The global fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing reaches a new milestone
©FAO/Veejay VillafrancaGlobal action to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has intensified as 100 States have now committed to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA).
The PSMA is the first binding international agreement specifically designed to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing by denying port access and use to foreign vessels engaging in or supporting such fishing.
Angola, Eritrea, Morocco and Nigeria are the latest countries to back the PSMA. Now 60 percent of port States globally, are committed to the agreement, which is a binding international instrument to combat IUU fishing.
“Rising consumer demand and transforming agrifood systems in fisheries and aquaculture have driven global fish production to its highest levels and there is broad recognition of the need to step up the fight against IUU fishing” says QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General. “It is encouraging to see more States support the PSMA in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.”