The FFA Vessel Registration period is changed to a flexible one year period. As a result of the FFC74 decision, the fixed registration period (July-June) has now been changed to a flexible registration period which is operationally beneficial to the clients, FFA members and FFA Secretariat. Commencing from 1 July 2010 there is no fixed registration period and vessels are now registered for a one year term from the date of being issued the Certificate of Registration. The list of good standing vessels on the FFA Vessel Register now have different end dates for the period of Good Standing for different vessels as well as between fleets. This change has streamlined the registration process, and has improved the efficiency of the FFA Vessel Register operations. It has also provided the opportunity for vessel operators to register at a time that best suits their needs.

This vessel registration notification now follows FFA financial year, July 2011 to June 2012. All foreign fishing vessels wishing to obtain a national fishing licence from any FFA Member country must first register on the FFA Vessel Register and the WCPFC Record of Fishing vessels. The FFA Vessel Register procedures are additional to any National Registration and Licensing procedures required by FFA Member countries.

Since the FFA Vessel Registration period is no longer a fixed period and is one year from the date of registration, the vessel operators are reminded that the Purse Seine & Longline Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) register period is the calendar year ie 01-Jan-2011 to 31-Dec-2011. The operators of the Purse Seine & Longline vessels subject to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) VDS Management scheme will need to ensure that the vessels re-register on the FFA Vessel Register as the previous registrations expire during the 2011 calendar year. Similar checks will also need to be done for the MTU inspection certificate, fishing licence, flag state authorisation to fish etc.

For any further information on FFA Vessel Register procedures contact FFA at vessel.register@ffa.int. Vessel owners and operators are encouraged to read the Application Guidelines provided below.