S.L. 425.16 Art. 5Observers and fisheriesprotection officers.

(1) Operators shall be obliged to accept on board their vessels and, or into their establishments those national and, or regional observers as the Director may require according to regulation 3, and said acceptance shall include reasonable collaboration by the operators to allow and facilitate the fulfilment of the roles of said observers:

Provided that this sub-regulation shall mutatis mutandis apply in relation to operators for any obligation directly affecting them, Malta and, or the European Union as applicable to the role of observers according to European Union law or international law as defined under regulation 2:

Provided further that the presence of ICCAT regional observers shall in particular be required on every purse seine vessel authorised to fish for bluefin tuna, during all transfers of bluefin tuna from purse seine vessels to transport cages, during all transfers of bluefin tuna from one aquaculture establishment to another, during all cagings of bluefin tuna in an aquaculture establishment, during all harvesting of bluefin tuna from aquaculture establishment, and during the release of bluefin tuna from an aquaculture establishment, or as otherwise required under European Union law or international law.

(2) The provisions of sub-regulation (1) shall apply to aquaculture establishments and to vessels the activities of which relate to BFT intended or related to the aquaculture activities of aquaculture establishments and no relevant activity may be performed failing compliance with the provisions of sub-regulation (1).

(3) Without prejudice to their other responsibilities and powers at law, fisheries protection offices may inspect aquaculture establishments to ensure compliance with these regulations and international law as defined according to regulation 2.