1.1 Tuna RFMO Authorized Vessel Record

Each tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) develops vessel registration requirements and maintains a publicly available regional record of such tuna fishing vessels and carrier vessels authorized to fish or receive fish in the Convention Area of that RFMO.

A vessel may be included on the record of authorized fishing vessels in multiple RFMOs simultaneously.  Fishing or receiving fish by vessels subject to listing but not listed as authorized by an RFMO diminishes the effectiveness of conservation and management measures and the long-term sustainability of the resources being managed by increasing traceability and transparency at a global level.

Processors, traders, importers, transporters, marketers and others involved in the seafood industry shall refrain from transactions in tuna caught by fishing vessels or received by carrier vessels that are not on the authorized vessel record of the RFMO governing the ocean area in which the tuna was caught, at the time of the fishing trip or transshipment event, so long as the vessel is subject to listing in the RFMO authorized vessel record.