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Fishermen's Competency Certificates Convention, 1966 (No. 125) - French Polynesia

Articles 7, 8 and 9 of the Convention. Professional experience required. In its previous comments, noting the Government’s indication that a comprehensive reform of the rules concerning the qualifications required for exercising command of fishing vessels was being undertaken by the Polynesian Directorate of Maritime Affairs, the Committee requested the Government to ensure that all the provisions of the Convention, including with regard to professional experience required for competency certificates, would be fully implemented in the context of the planned reform. The Committee notes that, in its report, the Government refers to the adoption of Order No. 301 CM of 24 February 2014 on maritime vocational training on fishing and the issuance of certificates necessary for working on board fishing vessels in French Polynesia. The Government also indicates that the Order is supplemented by regulatory provisions specific to each position (seafarer, skipper and master). The Government adds that the new system, which is still being implemented, takes into account the requirements of the Convention by incorporating: (i) the voluntary and gradual application of the training standards set out in the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (STCW-F), although this Convention has not yet been ratified by France; (ii) the establishment of training and examination standards for maritime vocational training certificates for fishing by incorporating, on a voluntary basis, modules of the STCW-F, particularly in relation to safety; (iii) the implementation of a prior accreditation process for any training institution providing maritime vocational training; (iv) the requirement to hold a maritime vocational training certificate in order to join a fishing vessel, taking into account the work performed; (v) the requirement to demonstrate a minimum of professional experience for the issue of each certificate; (vi) a mandatory minimum age for the issue of a certificate; and (vii) the recognition of professional experience through an equivalence table. The Committee notes this information with interest and requests the Government to provide information on the final stages of the implementation of this new mechanism.