# Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/124 of 15 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/833 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation, Division: Principles for Inspections

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Inspectors shall:
(a) verify, to the extent possible, that the vessel identification documentation on board and information relating to the owner of the vessel is true, complete and correct, including through appropriate contacts with the flag State or international records of vessels if necessary;
(b) verify that the vessel’s flag and markings (e.g. name, external registration number, International Maritime Organization (IMO) ship identification number, international radio call sign and other markings, main dimensions) are consistent with information contained in the documentation;
(c) review all other relevant documentation and records held onboard, including, to the extent possible, those in electronic format and vessel monitoring system (VMS) data from the flag State or RFMOs. Relevant documentation may include logbooks, catch, transhipment and trade documents, data collected by the observer on board, crew lists, stowage plans and drawings, descriptions of fish holds, and documents required pursuant to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora;
(d) verify, to the extent possible, that the authorizations for fishing activities are true, complete, correct and consistent with the information provided in accordance with the CEM provisions including, but not limited to, Articles 25, 44, 45 and 51 of the CEM;
(e) determine, to the extent possible, whether any fishery resources on board were harvested in accordance with applicable authorizations for the vessel;
(f) examine any fishery resources on board the vessel, including by sampling, to determine its quantity and composition. In doing so, inspectors may open containers where the fishery resources have been pre-packed and move the catch or containers to ascertain the integrity of fish holds. Such examination may include inspections of product type and determination of nominal weight;
(g) examine, to the extent possible, all relevant fishing gear onboard, including any gear stowed out of sight as well as related devices, and to the extent possible, verify that they are in conformity with the conditions of the authorizations. The fishing gear shall, to the extent possible, also be checked to ensure that features such as the mesh and twine size, devices and attachments, dimensions and configuration of nets, pots, dredges, hook sizes and numbers are in conformity with applicable regulations and that the markings correspond to those authorized for the vessel;
(h) evaluate whether there is clear evidence for believing that a non-Contracting Party vessel has engaged in IUU fishing activities; and
(i) arrange, where necessary and possible, for translation of relevant documentation.
Additionally inspections shall be conducted in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory manner and shall not constitute harassment of any vessel. Inspectors shall not interfere with the Master’s ability to communicate with the authorities of the flag State Contracting Party or the flag Member State.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2020/124/annex/division/44/division/1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2020-124/annex/division-44/division-1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.