where the master determines that the tropical tunas caught are meshed or crushed in the purse seine, are damaged due to depredation, or have died and decomposed in the net due to a gear failure that has prevented the normal activities of retrieval of the net, fishing and releasing the fish alive;

where the master determines that the tropical tunas have been caught during the last set of a trip and there is not enough storage capacity to store the tunas caught during this set; those fish may only be discarded provided that:

improve the knowledge about FAD characteristics, buoy characteristics, FAD fishing, including fishing effort, and related impacts on targeted and non-targeted species;

effectively manage the deployment and recovery of FADs and beacons and their potential loss;

reduce and limit the impacts of FADs and FAD fishing on the ecosystem, including, where appropriate, by acting on the different components of the fishing mortality (e.g. number of deployed FADs, including number of FAD sets by purse seiners, fishing capacity, number of support vessels).

the surface structure of the FAD shall be either not covered by any material or covered only with material implying minimum risk of entangling non-targeted species; and

the sub-surface components shall be exclusively composed of material which does not entangle non-targeted species.

ensure that all FADs deployed are non-entangling, in accordance with the guidelines set out in Annex X;

endeavour to ensure that all FADs are constructed from biodegradable materials, such as non-plastics, with the exception of materials used in the construction of FAD tracking buoys.

position of the FAD;

date of deployment of the FAD;

FAD type (anchored FAD, drifting artificial FAD);

FAD identifier (i.e. FAD marking or beacon ID, type of buoy — e.g. simple buoy or associated with echo sounder), or any information allowing identification of the owner;

FAD design characteristics (dimension and material of the floating part and of the underwater hanging structure, and the entangling feature of the underwater hanging structure).

type of visit (hauling, retrieving, intervention on electronic equipment);

position of the FAD;

date of visit;

FAD type (anchored FAD, drifting natural FAD, drifting artificial FAD);

log description or FAD identifier (i.e. FAD marking and buoy ID or any information allowing identification of the owner);

if the visit is followed by a set, the results of the set in terms of catch and by-catch, whether retained or discarded, dead or alive, or, if the visit is not followed by a set, the reason for such decision (for instance not enough fish or fish too small);

buoy ID.

the last registered position;

date of the last registered position;

FAD identifier (i.e. FAD marking and buoy ID).

for their longline vessels 20 metres in length overall or greater, a minimum of 10 % observer coverage of fishing effort by 2022, through the presence of an observer on board in accordance with Annex IV or through an approved electronic monitoring system;

for their purse seiners, a 100 % observer coverage of fishing effort, through the presence of an observer on board in accordance with Annex IV or through an approved electronic monitoring system.

the biological samples are collected only from animals which are dead at the haul back;

the biological samples are taken in the framework of a research project notified to the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics of the ICCAT and developed taking into consideration the recommended research priorities of that Committee. The research project should include a detailed document that describes the objective of the project, the methodologies to be used, the number and type of samples to be collected and the time and area of sampling;

the biological samples are kept on board until the port of landing or transhipment; and

the authorisation of the flag Member State or, in the case of chartered vessels, of the chartering CPC and the flag Member State, must accompany all samples collected in accordance with this Article until the final port of landing. Such samples and other parts of the shark specimens sampled shall not be marketed or sold.

longlines are set during the night, with night being defined as the period between nautical dusk/dawn as referenced in the nautical dusk/dawn almanac for the geographical position of fishing; and

minimum swivel weight of 60 g placed not more than 3 metres from the hook is used to achieve optimum sink rates.

use only large circle hooks;

use only finfish bait; or

use other measures that have been reviewed and considered effective and approved by ICCAT to be capable of reducing the interaction rate of sea turtles in shallow-set longline fisheries.

ensure that interactions with sea turtles are reduced and eliminated to the extent practicable, where encounters with sea turtles have been documented and reported to the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics, through the use or continued use of at least one of the following by-catch mitigation measures:

require purse seiners flying their flag to:

take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe release of sea turtles in a manner that maximises the likelihood of their survival by requiring that:

require their fishers on vessels targeting species covered by the ICCAT Convention to bring aboard, if practicable, any captured sea turtle that is comatose or inactive as soon as possible and foster its recovery, including giving it resuscitation in accordance with Section C of Annex VI before returning it to the water;

ensure that fishers are aware of and use proper mitigation and handling techniques, as described in Annex VI.

paragraph 2a shall not apply;

paragraphs 4 and 5 shall apply from 1 January 2026.

catch rates, gear characteristics, times and locations, target species and disposition status (i.e. discarded dead or released alive);

a breakdown of interactions by sea turtle species; and

the nature of the hooking or entanglement (including with FADs), bait type, hook size and type, and the size of the animal.

the chartered vessels shall have a fishing authorisation issued by the chartering CPC and shall not be on the ICCAT IUU list;

the chartered vessels shall not be authorised to fish under more than one chartering arrangement at the same time;

the catches of the chartered vessels shall be unloaded exclusively in the ports of the chartering CPCs, unless otherwise provided for in the chartering arrangement; and

the chartering company shall be legally established in the chartering CPC.

information on the characteristics of their fleet for the previous year;

estimates of the annual nominal catch data (including by-catch and discards data) concerning ICCAT species for the previous year.

catch and fishing effort data for the previous year, giving a detailed spatio-temporal breakdown; those data shall include estimates of discards and releases with the indication of the status of the fish (dead or alive);

any data they have on catches in recreational fisheries for the previous year.

transhipment operations carried out within the ICCAT Convention area in respect of ICCAT species and other species caught in association with those species; and

transhipment operations carried out outside the ICCAT Convention area in respect of ICCAT species and other species caught in association with those species, that were harvested in the ICCAT Convention area.

the name of the large-scale pelagic longline vessel and its number in the ICCAT record of large-scale pelagic longline vessels authorised to tranship at sea;

the name of the carrier vessel and its number in the ICCAT record of carrier vessels;

the product to be transhipped, by species, where known, and, if possible, by stock;

the quantities of ICCAT species, if possible, by stock, to be transhipped;

the quantities of other species caught in association with ICCAT species by species, if known, to be transhipped;

the date and location of transhipment;

the geographic location of the catches by species and, where appropriate, by stock, consistent with ICCAT statistical areas.

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;

life jackets or survival suits of sufficient number for all persons on board, and compliant with relevant international standards; and

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.

the quantities of catches of ICCAT species, by species and, if possible, by stock, transhipped during the previous year;

the quantities of other species caught in association with ICCAT species by species, if known, transhipped during the previous year;

the list of the large-scale pelagic longline vessels which have transhipped during the previous year;

a comprehensive report assessing the content and conclusions of the reports of the ICCAT regional observers assigned to carrier vessels which have received transhipment from large-scale pelagic longline vessels.

a minimum of 5 % observer coverage of fishing effort in each of pelagic longline, purse seine, baitboat, traps, gillnet and trawl fisheries, targeting ICCAT species;

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;

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;

data collection on all aspects of the fishing operation, including catch, as specified in Article 63(1).

for purse seine fisheries, in number of sets or trips;

for pelagic longline fisheries, in fishing days, number of sets, or trips;

for baitboat and trap fisheries, in fishing days;

for gillnet fisheries, in fishing hours or days; and

for trawl fisheries, in fishing hauls or days.

record and report on the fishing activity of the observed vessel, which shall include at least the following:

observe and record the use of mitigation measures to reduce incidental catches and other relevant information;

to the extent possible, observe and report environmental conditions (e.g. sea state, climate and hydrologic parameters);

observe and report on FADs, in accordance with the ICCAT regional observer programme adopted under the multi-annual conservation and management programme for tropical tuna; and

perform any other scientific tasks as recommended by the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics and agreed by the Commission.

do not interfere with the electronic equipment of the vessel;

are familiar with the emergency procedures aboard the vessel, including the location of life rafts, fire extinguishers and first aid kits;

communicate as needed with the master on relevant observer issues and tasks;

do not hinder or interfere with the fishing activities and the normal operations of the vessel;

participate in debriefing sessions with appropriate representatives of the scientific institute or the domestic authority responsible for implementing the observer programme.

permit appropriate access to the vessel and its operations;

allow the observer to carry out the observer tasks in an effective way, including by:

provide accommodation to observers, including berthing, food and adequate sanitary and medical facilities, equal to those of officers;

provide the observer adequate space on the bridge or pilot house to perform observer tasks, as well as space on deck adequate for carrying out observer tasks.

require vessels flying its flag, when fishing for ICCAT species, to carry a scientific observer in accordance with this Regulation;

oversee the safety of its observers;

encourage, where feasible and appropriate, their scientific institute or domestic authority to enter into agreements with the scientific institutes or domestic authorities of other Member States or CPCs for the exchange of observer reports and observer data between them;

provide in its annual report for use by the Commission and the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics, specific information on the implementation of ICCAT Recommendation 16-14, which shall include:

following the initial submission of the information required under point (d)(i), report changes to the structure and design of its observer programmes in its annual reports only when such changes occur; and continue to report the information required pursuant to point (d)(ii) to the Commission annually;

each year, using the designated electronic formats that are developed by the ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics, report to that committee information collected through domestic observer programmes for use by the Commission, in particular for stock assessment and other scientific purposes, in line with procedures in place for other data reporting requirements and consistent with domestic confidentiality requirements;

ensure implementation of robust data collection protocols by its observers, when carrying out their tasks referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, including, as necessary and appropriate, the use of photography.

designate their ports to which third country fishing vessels may request entry pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008;

designate a point of contact for the purposes of receiving prior notice pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008;

designate a point of contact for the purposes of transmitting port inspection reports pursuant to Article 66 of this Regulation.

if the sighted vessel is flagged to a Member State, the flag Member state shall, without undue delay, take appropriate action with respect to the vessel concerned; both the sighting Member State and the flag Member State of the sighted vessel shall provide information on the sighting to the Commission and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), including details of any follow-up action taken;

if the sighted vessel is flagged to another CPC, a non-CPC, or is of indeterminate flag or without nationality, the sighting Member State shall, without undue delay, provide to the Commission and the EFCA all appropriate information related to the sighting; the Commission shall, as appropriate, transmit the sighting information to the ICCAT Secretariat.