FAO and NOAA review MCS systems and procedures in Trinidad and Tobago
FAO and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement of the United States of America (USA) undertook a mission to Trinidad and Tobago from 11 to 18 August 2019 to review the country’s existing fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems and procedures.
The mission also aimed to assess potential ports to be designated for foreign vessels used for fishing or in support of fishing activities, in compliance with the requirements of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA).
This mission was a follow-up to a needs assessment workshop carried out in September 2018, and was funded by the USA through their contributions to FAO’s Global Programme to support the implementation of the PSMA and complementary international instruments, with a project focusing on the Caribbean (Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago).
The mission found the need to clarify the roles and responsibilities of relevant national agencies in the implementation of the PSMA, to develop standard operating procedures and tools for effective information-sharing and cooperation amongst the agencies, and to introduce clear procedures for the authorization, denial of entry into port and inspection in port, of foreign flagged fishing vessels.
The recommendations from the mission will serve to guide further support and initiatives from FAO and NOAA in the country, which will become ever more pertinent as the country gears up to adhere to the PSMA.