A flag of convenience is a flag that does not represent the country to which the vessel belongs. Some countries are attractive as flag states for foreign vessels since their registration fees are cheaper, cheap labour is permitted and taxes are either low or non-existent. Moreover the "FOC countries" ignore national and international fisheries, commercial or environmental laws. These FOC vessels are a permanent danger as they violate rules for fisheries conservation and regulations and standards concerning management, safety and labour.
(EU - DG Fisheries, October 2007)
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