Transshipment Requirements Under the WCPFC

This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) to carry out the obligations of the United States under the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), including implementing the decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission). The regulations include requirements for the owners and operators of U.S. vessels to: (1) complete and submit a Pacific Transshipment Declaration form for each transshipment that takes place in the area of application of the Convention (Convention Area) of highly migratory species caught in the Convention Area, (2) submit notice to the WCPFC Executive Director containing specific information at least 36 hours prior to each transshipment on the high seas in the Convention Area and within 12 hours after each emergency transshipment in the Convention Area, (3) in the event that a vessel anticipates a transshipment where an observer is required, provide notice to NMFS at least 72 hours before leaving port of the need for an observer, (4) complete and submit a U.S. Purse Seine Discard form within 48 hours after any discard, (5) submit daily purse seine fishing effort reports; (6) submit a notice to a contact designated by NMFS in the event of a serious illness, assault, harassment, intimidation or threat to a WCPFC observer; and (7) submit notice to obtain a WCPFC observer for a purse seine vessel departing from American Samoa. The information collected from these requirements is used by NOAA and the Commission to help ensure compliance with domestic laws and the Commission’s conservation and management measures, and are necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations under the Convention.

The latest form for Transshipment Requirements Under the WCPFC expires 2027-09-30 and is listed under ICR 202405-0648-001.

Pacific Transshipment Declaration Form

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Natural Resources - Conservation, Marine and Land Management

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