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1. Member States shall, as soon as possible, initiate an investigation on the activities of fishing vessels flying their flag which have been sighted in accordance with Article 49.

2. Member States shall notify, where possible by electronic means, to the Commission or the body designated by it the details of the initiation of the investigation and of any action taken or intended in respect of the sighted fishing vessels flying their flag, as soon as practicable and in any case within two months of the notification of the sighting report pursuant to Article 48(4). Reports on the progress of the investigations on the activities of the sighted fishing vessel shall be provided to the Commission or to the body designated by it at appropriate regular intervals. A final report on the outcome when the investigations are completed shall be provided to the Commission or to the body designated by it.

3. Member States other than the flag Member State concerned shall, where appropriate, verify whether the sighted fishing vessels reported have carried out activities in maritime waters under their jurisdiction or if fisheries products stemming from those vessels have been landed or imported into their territory and shall investigate their record of compliance with relevant conservation and management measures. Member States shall notify without delay to the Commission, or to the body designated by it, and to the flag Member State concerned the outcome of their verifications and investigations.

4. The Commission or the body designated by it shall communicate to all the Member States the information received in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3.

5. This Article shall apply without prejudice to the provisions of Chapter V of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 and to the provisions adopted by regional fisheries management organisations to which the Community is a contracting party.