Terms of PVR Participation

Updated May 20, 2019

Unless otherwise noted, all terms and conditions apply regardless of the gear type of the vessel you wish to register.

By submitting an application for the inclusion of a vessel on the PVR, and maintaining the listing of a vessel on the PVR, you agree to the terms and conditions currently in effect and as may be subsequently revised. If you do not accept these Terms and Conditions, your application will not be accepted and your vessel will not be listed on the PVR.

1. 1. The PVR is maintained by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). However, you understand and agree that ISSF does not provide any endorsement of a particular vessel listed on the PVR.
   2. You commit to undergo and cooperate in periodic audits by an independent, third-party auditor pursuant to the current PVR Audit Protocols regarding your vessel’s compliance with the measures described on the PVR (PVR measures). There are different audit protocols for Purse Seine, Longline, Pole & Line, Handline and Troll and Support & Tender Vessels. You understand and agree that the auditors will conduct on-site audits as described in the Audit Protocols by visiting various ports as described in the Protocols and auditing vessels that deliver to those ports while the auditor is present. These on-site visits may occur with no advance notice to the designated contact for your vessel.
   3. You are obliged to cooperate fully with audits performed under the Audit Protocols. This means that you will respond accurately and within the specified time frame to all requests for information, documentation, access to personnel or access to a PVR-listed vessel related to the application to be listed and/or audits of a vessel already listed on the PVR. All audit-related requests will be sent only to the contact person (also see point 5 below) provided in the vessel application or any updated contact designated by the vessel owner under Paragraph 5 below.
   4. ISSF will bear the cost of all PVR audits, per the audit protocol with the following exceptions:
      
      1. For purse seine vessels (other than small-scale purse seine vessels), PVR level 3 audits will be primarily “red flag” audits that result from a vessel not complying with the level 2 PVR audit process. ISSF will be paid, in advance, by the vessel for the anticipated cost (auditor time and travel) of the level 3 audit or the vessel will be subject to removal from the PVR until a level 3 audit is paid for and completed. Upon the completion of the level 3 audit, any excess funds deposited for the audit costs will be refunded or an invoice will be issued by ISSF for the remaining amount due. If, in the course of these “red flag” audits, other vessels listed on the PVR are present in port, the auditor may undertake additional level 3 audits, at ISSF’s expense.
      2. For small-scale purse seine vessels and vessels of other gear types, ISSF will assume the costs of the initial level 1 audit necessary for listing of the vessel on the PVR and the annual level 1 audits, but any level 2 and level 3 audits required under the protocol will be funded by the vessel or an external funder.
      3. For all gear types and vessel sizes, the cost of auditing for compliance with any best practice that is not supported by an ISSF Conservation Measure but is a requirement of a FIP or other vessel initiative, must be funded by the vessel or an external funder.
   5. You are obliged to keep your contact information current. If the contact information provided in the PVR vessel application changes at any time, you must provide updated information in writing to [email protected].
   6. Notwithstanding the terms of Paragraph 3, you are obliged to cooperate fully with any on-site audits conducted as described in Paragraph 2 and provide access to your vessel and personnel, even if you have not received advanced notice of the audit. Failure to do so will constitute a default under Paragraph 8.
   7. In the course of an audit, the auditor will in appropriate cases provide feedback and suggestions to the vessel owner to improve compliance efforts and the vessel owner will consider and implement changes in good faith.
   8. An audit default which will result in a red X compliance status on the public PVR will mean, with respect to an audit of compliance with the PVR measures, any of the following:
      
      1. Failure to comply with a PVR measure
      2. Failure of a vessel owner to respond to requests for information and documents in the time frame specified
      3. Failure to provide access to personnel, or access to the PVR-listed vessel as required
      4. Submission by a vessel owner of any untrue statement of a material fact or failure to state a material fact in connection with documentation, data or responses to audit inquiries
      5. Other unwarranted interference or disruption with the audit process by the vessel owner or any other person acting on behalf of the vessel owner
   9. If you disagree with any audit finding, including a finding relating to initial eligibility for listing on the PVR, you may request a review by the Dispute Advisory Body by emailing [email protected].
   10. The following steps will be taken based on any audit default described in Paragraph 8 as follows:
       
       1. If a vessel owner does not respond within the specified time period, ISSF will send written notification of the default only to the contact listed on the vessel application or any updated contact designated by the vessel owner under Paragraph 5 above.
       2. If the vessel owner continues in default for an additional period of 10 calendar days following such written notice, the vessel will receive a red X on the public PVR for each of the PVR measures in question.
   11. From time to time, if ISSF notes any discrepancy between the information provided by you on the application or any quarterly updates and information obtained from other sources (RFMOs, IMO, regional registers, etc.), ISSF will bring this to your attention and request that you submit changes to the appropriate body to keep all information up-to-date.
   12. FOR LARGE-SCALE PURSE SEINE VESSELS: A large-scale purse seine vessel must be in demonstrated compliance with, or otherwise exempted, from ISSF Conservation Measures 6.1 and 6.2, and listed on the ISSF Record of Large Scale Purse Seine Vessels in order to be listed on the PVR.
   13. FOR LARGE-SCALE PURSE SEINE VESSELS: An owner of a large-scale purse seine vessel on the PVR is responsible to notify ISSF when such a vessel has sunk, has been scrapped or otherwise permanently transferred out of the tropical tuna fishery. Notification must be made by completing the ISSF Vessel Removal Form or ISSF Vessel Replacement Form and sending it to ISSF as indicated. If the vessel owner seeks to replace the sunk or scrapped capacity, the Replacement portion of the form must be completed.
   14. FOR LARGE-SCALE PURSE SEINE VESSELS: The effective date for listing on PVR will be the later of: (a) the original application date or (b) two months prior to the date of final determination of eligibility based on compliance with, or exemption from, ISSF Conservation Measures 1 and 6.2.
   15. ISSF reserves the right at any time to add, delete or revise PVR measures, or to amend these Terms and Conditions. Current measures and Terms and Conditions are posted on the ISSF website.