Article 4 Bluefin tuna catch document: validationF1

On each occasion where a UK fishing boat lands (except where Article 3(4) applies) or tranships any quantity of bluefin tuna, the master of the boat must complete a bluefin tuna catch document and, subject to paragraph 5, request its validation by the boat’s licensing authority.

Upon a request made under paragraph 1, the licensing authority must not validate the bluefin tuna catch document unless the authority is satisfied—

On each occasion where a person trades domestically or exports any quantity of bluefin tuna, the person must, subject to paragraphs 5 and 6, request validation of the bluefin tuna catch document applicable to the lot by the licensing authority of the fishing boat which completed the catch document or by the licensing authority for the area from which the person is trading or exporting the fish.

Upon a request made under paragraph 3, the licensing authority must not validate the bluefin tuna catch document unless the authority is satisfied, following verification of information and, where appropriate, inspection of the lot, that the information contained in the catch document is accurate.

Validation of the bluefin tuna catch document is not required where the fish to which the catch document relates is tagged in accordance with Article 5.

Where the first domestic trade of a bluefin tuna lot is facilitated by a completed and validated electronic bluefin catch document, that catch document may be used for all subsequent domestic trade of that lot and no further entry on the electronic catch document system is required.