Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00604:clause:3_17
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00604
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 3 cl 17
Character Range: 155102–156198

17  Conservation and management measure for protection of whale sharks from purse seine fishing operations
17.1  This clause applies to a person using a purse seine boat to fish for highly migratory fish stocks:
 (a) on the high seas within the Convention Area; or
 (b) in an exclusive economic zone in the Convention Area.
17.2  The person must not set a purse seine net on a school of tuna if a whale shark is sighted prior to the commencement of the set.
17.3  If a whale shark is encircled in a purse seine net, the person must:
 (a) take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe release of the whale shark; and
 (b) record for each incident the following information:
 (i) the number of whale sharks involved;
 (ii) details of how and why the encirclement happened;
 (iii) where the encirclement occurred;
 (iv) steps taken to ensure the safe release of the whale shark;
 (v) the life status of the whale shark on release, including whether the whale shark was released alive but subsequently died; and
 (c) report the information to the appropriate authority of the flag State of the boat.