Fisheries (Vessel Monitoring System) Regulations 2009. Country/Territory Tonga Document type Regulation Date 2009 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Tonga Government Gazette, Extraordinary of 19 January 2010. Subject Fisheries Keyword Marine fisheries Monitoring Marking/identification Registration Inspection Offences/penalties Fishery management and conservation Foreign fishing Geographical area Asia and the Pacific, Oceania, Polynesia, Small Island Developing States, South Pacific Abstract These Regulations make provision for the identification and monitoring of activities fishing vessels. They shall not apply to: (a) local fishing vessels that are used solely for subsistence fishing; and (b) fishing vessels licenced under the Multilateral Fisheries Treaty with the United States which operate under the alternate VMS adopted by the South Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, as agreed by the Parties to that Treaty. ARGOS VMS is the designated VMS for the purposes of these Regulations. The Secretary shall maintain a VMS Register of Fishing Vessels. An application to register an automatic location communicator shall be in the form set out in Form 1 and accompanied by the prescribed fee. A licence shall be issued under the Act unless the vessel is: (a) a foreign fishing vessel, locally-based foreign fishing vessel, or their support vessels unless such vessel is registered as a vessel in good standing on the Fishing Vessel Register, VMS Register of Fishing Vessels, FFA Regional Fishing Vessel Register and the FFA VMS Register; or (b) a local fishing vessel designated to carry the ARGOS VMS to be permitted to fish exclusively in the fisheries waters unless that vessel is registered on the Fishing Vessels Register and the VMS Register of Fishing Vessels. Full text English Website www.tongafish.org References - Legislation Implements Fisheries Management Act 2002 (No. 26 of 2002). Legislation | Tonga | 2004 (2005) Keyword: Basic legislation, Marine fisheries, Inland fisheries, Fishery management and conservation, Foreign fishing, Community management, Fishing gear/fishing method, Total allowable catch, Registration, Institution, Policy/planning, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties, Fishing authorization, High seas, Authorization/permit Source: FAO, FAOLEX