(1) Reasons for Proposal

In accordance with the revision of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, this Notice aims to ensure that appropriate measures, such as establishing a plan to reduce the incidental catch of marine mammals, are taken so that there is no disruption in the export of produced fishery products to the United States regarding the deep longline fisheries, etc., in the high seas on the list of foreign fisheries (LOFF) published by the U.S..

(2) Major Provisions

A. Strengthen the supervision of the incidental catch of marine mammals by raising the observer boarding rate of fishing vessels using deep longline fishing gear from 50% to 100% (proviso of Article 9 (1)). 

B. Establish provisions that fishing vessels using deep-sea fishing gear on the high seas must follow and implement an incidental catch reduction plan to mitigate the incidental catch of marine mammals and promptly release marine mammals if they are caught (Article 10 (1) etc.).