Most foreign fishing vessels reflagging to meet New Zealand law: regulator

Most of the 19 foreign charter vessels (FCVs) operating in New Zealand waters have successfully reflagged as New Zealand vessels under new regulations, the country's maritime regulator said Friday.

Ten vessels, originally flagged to Korea, Japan, Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Dominica, had reflagged, with two more very close to finishing the process, Maritime New Zealand general manager maritime standards Sharyn Forsyth said in a statement.

They reflected the commitment by the operators to meeting the New Zealand standards -- through training for senior crew and shore-based managers, and vessel improvements and health and safety plans, said Forsyth.

A law passed in 2014 meant FCVs needed to reflag by May 1 this year.

To monitor compliance, maritime officers would inspect all reflagged vessels and Maritime New Zealand would collect and analyze information, gathered by fisheries observers from the Ministry of Primary Industries, on working and living conditions when the vessels are operating at sea.

Reflagging gives New Zealand full jurisdiction over areas like employment, health and safety conditions on vessels fishing in New Zealand's exclusive economic zone.

The legislation was part of a range of measures that followed an official inquiry in 2012 into questionable safety, labor and fishing practices on some foreign-owned vessels.

The new rules also require compulsory individual New Zealand bank accounts for crew members, observers on all foreign-owned fishing vessels, and independent audits of charter parties to ensure crew visa requirements -- including wages -- are being adhered to.

Vessels that fail to reflag cannot fish in New Zealand waters. Endit