Inspections

Port inspections

In accordance with Conservation Measure 10-03 Contracting Parties are required to inspect all fishing vessels carrying toothfish species that enter their ports, regardless of whether it is caught in the Convention Area or not, and at least half of all fishing vessels carrying other Antarctic species harvested in the Convention Area. 

Inspections are undertaken to ensure that if a vessel undertook harvesting activities in the Convention Area, these activities were carried out in accordance with CCAMLR’s conservation measures.  If a vessel intends to land or tranship Dissostichus spp. a Contracting Party must ensure that the catch to be unloaded or transhipped is accompanied by Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) documentation and verify that the catch is consistent with the information recorded on the CDS documentation.

Resources to support port inspections are being developed and will be available here.

System of inspection

CCAMLR’s System of Inspection was established in 1989. In order to verify compliance with conservation measures adopted under the Convention, Inspectors designated by Members are entitled to board a fishing or fisheries research vessel in the area to which the Convention applies to determine whether the vessel is, or has been, engaged in scientific research, or harvesting, of marine living resources.

The System of Inspection provides for:

• procedures for the designation of inspectors
• the rights and responsibilities of Inspectors
• procedures for boarding and inspection
• inspection reporting and the procedures for Flag State prosecutions
• sanctions based on evidence acquired under the System of Inspection.

The list of designated inspectors is available to Contracting Parties here.

Resources to support at-sea inspections are being developed and will be available here.