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In collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) facilitated an in-country training workshop in Kenya on the coordinated implementation of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing (PSMA), the IMO Cape Town Agreement on Fishing Vessel Safety (CTA), and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention No. 188.

The workshop built on work started in November 2024. It was held in Mombasa, from 03-12 September, and was funded by Germany through its Port State Measures Support Project.

Officers from the two national competent authorities responsible for these instruments – the Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS) and the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and assigned to a national Coordination Committee – met to consider these instruments and agree a way forward on their coordinated implementation.

The participants discussed similarities and differences between the three instruments and key aspects of inspection planning and preparation, execution and follow-up. These discussions set the scene for the subsequent drafting of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two agencies and the identification and development of relevant standard operating procedures through which to implement the MOU.

As a key output of the workshop, participants also developed a set of critical indicators for the three instruments as an operational tool in the context of information exchange. A field visit was made to the Shimoni fishing port development for participants to appreciate the fisheries and maritime related challenges associated with this facility.

Technical specialists from FAO, IMO and ILO participated to facilitate and provide steering and technical support where necessary.