Is there any other way? Port State jurisdiction as an alternative to the mandatory reflagging of deep water fishing vessels in New Zealand's EEZ

This paper examines the recent changes in New Zealand to require fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters to be exclusively New Zealand flagged ships, rather than foreign charter vessels as has been practiced to date. Drawing on scholarship regarding the increase in States using measures of port State jurisdiction to regulate foreign vessels throughout zones both in and outside their jurisdiction, the paper asks the question; can a State regulate foreign fishing vessels in its EEZ in a manner consistent with its ability to regulate its own vessels? After establishing the scope of jurisdiction a State holds over vessels in its respective maritime zones (including its ports), this paper goes on to examine the cases of abuse, substandard vessel conditions, and underpayment of workers highlighted on foreign fishing vessels in New Zealand and their possible regulation. The paper ultimately concludes that the application of port State jurisdiction is limited in its ability to regulate foreign EEZ fishing vessels. While some aspects of foreign vessel operation in the EEZ can be regulated to the same extent as domestic vessels, the nature of some offences on board foreign fishing vessels leaves them beyond the jurisdiction of the coastal State.