Maritime (Protection of Mammals) Regulations (Cap 131).

This Regulation, for purposes of protection of marine mammals within the marine ecosystem, regulates fishing for tunas with purse seine nets, so as to ensure the liberation of marine mammals which are incidentally trapped during fishing operations and to reduce the resultant mortality. The Regulation shall only apply to vessels flying the flag of Vanuatu and engaged in commercial fishing for tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is hereby designated as the competent regional organization for the purposes of this Regulation and in particular with respect to the international observer program to monitor the effectiveness of marine mammal rescue gear and procedures and to record the incidental mortality of marine mammals associated with fishery. The Regulation imposes certain requirements owners, authorized agents or bareboat charterers of Vanuatu vessels (including the requirement of a permit for fishing in the eastern Pacific Ocean) and provides for monitoring and inspection of vessels.