Expect to be inspected

Australia’s authorised vessel for high seas inspections is the NSW Water Police patrol vessel Nemesis. Photo: NSW Water Police

Australia’s authorised vessel for high seas inspections is the NSW Water Police patrol vessel Nemesis. Photo: NSW Water Police

The boarding and inspection of fishing vessels on the high seas by patrol vessels registered with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is an important international cooperative measure aimed at the long-term conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory fish stocks such as Albacore, Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin and Swordfish.

Under the WCPFC Convention, Australia and more than 30 other countries and territories have agreed to allow their fishing vessels to be boarded and inspected by the patrol vessels of other members during routine operations throughout the Pacific Ocean.

This means that Australian vessels fishing on the high seas in the WCPFC Convention Area may be boarded and inspected by officers from WCPFC authorised patrol vessels.

If you intend to fish on the high seas, AFMA advises you to familiarise yourself with the patrol vessels that are authorised to undertake high seas boardings and inspections before you leave the Australian Fishing Zone. You can recognise these vessels by checking the WCPFC High Seas Boarding and Inspection Register and looking for the WCPFC Inspection Flag and Pennant.

You are required to cooperate with authorised inspectors from any WCPFC authorised patrol vessel who ask to board your boat.

To find out more about the WCPFC and the boarding and inspection regimes, you can visit the WCPFC website or contact Steve Auld, Manager, Tropical Tuna Fisheries, on 02 6225 5306 or steve.auld@afma.gov.au.