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Chapter I General Principles
Article 1
These Regulations are established pursuant to Article 37,
subparagraph (1) and Article 54, subparagraph (5) of the
Fisheries Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”).
Article 2
Any tuna longline fishing vessel operating in the internal
water, territorial sea, or the exclusive economic zone of
the Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as
“coastal and offshore area”) shall comply with these
Regulations. Notwithstanding such provision, where there
is any special provision stipulated in the Regulations for
Longline Fishing Vessels Operating in the Maritime Area
Subject to the Fisheries Agreement between Taiwan and Japan
or the Regulations on the Management of Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Fishing Operation, such a special provision shall prevail.
Article 3
For the purpose of these Regulations, a tuna longline fishing
vessel means a vessel targeting highly migratory species,
such as tunas, billfishes, or sharks, with longline fishing
gears.
Article 4
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall not fish within the
coastal and offshore area without obtaining a permit from
the central competent authority.
A tuna longline fishing vessel with a distant water fisheries
permit obtained in accordance with the Act for the Distant
Water Fisheries shall be deemed as having obtained the permit
as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
Article 5
Any tuna longline fishing vessel operating in the coastal and
offshore area shall be installed onboard the automatic location
communication (ALC) as designated by the central competent
authority. A tuna longline fishing vessel less than 20 GT which
has been already installed onbarod the Automatic Identification
System (AIS) devices is exempted from such provision.
The ALC as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be
certified by the professional institution appointed by the central
competent authority (hereinafter referred to as “the professional
institution”) that such ALC can regularly and normally transmit
vessel positions. Relevant installation fees may be borne by the
competent authority.
For a fishing vessel to be installed with the AIS devices, it
shall obtain from the National Communication Commission the
maritime mobile service identity (MMSI), and the AIS shall be
correctly set and regularly and normally transmit vessel
positions.
Article 6
Any fishery operator intending to apply for a coastal and offshore
tuna longline fishery permit for its tuna longline fishing vessel
shall fill in the application form and submit it, together with the
agreement form allowing the central competent authority to obtain
information related to vessel positions, to the regional fishermen’s
association where the concerned fishery is based for forwarding to
the municipal or county (city) competent authority which then
delivers the application(s) to the central competent authority for
examination.
In case that the central competent authority has obtained from the
applicant concerned the agreement from as referred to in the
preceeding paragraph, such form may be waived
Article 7
Where the application as referred to in paragraph 6 has been examined
by the central competent authority as in comformity with relevant
regulations, a coastal and offshore tuna longline fishery permit will
be issued. The maximum validity period of the permit shall be three
years and shall not exceed that of the fishing license.
In the event of any of the following circumstances, the coastal and
offshore tuna longline fishery permit shall not be issued:
(1) The applicant is under any of the circumstances stipulated in
Article 7-1, subparagraph (4) to (6) of the Act.
(2) Failing to completely submit the documents as referred to in
Article 6; or failing to complement after being ordered to do so; or
failing to complement within the required timeframe after bering
ordered to do so.
Chapter II Fishing Vessel and Fishing Gear Markings and the Management
of Vessel Position Reporting
Article 8
Fishing vessels shall be marked with vessel markings in accordance
with Appendix 1. Any fishing vessel of 20 GT or above shall also be
marked with the International Radio Call Sign (IRCS)
The IRCS of a fishing vessel is its radio call sign.
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.
Vessel markings shall be painted with marine coating. Characters
and the edges thereof for the vessel name and the CT number shall
maintain clear and identifiable at all times.
Article 9
Fishing gears of any tuna longline fishing vessel shall be
equipped with floats, signal flags, radar reflector buoys or other
similar devices so as to identify the position(s) and fishing area(s).
Article 10
Any tuna longline fishing vessel installed with the ALC or AIS
shall ensure such devices can regularly and normally transmit
vessel positions..
Any tuna longline fishing vessel installed with the ALC shall
transmit at least one vessel position every four hours after port
departure. A vessel may apply to the central competent authority
for switching off the ALC due to vessel maintenance, crew
deployment, fishing cessation, or seasonal change of fishery, and
the format of the application form is shown as Appendix 2. The ALC
may be switched off only after the approval is obtained.
Fees for the services and communications of the ALC shall be borne
by fishery operators.
Article 11
In case that the identification numbers of the ALC have changed, the
fishery operator shall notify the professional institution in
writing.
In case that the numbers of MMSI have changed, the fishery operator
shall notify the central competent authority in writing.
Article 12
The ALC is deemed as signal-lost in the event that the professional
institution has not received positions automatically transmitted by
the ALC twice consecutively. In the event that the ALC is signal-lost
for consecutive three days, it is deemed as malfunction.
In the event that the professional institution finds out the ALC is
signal-lost or mal-functional, it shall notify the fishery operator
or the captain, who shall report information related to vessel
positions to the professional institution every six hours.
In case that the ALC is malfunctional and the vessel concerned fails
to report its position in accordance with the preceding paragraph,
the central competent authority shall require such vessel to
immediately stop fishing and return to a port within the required
timeframe.
The fishing vessel as referred to in the preceeding paragraph shall
repair the ALC after returing to a port, and shall not leave the
port, until the professional institution has confirmed that such
ALC can regularly and normally transmit vessel positions.
In case of not receiving any position automatically transmitted by
the AIS installed onboard a tuna longline vessel for consecutive
eight hours, the central competent authority shall inform the
fishery operator who shall then report information related to vessel
positions every six hours. In case of failing to report information
related to vessel positions every six hours, the central competent
authority shall require such vessel to immediately stop fishing and
return to a port within the required timeframe. The fishing vessel
that returns to a port within the required timeframe can only leave
the port after the central competent authority has confirmed that
automatically transmitted positions have been received.
Chapter III Mitigation Measures for Incidental Catch
Article 13
For any tuna longline fishing vessel fishing 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.
The large circle hooks as referred to in subparagraph (1) of the
preceding paragraph are hooks that are above three 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 14
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall not use shark lines as shown
in Appendix 3 for fishing operation.
Article 15
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall carry on board the line cutter,
de-hooker and scoop/dip net, specifications of which are as shown in
Appendix 4, to release incidentally caught seabirds and sea turtles.
Article 16
Any tuna longline fishing vessel less than 24 meters in overall
length and fishing in the area north of 23°N shall use at least one
of the following seabird mitigation measures:
(1) side setting with a bird curtain and weighted branch lines,
(2) night setting with minimum deck light,
(3) tori line, or
(4) weighted branch lines.
Any tuna longline fishing vessel of 24 meters or above in overall
length and fishing in the area north of 23°N shall use at least one
of the seabird mitigation measures as referred to in the preceding
paragraph and shall also use one of the following seabird mitigation
measures:
(1) tori line,
(2) blue dyed bait,
(3) deep setting line shooter, or
(4) management of offal discharge.
The specifications of the seabird mitigation measures as referred to
in the preceding two paragraphs are as shown in Appendix 5.
Chapter IV Catch Reports and Catch Limits
Article 17
In the event that any tuna longline fishing vessel leaves a port,
its captain shall daily, completely, and accurately fill in the
logbooks , format as shown in Appendix 6, where there is any catch
or not.
Any captain that reports catch data through the electronic logbook
(E-logbook) system shall be exempted from filling out the logbooks
as situplated in the preceding paragraph.
Article 18
The logbook(s) submitted or the data reported through the E-logbook
shall not be altered or amended, unless there is apparent error with
the content and the central competent authority has approved before
the submission deadline of the landing declaration.
Article 19
In case that any tuna longline fishing vessels enters a port, the
logbook(s) for the current fishing trip shall be submitted to the
regional fishermen’s association where the port of entry is, within
five working days starting from the date of port entry.
Any regional fishermen’s association that receives logbook(s) of
tuna longline fishing vessel(s) registered in other port(s) shall
transfer such logbook(s) to the regional fisermen’s association(s)
where the port of registry is.
The regional fishermen’s association where the port of registry is
shall compile the logbooks received before the 5th day and the
20th day of every month, and deliver to the municipal or county
(city) competent authority.
After reviewing the data delivered by the regional fishermen’s
association(s), the municipal or county (city) competent authority
shall transfer to the central competent authority before the 5th
day and the 20th day of every month.
Article 20
In case that any tuna longline fishing 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, cetacean, or prohibited species as
promulgated by the central competent aurhority or the authority for
conservation of wild marine animals which is incidentally caught by
any tuna longline fishing vessel shall be released when caught alive
or discarded when dead, and the number(s) shall be duly recorded in
the logbooks or the E-logbook.
Article 21
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall not target bigeye tuna or
albacore tuna.
The targeting of bigeye tuna or albacore tuna as referred to in the
preceding paragraph means that the catch amount of bigeye tuna or
albacore tuna of a fishing vessel in six months exceeds over 50% of
its total catch amount during the same period.
Article 22
The total annual quota of bigeye tuna in the coastal and offshore
area shall be limited to 400 metric tons.
The period for using the total annual quota as referred to in the
preceding paragraph shall be from January 1 to December 31 of the
current year.
In the event that the total catch amount of bigeye tuna has reached
90% of the total annual quota as referred to in paragraph 1, the
central competent authority may order to stop fishing for bigeye
tuna by a deadline.
Any bigeye tuna caught by a tuna longline fishing vessel after the
deadline as referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be
discarded and the number(s) discarded shall be recorded in the
logbooks or the E-logbook.
Chapter V The Management of Transshipment and Landing
Article 23
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall not transport any catch not
caught by itself, or commission its catch to be transported by
other vessel(s).
Article 24
Ports for any tuna longline fishing vessel to land its catch are
as follows:
(1) Keelung City: Jhengbin fishing port.
(2) Yilan County: Nanfangao fishing port.
(3) Kaohsiung City: Siaogang fishing port, Chienchen fishing
port, and Cijin fishing port.
(4) Pingtung County: Donggang-YanPu fishing port.
(5) Taitung County: Xingang fishing port, and Fugang fishing
port.
Article 25
The landing of any tuna longline fishing vessel shall be conducted
in accordance with the Regulations for the Submission of Landing
Declarations by Coastal and Offshore Fishing Vessels.
Any tuna longline fishing vessel with a distant water fisheries
permit obtained in accordance with the Act for Distant Water
Fisheries that lands in a port shall apply for the approval and
submit the landing declaration pursuant to the Regulations for
Tuna Longline or Purse Seine Fishing Vessels Proceeding to the
Pacific Ocean for Fishing Operation. In case that the fishing
operation of the current fishing trip is only within the coastal
and offshore area, the provision stipulated in the preceding
paragraph shall, mutatis mutandis, apply.
Article 26
Any fishery operator or captain that is informed by the competent
authority to be inspected pursuant to Article 49 of the Act shall
only start the landing after the personnel of the competent
authority has arrived.
Chapter VI Observation during Fishing Operation
Article 27
Any fishery operator of a fishing vessel that receives the observer
dispatched by the central competent authority shall comply with the
following:
(1) He/She shall notify the central competent authority in writing
seven working days before the date of estimated port entry or
departure.
(2) He/She shall embark and disembark the observer at the time and
place informed by the competent authority.
(3) He/She shall provide the observer, while onboard the vessel,
with food, accommodation, adequate sanitary amenities, and medical
facilities of a reasonable standard equivalent to those normally
available to an officer onboard the vessel.
(4) He/She shall instruct the captain and crew of the vessel
matters related to the cooperation with or assisting the observer
in carrying out the duties.
Article 28
Any captain of a fishing vessel that receives the observer
dispatched by the central competent authority shall comply with
the following:
(1) The captain shall attend the pre-sail training course given
by the competent authority.
(2) The captain shall inform the observer of the daily routine,
personal safety and vessel equipment.
(3) The captain shall cooperate with and assist the observer in
carrying out duties, and shall not evade, obstruct or refuse to
answer the inquiry related to the observation mission.
(4) The captain shall not interfere with, assault, intimidate,
or bribe the observer.
(5) The captain shall provide the observer with adequate space,
facilities, equipment and information on the vessel necessary for
his daily living and for carrying out his/her duties.
(6) The captain shall request the crew to comply with the
provision stipulated in the preceding three subparagraphs.
(7) The captain shall sign on the record(s) of observation
written by the observer. In case there are different views on the
record(s) of the observer, captain’s opinions may be added.
(8) The captain shall ensure the safety of the observer. In case
of emergency or distress, special care and refuge shall be provided
to the observer.
Article 29
In the event that an observer dies or the search and rescue are
ceased for a missing observer fallen overboard, the captain shall
immediately cease fishing operation of the concerned fishing vessel,
and the central competent authority shall order such vessel to
navigate directly to the designated port for investigation.
In the event that an observer suffers from a serious illness or
injury that threatens his or her health or safety, the captain
shall immediately cease fishing operation of the concerned fishing
vessel and facilitate the disembarkation of the observer for
appropriate medical treatment.
In the event that an observer is assaulted, intimidated, threatened,
or harassed, the central competent authority may order such vessel
to immediately cease fishing operation and navigate to the
designated port within the required timeframe.
Chapter VII Supplemental Provisions
Article 30
Any tuna longline fishing vessel shall not fish within one nautical
mile off a data buoy, or take on board, possess, or cause damage to
the data buoy.
In case that the fishing gear becomes entangled with the data buoy,
the entangled fishing gear shall be removed with as little damage to
the data buoy as possible.
In case of finding any data buoy that is damaged or non-functional,
the captain shall report to the central competent authority the date,
location, and the identifying information on the data buoy.
Article 31
In case of any of the following circumstances, the fishery operator
and fishery employee shall be respectively liable to a fine between
30 thousand New Taiwan Dollars and 150 thousand New Taiwan Dollars
imposed by the central competent authority pursuant to Article 65,
subparagraph (8) of the Act:
(1) Any tuna longline fishing vessel fishing in the coastal and
offshore area without a permit, in violation of Article 4.
(2) Failing to install the ALC or AIS in accordance with Article 5.
(3) Failing to mark the fishing vessel or gear(s) in accordance
with any provision stipulated in Article 8 to Article 9.
(4) Failing to comply with the provisions on the reporting of
vessel positions in accordance with Article 10, paragraph 1 or 2;
Article 11, paragraph 1; or Article 12, paragraph 2.
(5) Failing to comply with provisions on notification of the
changed numbers of MMSI in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 2.
(6) Failing to return to a port within the required timeframe,
repair the ALC after port return, or be confirmed that the ALC can
regularly and normally transmit vessel positions before port
departure in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 3 or 4.
(7) Failing to comply with Article 12, paragraph 5, with respect
to provisions on the reporting of AIS; or failing to return to a port
within the required timeframe; or failing to be confirmed that the
AIS can regularly and normally transmit vessel positions before port
departure.
(8) Failing to use mitigation measures for incidental catch in
accordance with any provision stipulated in Article 13 to 16.
(9) Serious misreporting of the data recorded in the logbooks or
the E-logbook in accordance with Article 17.
(10) Failing to fill in the logbook or submit the logbook before
the deadline in accordance with Article 17; Article 19, paragraph1;
or Article 20, paragraph 2; or misreporting the data recorded in the
logbooks or the E-logbook.
(11) Targeting bigeye tuna or albacore tuna, in violation of
Article 21.
(12) Failing to discard the bigeye tuna, or to record the number(s)
discarded in the logbook or the E-logbook, after the central competent
authority ordered to stop fishing for bigeye tuna in accordance with
Article 22, paragraph 4.
(13) Transporting any catch that is not caught by the fishing
vessel itself or commissioning its catch to be transported by other
vessel, in violation of Article 23.
(14) Landing in any port that is not stipulated in Article 24.
(15) Refusing the port inspection on landing conducted by
personnel of the competent authority, or landing before the
arrival of the personnel of the competent authority, in violation
of Article 26.
(16) Failing to comply with any provision on observers onboard
in accordance with Article 27, subparagraph (2); Article 28,
subparagraph (3) to (5) and (8); or Article 29.
(17) Failing to comply with provisions on data buoys in accordance
with Article 30.
The serious misreporting as referred to in subparagraph (9) of the
preceding paragraph means the discrepancy between the catch amount
recorded in the logbook or the E-logbook and the actual landing
amount exceeds 50% of the actual landing amount.
The misreporting as referred to in subparagraph (10) of paragraph 1
means the discrepancy between the catch amount recorded in the
logbook or the E-logbook and the actual landing amount exceeds 25%
but less than 50% of the actual landing amount.
Article 32
For the violations sitpualted in subparagraph (1), (2), (4) to (9),
(11), (13), (15) and (16) of Article 31, in addition to the fine
imposed, the central competent authority may also suspend the fishing
license of the fishery operator and the Certificate of Fishing Vessel
Officer or Fishing Vessel Crew Identification of the fishery employee
for not more than one year, pursuant to Article 10 of the Act. Where
the violation is considered gross, they may be revoked.
In the event that the violation as stipulated in subparagraph (10),
paragraph 1 of Article 31 is committed for two times or above within
one year, the central competent authority may, in addition to the
fine imposed pursuant to Article 65, subparagraph (8) of the Act, also
suspend the fishing license of the fishery operator and the Certificate
of Fishing Vessel Officer or Fishing Vessel Crew Identification of the
fishery employee for not more than one year, pursuant to Article 10 of
the Act. Where the violation is considered gross, they may be revoked.
Article 33
In addition to the punishment imposed in accordance with Article 31,
paragraph 1; or Article 32, paragraph 2, the central competent
authority may, in accordance Ariticle 68 of the Act, confiscate catches
caught or transported by or the fishing gears of the violated fishing
vessel, regardless of the ownership; in case the whole or part of such
catches or fishing gears cannot be confiscated, the value of such
catches or fishing gears shall be collected.
Article 34
These Regulations shall become effective upon promulgation, except for
Article 12, paragraph 5; and subparagraph (7) of Article 31, paragraph 1,
which shall become effective on 1 August 2020.
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