Article 79 Limitation of fishing capacity of vessels fishing for tropical tunas

The maximum number of Community vessels fishing for tropical tunas in the IOTC Area, and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage (GT), shall be as follows:

Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Member States may change the number of vessels, by gear type, provided that they can demonstrate to the Commission that this change does not lead to an increase of fishing effort on the fish stocks involved.

Member States shall ensure that, where there is a proposed transfer of capacity to their fleet, vessels to be transferred are on the IOTC Record of Vessels or on the Record of vessels of other Tuna Regional Fisheries Organisations. No vessels on an IUU vessels list of any Regional Fisheries Management Organisation may be transferred.

The Community vessels referred to in paragraph 1 shall also be authorised to fish for swordfish and albacore in the IOTC Area.

In order to take into account the implementation of the development plans submitted to the IOTC, the limitations of fishing capacity, as mentioned in this Article, may be increased within the limits set out in those development plans.