Inter-regional workshop on the implementation of the PSMA and complementary instruments held in Lisbon
A workshop with representatives of the Member States of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) took place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 10 to 12 December following the delivery of the FAO international course on fisheries port inspections in support of the Agreement on Port State Measures.
Organised by FAO and CPLP, the workshop was attended by the focal points of Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, and Timor-Leste, designated under the Instrument for the Establishment of the Network for Cooperation in Promoting Sustainable Fisheries and Combating IUU Fishing among the Member States of the CPLP which was signed, and entered into force in 2022.
The workshop provided for an exchange of experiences on the successes and challenges of implementing the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) and complementary international instruments to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing at national level and the participation in relevant international and regional initiatives, capacity development, exchange of information and dialogue between representatives of CPLP member states. It strengthened international cooperation and that within regional fisheries management organisations, as well as interregional cooperation and coordination in the implementation of the cooperation network.
Delegates agreed on a roadmap for the elaboration of the Biennial Action Plan with the identification of the actions to be developed and the means necessary for their implementation - the review and harmonization of political, legal and institutional frameworks, the review and harmonization of monitoring, control and surveillance, capacity building and the strengthening of technical and operational resources to promote sustainable fishing and prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing.
The workshop was developed under FAO’s project Technical support to catalyse the implementation of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures.