Establishment of domestic scientific observer programmes
1. Member States shall establish domestic scientific observer programmes ensuring the following:
(a)
a minimum of 5 % observer coverage of fishing effort in each of the pelagic longline, purse seine and baitboat fisheries;
(b)
for chartered vessels, by way of derogation from point (a), a minimum of 10 % observer coverage of fishing effort in each of the pelagic longline, purse seine and baitboat fisheries;
(c)
a representative temporal and spatial coverage of the operation of the fleet to ensure the collection of adequate and appropriate data, taking into account characteristics of the fleets and fisheries;
(d)
data collection on all aspects of the fishing operation, including catch, as specified in Article 63(1).
2. The observer coverage referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 shall be calculated as follows:
(a)
in number of sets or trips for purse seine fisheries;
(b)
in fishing days, number of sets or trips for pelagic longline fisheries; or
(c)
in fishing days for baitboat fisheries.
3. By way of derogation from point (a) of paragraph 1, for vessels less than 15 metres in length overall, where an extraordinary safety concern exists that precludes deployment of an on-board observer, a Member State may employ an alternative scientific monitoring approach. That alternative approach shall ensure a coverage comparable to that specified in point (a) of paragraph 1 and an equivalent collection of data. The Member State concerned shall present the details of the alternative approach to the Commission.
4. The Commission shall submit the details of the alternative approach referred to in paragraph 3 to the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics for evaluation. Alternative approaches shall be subject to the approval of the ICCAT Commission at the ICCAT annual meeting prior to their implementation.
Qualifications of scientific observers
Member States shall ensure that observers have followed the required training, are suitably qualified and are approved before their deployment. The observers shall possess the following qualifications:
(a)
sufficient knowledge and experience to identify species and collect information on different fishing gear configurations;
(b)
satisfactory knowledge of the ICCAT conservation and management measures;
(c)
ability to observe and record accurately data to be collected under the programme;
(d)
ability to collect biological samples;
(e)
not be a crew member of the fishing vessel being observed; and
(f)
not be an employee of a fishing vessel company involved in the fishery being observed.
Responsibilities of scientific observers
1. In particular, Member States shall require observers to:
(a)
record and report information on the fishing activity, which shall include at least the following:
(i)
data concerning total target catch, by-catch and discards (including sharks, sea turtles, marine mammals and seabirds), size composition, disposition status (i.e. retained, discarded dead, released alive), and biological samples for life history studies (e.g. gonads, otoliths, spines, scales);
(ii)
fishing operation information, including area of catch by latitude and longitude, fishing effort information (e.g. number of sets, number of hooks, etc.), date of each fishing operation, including, as appropriate, the start and stop times of the fishing activity;
(b)
observe and record the use of by-catch mitigation measures and other relevant information;
(c)
submit any proposals they consider appropriate to improve the efficiency of conservation measures and scientific monitoring.
2. Member States shall ensure use of robust data collection protocols, including, if necessary, the use of photography or cameras.
3. Masters of the vessels shall ensure appropriate access to the vessel and its operations to allow the observers to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Submission of collected information
By 30 June of each year Member States shall submit to the Commission the information collected under their domestic scientific observer programmes. The Commission shall forward that information to the ICCAT Secretariat by 31 July of each year.
