OBTAINING AN INSPECTION CERTIFICATE FOR INDUSTRIAL FISHING VESSELS IN CAMEROON

An Industrial Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate is an authorisation issued by the Minister in charge of fishing to vessel owners aspiring to register their vessel(s) under a country’s flag, attesting that vessel’s technical specifications are compliant with the fishing laws in force and thus, is fit for safe navigation. In Cameroon as well as other neighbouring countries, the minister in charge of fishing signs this authorisation only after the maritime inspector has tendered a favourable inspection report. Here is a holistic guide on how you can get this vital authorisation prior to registering your vessel in Cameroon.

What are the relevant legal instruments governing the issue of a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate in Cameroon?

Fishing in Cameroon is governed by some legal instruments, which are in force and may come into play in the event of unsafe navigation, IUU fishing, etc. Below are nine (9) legal instruments relevant to the issue of a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate:

1. Law No. 94/01 of 20 January 1994 to laydown forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations (This is the framework law regulating three wide fields – forestry, wildlife and fisheries. All other legal instruments in fisheries, which we have listed below, come into play to implement this framework law.)
2. Law No. 94/01 of 20 January 1994 to laydown forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations;
3. Law N0. 2000/017 of 19 December 2000 to regulate veterinary health inspection
4. Finance Law in force;
5. Decree no. 86/711 of 14 June 1986 to laydown veterinary health inspection procedures;
6. Decree No. 2012/382 of 14 September 2012 to organise the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries;
7. Decree No. 95/413/PM of 20 June 1995 to lay down certain conditions for the application of the Fisheries law;
8. Order No. 0012/MINEPIA of 24 April 1998 to laydown technical conditions applicable to fishing vessels;
9. Instruction No. 001/CAB/PM of 18 March 2010 to laydown administrative formalities for setting up enterprises in Cameroon.

What are the conditions to be met in order to be issued Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate in Cameroon?

According the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA), which reserves the right to issue this inspection certificate, before applying for an industrial fishing licence, the following three conditions must be met:

1. Own an industrial fishing approval: a ship owner cannot be issued a vessel inspection certificate when his/her business has not yet been authorised to operate in Cameroon. An industrial fishing approval is the primordial authorisation for all boat/ship owners willing to fly Cameroons flag.
2. Natural persons must be resident in Cameroon: yes, you have to somehow live within the country.
3. Have a head office in Cameroon and, in the case of legal entities, the composition of their capital should be known to the ministry in charge of fisheries: if you are not a Cameroonian, at least open a branch of your business in Cameroon

If you meet the aforementioned conditions, you are set to proceed with other formalities! You are eligible to apply for a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate. Proceed to compile the needed documents as listed in the following paragraph.

Components of the application file to get a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate

MINEPIA has set out a list of documents to be enclosed with your application. These file components are same for juridical persons and individuals, once an industrial fishing approval has been granted.

1. An application stamped at the current rate;
2. certified true copy of the approval to exploit industrial fisheries resources;
3. receipt of payment of the tax relating to the issue of the approval;
4. type and quantity of fishing gear; as well as any other information that the administrative body in charge of fisheries may require on the characteristics of the vessel;
5. copy of the boat’s technical documents, giving details of its identification, technical characteristics, date of construction, crew and equipment;
6. list of fishery resources to be fished by the boat;
7. valid certificate of seaworthiness issued by the Minister responsible for the Merchant shipping;
8. certificate of non-conviction less than three months old in the name of the owner of the boat if the applicant is an individual;
9. five-year recruitment and training programme for sea fishermen where the applicant is a legal entity;
10. declaration on stamped paper at the current rate certifying that the applicant will cooperate with the administrative body responsible for fisheries to monitor the proper management of fish stocks, to accept on board a scientific observer at his own expense; undertakes to land all of its catches before they are exported;

Processing an application for a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate in Cameroon?

After making sure all necessary components are included in your application, tender your application files hierarchically via the relevant MINEPIA delegations to the Minister, in Yaoundé. When these application files get to Minister (duration may vary depending on how close you are to Yaounde), they are forwarded to MINEPIA’s Service of Industrial Fishing located at Mvog-betsi, Yaounde, for processing.

MINEPIA’s Service of Industrial Fishing checks the file components for authenticity of certified documents, any irregularities, compliance with fisheries regulations in force, and veracity of the information provided in them. If all necessary file components are included and valid, an inspection certificate is elaborated and forwarded back hierarchically up to the Minister for his signature. Once submitted at the Cameroon’s ministry in charge of fishing (MINEPIA) processing averagely takes seven (07) days, after which it can be withdrawn following notification. A Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate is titled ‘Certificat d’inspection des navires de pêche’ in French, translated as ‘Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate.’

FAQs on Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate

Who initiates the procedure to obtain a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate in Cameroon?

The individual or legal person wiling to have a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate is the initiator of the procedure.

Where should the compiled application file for a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate be dropped?

The compiled application file for a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate should be submitted at the closest MINEPIA delegation. It will then be forwarded hierarchically to the Minister in charge of fisheries.

Who signs a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate in Cameroon?

A Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate is signed by only the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA).

How long does it take a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate to be issued after all needed documents have been submitted at MINEPIA?

All file components being compliant, the application file will be processed. This processing averagely takes thirty (30) days, after which it can be withdrawn following notification.

How many vessel inspection certificates can a ship owner have in Cameroon?

Once registered (flagged) under the Cameroon flag, a ship owner can hold as many vessel inspection certificates as the number of seagoing vessels he/she owns.

Where can one withdraw the issued vessel inspection certificate?

All vessel inspection certificates can be withdrawn at MINEPIA’s mail service once they are issued.

How does a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate look like?

An industrial fishing licence is a certificate titled ‘Certificat d’inspection des navires de pêche’ in French, translated as ‘Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate.’

what is the validity of a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate in Cameroon?

A Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate is valid for as long as the fishing licence is valid.

How much is a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate in Cameroon?

Applying for a Fishing Vessel Inspection Certificate will incur:

• some document certification fees (a fiscal stamp costs 1500 CFA francs as at now);
• vessel inspection fees;
• cost of certificate of non-conviction: about 3100 CFA francs i.e. 1 fiscal stamp (1500 CFA francs) for the application, 1 fiscal stamp (1500 CFA francs) for the certificate of non-conviction, and 100 francs for research fee.
• receipt of payment of registration fees for your fishing company;

Apart from document certification fees, no extra fees are to be paid upon submitting your application file.