Inspection procedures

(1) Each inspector shall be appointed by the Director in accordance with the terms of reference as prescribed in the Fourth Schedule who shall carry an identification document issued by Belize. Authorized Belize port inspectors or designated port inspectors of the competent authority shall examine all relevant areas of the vessel, decks and rooms. They shall inspect and examine catches processed or otherwise to be landed, nets or other fishing gears, equipment, both technical and electronic, records of transmissions and any relevant documents, including logbooks, cargo manifests and mates receipts and landing declarations in case of transshipment or any other relevant documents which they deem necessary to verify compliance with applicable laws, regulations or international management and conservation measures. They may question the master and/or crew or any other person on the vessel and may take copies of any documents considered relevant. (2) Inspections shall involve the monitoring of the landing or transshipment and include a cross check between the quantities by species notified in the prior notification message as prescribed in Regulation 46 and the quantities by species landed or transhipped. (3) Inspections shall be carried out in such a way that the fishing vessel suffers the minimum interference and inconvenience and that degradation of the quality of the catch is avoided as far as practicable. 92 (4) The inspector shall carry out inspection of the catch on board or to be landed in accordance with the Fishing Inspection Manual and shall utilize the form prescribed in the Fifth Schedule for the completion of his inspection report. Fifth Schedule. (5) On completion of the inspection, the inspector shall provide the master with a copy of the inspection report containing the findings of the inspection, including any infractions that may have been committed against the applicable conservation and management measures or domestic legislation. The master shall be given an opportunity to add any comments or objections to the report and to contact the BHSFU, if necessary. The inspector and the master shall sign the report and a copy of the report shall be provided to the master, who shall be responsible for forwarding it to the owner. The master’s signature shall serve as an acknowledgment of the receipt of the report. (6) The inspector shall submit a copy of the report to the BHSFU no later than 48 hours after completion of the