Licenses

Licenses to fish in the Licensing Area, to be issued by the Administrator in accordance with the Treaty, may be requested from the Secretary by operators of vessels, under procedures established by the Secretary. The license application shall designate an agent for the service of legal process to be located in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The applicant shall ensure that the designated agent for service of process, acting on behalf of the license holder, will receive and respond to any legal process issued in accordance with the Treaty and will, within 21 days after notification, travel if necessary for this purpose to any Pacific Island Party at no expense to that Party. In accordance with subsection (e), and except as provided in subsection (f), the Secretary shall forward a vessel license application to the Administrator whenever such application is in accordance with application procedures established by the Secretary. Fees required under the Treaty shall be paid in accordance with the Treaty and any procedures established by the Secretary. Licenses shall be valid for the licensing period specified by the Administrator. The Secretary may establish a system of allocating licenses in the event more applications are received than there are licenses available. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may determine that a license application should not be forwarded to the Administrator if— the owner or charterer— Notwithstanding the requirements of—