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Two experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led week-long discussions with the National Authority for Aquatic Resources in Panama City, in Panama, under a project funded by the European Union to support the implementation of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) and complementary international instruments. The mission took place between 23 – 27 September 2024.

During this week, FAO experts conducted a general review of the legal aspects of the regulation on transshipments and Panama’s observer programme, which will start being implemented between October 2024 and January 2025. FAO experts also commented on the draft regulation covering several technical measures, guidelines and prohibitions of fisheries exploited in the waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Panama, including traceability aspects. FAO experts advised on several drafts for future regulations on matters such as Panama’s observer programme, the applicable standards to regulate transshipment activities, possible conservation and management measures for some domestic fisheries and the fundamental principles to build a fisheries traceability system.

FAO experts suggested changes to Panama’s regulations. They made proposals for consideration by the local authorities, as well as legal guidelines covering other areas of fisheries governance for the country to better implement its national legislation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It is expected that FAO will continue to assist Panama for the country to strengthen its domestic legal and policy framework against IUU fishing.