. Member States shall notify the Commission on a monthly basis of the names and characteristics, including GT, of their vessels engaged in the fishery in the SPFO area. 4. Member States shall notify the Commission on a monthly basis of the effective presence of their vessels in the SPFO area in 2009. VMS records plus catch reports, and, where available, port calls shall serve as means of notification. 5. Member States shall submit for review to the Interim Science Working Group of the SPFO any stock assessments and research in respect of pelagic stocks in the SPFO area and shall promote the active participation of their scientific experts in the SPFO scientific works on pelagic species. 6. Member States shall ensure as much as possible an appropriate level of observer coverage on fishing vessels flying their flag in order to observe the pelagic fisheries in the South Pacific and collect relevant scientific information.