§ 356.51 Exemptions for specific vessels.

(a) The following Fishing Industry Vessels are exempt from the new ownership and control standards under the AFA and this part 356 for vessel owners and Mortgagees: (1) Fishing Industry Vessels engaged in fisheries in the exclusive economic zone under the authority of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council established under section 302(a)(1)(H) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1)(H)); and (2) Purse seine vessels when they are engaged in tuna fishing in the Pacific Ocean outside the exclusive economic zone of the United States or pursuant to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Treaty. (b) Fishing Industry Vessels that are claiming the exemption provided for in paragraph (e) of this section must certify to the Citizenship Approval Officer that the vessel is exempt from the ownership and control requirements of this part 356 pursuant to the exemption in paragraph (e) of this section. The vessel owner will be required to follow the U.S. Coast Guard's procedures for documenting a vessel with a fishery endorsement, as in effect prior to the passage of the AFA. The vessel owner must also notify the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center that it is claiming an exemption from the ownership and control requirements of this part 356 pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section. [65 FR 44877, July 19, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 5583, Feb. 4, 2003; 82 FR 56901, Dec. 1, 2017] Editorial Note: At 91 FR 33645, June 4, 2026, § 356.51 was amended; however, the amendment could not be incorporated due to inaccurate amendatory instruction.