At the recent FAO conference in Madagascar, the new international port state agreement was adopted and is now open for signatures.
The “Binding International Agreement on Port State Control Measures to Combat, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing” must be ratified by twenty five states for it to enter in to force.
In August, delegates from 60 countries agreed on the text, paving the way for a new binding agreement on port state measures, which could be a milestone in the evolving fight against IUU fishing. As ports are within the territory of sovereign states, the agreement sets minimum standards for how all port states need to exercise their existing powers, thus increasing the difficulties for those involved in IUU fishing to benefit from using their ports.
Under the agreement, not only are fishing vessels covered, but also support vessels such as reefers, resupply and refuelling vessels, as well as containers for fish and fish products in trade. These other vessels are often used in the transhipment of IUU catch as a means of concealing landings.
All living marine resources are included under the agreement, within which fishing vessels can be denied port access as well as the use of port services. All vessels are subject to an inspection regime.
Better collaboration between port states is to be enabled by an information system that helps port states to report with one another. This forms part of the broader strategy of the Global Record of fishing vessels that is being developed elsewhere with FAO. It is hoped that this combination of sanctions and collaboration will help to close some of the loopholes that can be easily exploited by criminal elements within the fisheries industry.