Strict Measures Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
| CIRCULAR | Circular No. 006 (Amended) |
| SUBJECT | Strict Measures Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing |
| FROM | Office of the Maritime Administrator, Vanuatu International Shipping Registry |
| TO | All owners, operators, masters, managers and Special Agents of Vanuatu-flagged fishing and fishing-support vessels |
| AMENDMENT DATE | 20 August 2026 |
| EFFECTIVE DATE | Upon publication |
| STATUS | Version 2.0 – Supersedes the prior version of Circular No. 006 |
Authority and legal status. This Circular is issued by the Maritime Administrator under the functions and powers conferred by the Maritime Act [CAP 131], as amended by the Maritime (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2025, including section 10C where applicable, and any additional written authority lawfully applicable to the subject. It shall be read with applicable mandatory IMO instruments and controlled VISR policies. It does not convert a direct statutory power into a delegated power, transfer a function assigned by law to another State entity, or amend any valid appointment, concession or other governing instrument.
Related controlled policies: VISR-QMS-POL-GOV-001 – Governance, Statutory Authority, Responsibility and Strategic Performance Policy; VISR-QMS-POL-CI-002 – IMSAS Compliance, Internal Audit, Corrective Action and Continual Improvement Policy; VISR-QMS-POL-REC-005 – Document and Records Control, Retention and IMSAS Evidence Management Policy.
1. Zero-tolerance position
VISR maintains zero tolerance for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Registration under the Vanuatu flag is conditional upon lawful operations, truthful reporting, good standing with competent fisheries authorities and compliance with applicable RFMO conservation and management measures.
2. Mandatory obligations
• Maintain all required fishing authorizations, licences, RFMO listings, VMS or other tracking equipment, observer arrangements and catch-reporting systems.
• Do not fish, transship, receive catch, bunker or provide support in contravention of applicable law, licence conditions or RFMO measures.
• Report catch, effort, bycatch, transshipment and position information accurately, completely and within prescribed periods.
• Do not disable, manipulate or obscure VMS, AIS, LRIT, electronic reporting or vessel identity except for a lawful and documented safety reason.
• Conduct due diligence on charterers, operators, beneficial owners, buyers, carriers and counterparties.
3. Immediate reporting
• Notify VISR and the competent Vanuatu fisheries authority immediately of any boarding, investigation, suspected infringement, VMS failure, unauthorized transshipment, observer incident, listing proposal or foreign authority action.
• Preserve logs, VMS data, communications, catch records, observer records, photographs, electronic data and relevant commercial documents.
• Do not destroy, alter, backdate or reconstruct records after an incident or inquiry.
4. Administrative response
VISR may impose conditions, require enhanced monitoring or inspection, suspend Registry services or documents, initiate deletion and refer the matter to competent authorities. Removal from the Registry does not extinguish liability or prevent cooperation with an investigation.
Compliance records and communications
All applications, approvals, notices, reports, evidence, decisions, acknowledgements and corrective-action records required by this Circular must be transmitted through an official VISR channel and retained in the controlled Registry file in accordance with the VISR records policy. Communications from unverified domains or persons without written authority must not be relied upon.
Official contact: admin@register-vu.com. Urgent safety, casualty, sanctions or fraud matters must also be copied to info@register-vu.com and reported without delay.
Enforcement, reasons and reconsideration
Non-compliance may result in enhanced inspection, corrective-action requirements, service restrictions, suspension, administrative penalties, withdrawal or revocation of documents, or deletion from the Registry, to the extent authorized by law and the applicable written authority. Except where immediate protective action is necessary for safety, security, sanctions compliance, documentary integrity or preservation of evidence, an affected person will be notified of the material grounds and given a reasonable opportunity to respond. A request for reconsideration must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Maritime Administrator with supporting evidence within ten business days of the written decision, unless a shorter period is stated because of an urgent risk.
Supersession and effective application
This amended Circular supersedes the prior version of Circular No. 006 from the effective date stated above. Existing obligations, liabilities, investigations, fees and corrective actions arising under the prior version remain enforceable to the extent lawfully incurred and are to be administered under the clearer procedures stated in this amended version. If this Circular conflicts with a later Act, regulation or controlled VISR policy, the higher or later instrument prevails and the Circular shall be updated through document control.
| Saade Makhlouf Maritime Administrator of the Republic of Vanuatu Vanuatu International Shipping Registry |
Issued in Port Vila and New York 20 August 2026 |
Back