Regulations on the Management of Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fishing Operation Article 19

In the event that tags on Pacific bluefin tuna caught by tuna longline fishing vessels permitted to conduct Pacific bluefin tuna fishing operations fall off and cannot be affixed again, the following provisions shall be complied with:(1)If spare tags are available on board: unused tags shall be immediately affixed to the appropriate part of the fish, and the concerned fishing vessels shall report the serial numbers of both the spare tags and the fallen tags to the concerned fishery radio stations.(2)If spare tags are not available on board: the concerned fishing vessels shall immediately report the number and serial numbers of the fallen tags to the concerned fishery radio stations. After port entry and before landing, the fallen tags shall be presented to the central competent authority and new tags, equivalent to the quantity of the fallen tags, shall be applied for and affixed to the appropriate part of the fish. Landing shall not be conducted before properly affixing the concerned tags.In the event of loss of Pacific bluefin tuna tags issued to fishery operators, the number and serial number of the lost tags shall be immediately reported to the concerned fishery radio stations. After port entry and before landing, the concerned fishery operators shall apply to the central competent authority for re-issuance of tags equivalent to the quantity of the lost tags and affix the tags to the appropriate part of the fish. Landing shall not be conducted before properly affixing the concerned tags.Any tag reported as lost in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall not be used again even if recovered afterwards.