Paragraph 12 of the Procedures requires the Commission to “maintain a register of all authorized inspection vessels and authorities or inspectors” (the WCPFC High Seas Boarding and Inspection Register). This paragraph also stipulates that, “only vessels and authorities or inspectors listed on the Commission’s Register are authorized under the Procedures to board and inspect foreign flagged fishing vessels on the high seas within the Convention Area”. At present, the only Members with authorised inspection vessels listed on the WCPFC High Seas Boarding and Inspection Register are:
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- Cook Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- France
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Republic of Korea
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Chinese Taipei
- Tuvalu
- United States of America
WCPFC Inspection Flag and Pennant
Paragraph 18 of the Procedures provides that “Authorized inspection vessels shall fly, in clearly visible fashion, the WCPFC inspection flag as designed by the Commission.”The below design was approved by WCPFC4.
At WCPFC17, the Commission agreed that the minimum pennant size for use by the boarding vessel, transiting from the inspection vessel, be 44 centimeters (cm) by 66 cm (height by length). Inspection flag usage and display for the inspection vessel itself would not change from what was agreed at WCPFC4. This decision only updates information on pennant dimensions contained in Attachment G, Annex 2 of TCC3 that was adopted at WCPFC4.
The intended use of the flag is for inspection vessels, and the pennant for boarding launches. The assigned number for an inspection vessel should be included in a contrasting colour to the lower right quadrant of the flag and upper right quadrant of the pennant.
Below is the current list of "Authority of Inspection Vessel" contacts. An authorised CCM user designated “Party Admin” (see Authorised CCM Users tab) is able to modify their list through their CCM portal.