Alternative to the high seas FAD closure established pursuant to paragraph 13.
Full Text
15. As an alternative to the high seas FAD closure established pursuant to paragraph 13, Members may adopt measures to reduce their catch by weight of bigeye tuna in the purse seine fishery in the area between 20°N and 20°S by a minimum of 10 percent relative to 2001-2004 average levels through a Member-specific catch limit to achieve this goal. This alternative shall only be available to Members identified by the Commission in advance as having demonstrated a functioning capacity to implement such measures in an effective and transparent manner, including through: an established and functioning port monitoring program that allows monitoring of bigeye landings for each trip by each vessel; a commitment to carry on board observers from the Regional Observer Program, including upon return to port so that the observer can view the port monitoring program for each trip; a commitment to provide data for each trip by each vessel to the Commission within 30 days from the completion of the trip; having provided operational catch and effort data at least for the period 2001 to 2004 to substantiate the base level catch and effort; other such conditions as the Commission may determine. Any such program will be open to audit by the Commission to review the effectiveness of the program.