Subsidiary Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan concerning Japanese Tuna Long-line Fishing of 1997

This Agreement has been reached in the framework of an Agreement on Fisheries between Australia and Japan signed on 17 October 1979. ('The Head Agreement'). The aim of the present Agreement is to establish detailed procedures for the conduct of tuna long-line fishing operations by fishing vessels of Japan within the Australian fishing zone and for the issuance of licences by the Government of Australia. Article I fixes the number of licences which shall be issued by Australia (290) and the total payment for those licences. Australia shall allow Japan to fish for tuna and bill-fish together with all other species of finfish including oceanic sharks which are incidentally caught by using floating long-lines and hand lines in accordance with specifications of article II and the Agreement. Drifting of long-lines into prohibited areas shall not be considered automatically by Australia as infringement of the Agreement (art. III). Article IV provides for port entry of Japanese vessels. The remaining provisions deal, inter alia, with: licences for masters of vessels (art. V); methods of and terms and conditions with respect to catch reports, application for licences, and communication between vessels and authorities (art. VI); and consultation between the Parties (VIII). (Completed by an Appendix specifying also terms and conditions and procedures as referred to in article VI).