Article 1.　This Law has as its purpose to adjust the construction of fishing vessels, to establish the system of registration and examination of fishing vessels and to carry out experiment on fishing vessels and thereby to improve their capacity and to make contribution to rational development of the fisheries productivity.

Article 2.　"Fishing vessel" as used in this Law shall mean a Japanese vessel which comes under any of the following items:

2　"Powered fishing vessel" as used in this Law shall mean a fishing vessel equipped with propulsion engine.

3　"Conversion" as used in this Law shall mean an operation to carry out alteration of the length, breadth or depth of a vessel or new installation of propulsion engine or alteration of the type or output thereof, or alteration in the structures or equipments of a vessel for the purpose of changing its use or type of fisheries operated thereby.

Article 3.　Any person who intends to construct any powered fishing vessel as specified in any of the following items or convert any vessel to a powered fishing vessel as specified in any of the following items through shipbuilders or other persons, shall obtain permission therefor, if the powered fishing vessel comes under item (1) or item (2), from the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and, if the powered fishing vessel comes under item (3), from the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture who exercises jurisdiction over its main home port (in case of conversion, its main home port after conversion). The same shall apply in the case where change of use of a vessel other than powered fishing vessel to any powered fishing vessel as specified in the following items is intended without operating its conversion:

2　Besides the cases mentioned in the preceding paragraph, any person who intends to construct any powered fishing vessel as specified in each item of the same paragraph or to convert a vessel to any powered fishing vessel as specified in each item of the same paragraph shall be the same as in the same paragraph.

3　Any person who intends to obtain the permission mentioned in the preceding two paragraphs shall file with the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture concerned an application stating the following matters:

4　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may cause the applicant mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2 to submit any plan, specifications or other documents necessary for the permission mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2.

5　In cases where the application mentioned in paragraph 3 has been filed, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture concerned shall, within two months after the receipt of the application, excluding the period required for the inquiry made relative to the permission mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2, give the applicant a notification of the result of his application.

6　In cases where the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture has granted the permission mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2, he shall make report thereon to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

7　In cases where any person who was granted the permission mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2 intends to alter any of the matters as specified in items (3) to (8) inclusive of paragraph 3 relating to the construction, conversion or change of use permitted, he shall obtain permission for such alteration from the administrative office which has granted such permission.

8　The provisions of paragraphs 4 to 6 inclusive shall apply with the necessary modifications to the case mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

9　In cases where any person who was granted the permission mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2 has carried out any alteration in any of the matters as specified in paragraph 3 items (1), (2) and (9) to (11) incusive relating to the construction, conversion or change of use permitted, he shall give notice thereof without delay to the administrative office which has granted such permission.

Article 4.　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture shall, except for the cases coming under any of the following items, grant the permission mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2 of the preceding Article:

Article 5.　In cases where it comes under any of the following items, any permission mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1 or 2 shall lose its effect:

2　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may, under inevitable circumstances, prolong the periods of time mentioned in items (1) to (3) inclusive of the preceding paragraph, by the application of any person who has obtained the permission mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1 or 2.

Article 6.　In cases where any person who obtained the permission mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1 or 2 has violated the provision of paragraph 7 of the same Article, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may cancel the permission.

2　In cases where the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture intends to carry out the cancellation as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, he shall give the person concerned a previous notice thereof through document stating the reason for the cancellation as well as the date and place of the hearing to be held and give the said person or his proxy the opportunity to explain himself at the public hearing and produce favorable evidence.

Article 7.　Any person who obtained the permission mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1 or 2 shall, as provided for by Ministerial Ordinance, make report to the administrative office from which the permission was obtained, upon the situations of works for the construction or conversion, or the commencement of use by the change of use permitted.

Article 8.　With regard to any construction and conversion of fishing vessels and any conversion of vessels to fishing vessels, any permission of the Minister of Transportation as prescribed in the Ordinance issued under the provision of Article 8 of the Temporary Vessel Control Law (Law No.93 of 1937) shall not be needed. However, this shall not apply to any fishing vessel as specified in the following items:

Article 9.　No owner of a fishing vessel shall use his fishing vessel as a fishing vessel unless he has got it registered in the Fishing Vessels Registry which is kept by the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture who exercises jurisdiction over the main home port of his fishing vessel.

2　Any person who intends to have the registration as mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall file with the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture concerned an application stating the following matters:

3　The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may cause any applicant mentioned in the preceding paragraph to submit writings testifying the permission mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1 or 2 (including the permission for the alteration mentioned in paragraph 7 of the same Article), or other documents necessary for the registration.

Article 10.　The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture shall, except for the cases coming under any of the following items, conduct the registration mentioned in paragraph 1 of the preceding Article:

Article 11.　In cases where the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture has carried out the registration mentioned in Article 9 paragraph 1, he shall deliver a registration card to the applicant.

2　In cases where any person who has been delivered the registration card as prescribed in the preceding paragraph is not the operator of the fishing vessel, he shall transfer the registration card to the operator without delay.

Article 12.　In cases where any operator of a fishing vessel operates his fishing vessel or operates fisheries by his fishing vessel, he shall keep the registration card mentioned in the preceding Article on board. However, this, shall not apply in the cases where there are justifiable reasons as provided for by Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 13.　In cases where any owner of a fishing vessel has been delivered a registration card in accordance with the provision of Article 11 paragraph 1, he shall, except for the cases mentioned in paragraph 2 of the same Article, mark the registration number stated in the registration card on his fishing vessel without delay. The same shall apply to any operator of a fishing vessel who has been delivered a registration card in accordance with the provision of the same paragraph.

Article 14.　In cases where any owner of a fishing vessel who got the registration mentioned in Article 9 paragraph 1 has made any alteration in the matters as specified in paragraph 2 items (1) to (4) inclusive and items (8) to (13) inclusive of the same Article relating to his fishing vessel, he shall file with the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture who conducted the registration an application for registration of the alteration stating the reasons for such alteration within two weeks following the day on which the alteration was made (in the case of paragraph 2, the day on which the notice mentioned in the same paragraph was received).

2　In cases where any owner of a fishing vessel who got the registration mentioned in Article 9 paragraph 1 is not the operator of the fishing vessel, if the operator of the fishing vessel has made any alteration in the matters as specified in paragraph 2 items (8) to (13) inclusive of the same Article, he shall give notice thereof to the owner without delay.

3　In cases where the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture has received the application mentioned in paragraph 1, he shall, except for the cases mentioned in each item of Article 10, register the alteration in the Fishing Vessels Registry and at the same time deliver a rewritten registration cards.

Article 15.　The registration of any fishing vessel shall be annulled in the following cases:

2　In the case of item (6) of the preceding paragraph, in cases where any inheritor or any juridical person established by amalgamation or any juridical person existing after amalgamation has filed an application for registration in accordance with the provision of Article 9 within one month following the death or dissolution, the registration for the deceased or the juridical person dissolved by amalgamation or the registration card delivered to such person shall remain effective and at the same time the registration and registration card shall be deemed to have been carried out or delivered for the applicant until the time when any disposition for the registration applied for has been decided.

Article 16.　In cases where any fishing vessel registered in accordance with the provision of Article 9 paragraph 1 has been converted in contravention of the provision of Article 3 or is deemed to have become unfit for a fishing vessel because of its superannuation or damage, the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may cancel the registration of the fishing vessel. In this case, the provision of Article 6 paragraph 2 shall apply with the necessary modifications thereto.

Article 17.　In cases where any fishing vessel comes under any of the following items, the owner thereof shall return without delay the registration card to the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture by whom it was delivered. However, in cases where there is any justifiable reason for the impracticability of returning the registration card and it has been given notice thereof to the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture stating the reason, the registration card shall not be needed to be returned:

2　In cases where the owner of a fishing vessel is not the operator thereof, if the fishing vessel comes under any of the items of the preceding paragraph, the operator shall return the registration card without delay to the owner.

3　In cases where any fishing vessel comes under any of the items of paragraph 1, the owner of the fishing vessel (in cases where the owner of the fishing vessel is not the operator thereof, the operator) shall erase without delay the registration number marked upon the fishing vessel in accordance with the provision of Article 13.

Article 18.　Any person may request the Governor or To, Do, Fu or prefecture to deliver a transcript of registration of fishing vessels.

Article 19.　Any person who is specified in the left column of the following table shall pay the nominal petty fees as determined by Ministerial Ordinance within the extent of amount of money as specified in the right column of the same table:

Article 20.　With regard to any fishing vessel, the Ordinance issued under the provision of Article 21 of the Ships Law (Law No.46 of 1899)(excluding the part relative to measurement of tonnage of ships) shall not apply thereto.

Article 21.　Matters necessary for registration of fshing vessels other than those provided for by this Law shall be determined by Ministerial Ordinance.

Article 22.　In cases where the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry is applied by any owner of a fishing vessel (including any person who has been granted permission mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1 or 2) to carry out an examination for the following matters relating to the fishing vessel, he shall conduct the examination at the time determined by Ministerial Ordinance during its designing and construction as well as at the time of the completion of its construction and conversion:

2　Regardless of the provision of the preceding paragraph, the examination at the time of its designing and in the course of its construction may not be needed if otherwise provided for by Ministerial Ordinance.

3　At the examination mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article, the design, materials, works and capacity of these things shall be examined whether they come up to the technical standards determined by Ministerial Ordinance or not.

4　In cases where the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry determines the technical standards mentioned in the preceding paragraph, he shall hear the opinion of the Central Fisheries Adjustment Council therefor.

Article 23.　Upon the examination at the time of completion of construction or conversion mentioned in paragraph 1 of the preceding Article or the examination relatingto all the matters as specified in the same paragraph, in cases where the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry considers that they come up to the technical standards mentioned in paragraph 3 of the same Article, he shall deliver the applicant a pass certificate testifying that they have passed the examination, and in cases where he considers that they do not come up to the technical standards, he shall deliver the applicant a document stating the results of the examination and necessary recommendation for their improvements.

Article 24.　Any person who intends to have the examination as specified in the provision of Article 22 paragraph 1 shall pay the nominal petty fees as determined by Ministerial Ordinance within the extent of the expenses required for the examination.

Article 25.　Any person may request the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry to make designs or to conduct experiments on fishing vessel, engine for fishing vessel, machinery for fishing vessel and other facilities for fishing vessel (hereinafter referred to as "fishing vessel and others" in this Chapter).

Article 26.　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry shall, for the purpose of contributing to the improvement and development of fishing vessels, determine model designs of fishing vessels and others and make them public.

Article 27.　Any person who is not satisfied with any disposition (excluding any disposition of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry as prescribed in Article 6) relating to construction, conversion, or change of use of any powered fishing vessel as specified in Article 3 paragraph 1 or registration of fishing vessels may institute a petition to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

2　In cases where the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry intends to give decision for any petition mentioned in the preceding paragraph, he shall give the petitioner a previous notice of the date and place of a public hearing through document and give him or his proxy the opportunity to explain himself at the public hearing and produce favorable evidence.

Article 28.　In cases where the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture deems it necessary to do so for the purpose of enforcement of the provisions of Chapter II and Chapter III, he may cause his officials concerned to enter any office of owners or custodians of fishing vessels, any place of works for construction or conversion of fishing vessels, any place where engines and machinery for fishing vessels or other facilities for fishing vessels are being manufactured or any fishing vessels (including vessels under construction or conversion whose permission is granted under the provision of Article 3 paragraph 1 or 2, or vessels before conversion or change of use whose permission is being applied for;hereinafter the same in this Article) and to inspect the fishing vessels, the engines and machinery for fishing vessels or other facilities for fishing vessels, or the registration cards or other documents.

2　Any official who conducts the entrance and inspection in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph shall carry with him a card indentifying his status and show it to any person concerned at any time when requested.

3　Any entrance and inspection mentioned in paragraph 1 shall not be construed as an action authorized for search of crimes.

Article 29.　Any person who has violated the provision of Article 3 paragraphs 1, 2 or 7, Article 9 paragraph 1 shall be punished with a penal servitude for a period not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding thirty thousand yen (\30,000).

Article 30.　Any person who comes under any of the following items shall be punished with a fine not exceeding ten thousand yen (\10,000):

Article 31.　In cases where any representative of a juridical person, or any agent, employee or other worker of a juridical person or individual has, relevant to the business affairs of the juridical person or individual, committed any violation mentioned in the preceding two Articles, if the juridical person or individual has known the plan of such violation and has not taken necessary measures to prevent the violation, or has known the violation and has not taken necessary measures to correct it, or has instigated the violation, not only shall such violator be punished, but the juridical person or individual shall be fined in accordance with the provision of any of these Articles.