Saudi Arabia and Ukraine become Parties to the PSMA

18/03/2025

Saudi Arabia and Ukraine are the latest FAO Members to become a Party to the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA).

The Agreement entered into force for Saudi Arabia on 5 February 2025 and for Ukraine on 12 March 2025, 30 days after the deposit of their instrument of accession with the Director-General of FAO as the Depositary for the PSMA.

The latest accessions to the PSMA now take the number of PSMA Parties to 81. This includes the European Union which acts as one Party on behalf of its Member States. Effectively, the number of States that are now bound by the Agreement has risen to 107. The PSMA entered into force in 2016 with 25 Parties.

The PSMA is the most cost-effective means for States to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It sets minimum standards for Parties to follow to restrict fish caught through IUU fishing from entering the national or international markets.

FAO encourages remaining States to become a Party to the PSMA by depositing their instrument of accession, adherence or acceptance with the FAO Director-General. More information on how a State can become a Party is available here. FAO stands ready to provide support as required through [email protected].

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Map source: United Nations Geospatial. 2020. Map geodata [shapefiles]. New York, USA, United Nations, modified by the authors.

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. Final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined.