(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of this law is to control the construction of fishing vessels, to establish a system of registration and inspection of fishing vessels, and to undertake experiments on fishing vessels so as to improve their performance and to contribute to the rational development of fisheries productivity (Article 1).

(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
In order to control the construction of fishing vessels, regulations for total number and gross-tonnage of powered fishing vessels (Article 3), requirements for a permission of construction (Article 4), a registration system (Article 10), and the verification system of the register (Article 8, 13) etc. are prescribed.

(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTERIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Regulations of the Fishing Vessel Law
Government Ordinance of Paragraph 1 of Article 33, the Fishing Vessel Law

(4) Outline of the Control
1) Items Covered
Fishing vessels (including propulsion engines for fishing vessels)

2) Outline of Specifications, Standards and Inspections, etc.
i. Content of the Control
Before construction or conversion of powered fishing vessels of 10meters and over in length, permission shall be obtained from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or prefectural governor (Article 4). Furthermore, all fishing vessels shall be assigned to a register of fishing vessels provided by a prefectural governor (excluding non-powered fishing vessels of less than 1 ton gross tonnage: Article 10).

ii. Control of Unit Power
The ceiling on engine power index for fishing vessels stipulated by the Fishing Vessel Law is set for each fishing vessel of less than 40 tons gross tonnage corresponding to its gross tonnage in accordance with the "the mandatory standards for the performance of powered fishing vessels", which is one of requirements for the permission of construction (Paragraph 2 of Article 5).

iii. Certification System
Since fishing vessel engines are considered to be an integral part of the fishing vessels themselves, a person intending to construct or convert any powered fishing vessel of 10 meters and over in length must obtain permission from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or prefectural governor (Article 4).
Powered fishing vessels of less than 10 meters in length only need to be applied to the prefectural governor for a registration.

(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT AMENDMENT
In 2002, the jurisdictions for permission of construction were classified in accordance with those of fisheries licenses. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries permits construction of fishing vessels which require fisheries license by the Minister, and construction of fishing vessels of 20 tons gross tonnage and upwards which require no fisheries license. Prefectural governor permits construction of fishing vessels, which require fisheries license of fishery by prefectural governor, and construction of fishing vessels of less than 20 tons gross tonnage. Furthermore, the law prescribes that private organizations may execute the inspection of register after construction and the verification of register whose term was extended to 5 years from 3 years.

(6) Reference Information
(Liaison Office for Further Information)
Resources Management Division, Fisheries Agency
Tel: 03-3501-3880 http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp