Solutions and partnerships to promote sustainable fishing and strengthen implementation of international instruments to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing
With Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development", the international community has recognized the vital role that the ocean plays for food security and nutrition, economic development and livelihoods in the fishing sector and in coastal communities.
The ecological, economic and social impact caused by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is reflected in SDG 14 in two targets that would have to be achieved by 2020: in target 14.4 which, among others, aims to effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, IUU fishing and destructive fishing practices; and in target 14.6 which, among others, aims to eliminate subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing.
The United Nations and its specialized agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), are responsible for binding and non-binding international instruments that contribute to achieving these targets. The framework of international instruments and tools governing fisheries has been emerging in recent decades and lays out the responsibilities of States, regional fisheries management organizations and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of living marine resources, maintaining their diversity and availability for present and future generations, including by preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing.
These instruments are based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Among the legally binding instruments, the FAO Agreement on Port States Measures (PSMA) is the first to specifically target IUU fishing by closing ports to foreign flagged vessels that have been engaged in IUU fishing activities and by keeping IUU caught fish out of the markets. To date, there are 71 Parties to the Agreement, including the European Union with its 27 Member States.
On the occasion of the United Nations Ocean Conference, a side event is being organised to showcase solutions and to discuss ways to further strengthen the effective implementation of the PSMA and complementary international instruments to combat IUU fishing.
The discussion will be opened with four inputs highlighting challenges and solutions with speakers from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Ending Illegal Fishing Project, a country that has strengthened its capacity to effectively fulfil its international obligations as a flag, port, coastal and market State to combat IUU fishing and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).
More information is available here.