Health and safety of observers in the ICCAT regional observer programme for transhipment at sea
Article 58a
1. Member States shall ensure that each vessel flying their flag that carries on board an ICCAT regional observer is outfitted with appropriate safety equipment for the entirety of each voyage, including the following: (a) a life raft of sufficient capacity for all persons on board and with a certificate of inspection that is valid throughout the observer’s deployment; (b) life jackets or survival suits of sufficient number for all persons on board, and compliant with relevant international standards; and (c) a properly registered emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and a search and rescue transponder (SART) that will not expire until after the observer deployment ends. 2. Each Union fishing vessel carrying an ICCAT regional observer shall develop and implement an emergency action plan (‘EAP’) to be followed in the event an observer dies, is missing or presumed fallen overboard, suffers from a serious illness or injury that threatens health, safety, or welfare of the observer, or has been assaulted, intimidated, threatened or harassed. Such an EAP shall include, inter alia, the elements set out in Annex 1 to ICCAT Recommendation 19-10. 3. Each Union fishing vessel carrying an ICCAT regional observer shall submit EAP to the Commission, to be transmitted to ICCAT for posting on the ICCAT website. A new or amended EAP shall be provided to the Commission to be transmitted to ICCAT for posting on the ICCAT website when it becomes available. 4. A Union fishing vessel shall be eligible to carry an ICCAT regional observer only if it has submitted an EAP. Furthermore, if the Commission identifies inconsistencies with the standards set out in Annex 1 to ICCAT Recommendation 19-10 on the basis of the information in the EAP, the Commission may decide that the deployment of an observer on a vessel of the concerned flag Member State shall be delayed until the inconsistency has been sufficiently addressed.