The Port State Measures Agreement “marks the beginning of a new era in the fight against illegal fishing,” but it is necessary to act quickly to ensure that its implementation is effective, yesterday ensured FAO director general Jose Graziano da Silva, in an event centred on the first international treaty in the world specifically aimed at combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“FAO is working to provide immediate aid to the countries that need it most,” stated Graziano da Silva.
He explained that the implementation of the PSMA may be difficult for some countries, especially the developing countries and small island States due to lack of resources and capacity.
The PSMA became legally binding last month and now has membership of more than 30 countries and the European Union on behalf of its 28 member states. There are more countries that have begun the adhesion process.
The Agreement has an article that explicitly requires the signatory parties and international organizations to provide assistance and funding. The Republic of Korea has already confirmed it will make a financial contribution, initiative which will also be followed by other countries, according to Graziano da Silva.
FAO has established an inter-regional Technical Cooperation Program and a Development Framework Program having global capacity to support logistics, legislative and legal aspects involved in taking the agreement into practice.
The Port State Measure Agreement, promoted by FAO since 2009, requires foreign vessels to be subject to inspections at any port of call and port States to share information on violations. This is an improvement over previous standards, requiring countries to monitor the activities of their own fishing fleets. The new Agreement aims to increase IUU fishing expenses, as it prevents the illegally caught fish from being landed and entering the markets.
“Future generations will recognize the importance of this achievement, which is also their achievement,” stressed Graziano da Silva at the awards ceremony to representatives of the signatory countries of the treaty.
“For Africa, the fish is as strategic as corn. Overfishing is a threat to sustainable food security”, the President of the Republic of Guinea, Alpha Condé, said on his part when vigorously defending the importance of fisheries for African countries. Condé pledged to campaign across the continent in favour of PSMA and in defense of local fishing communities.
More than half of all fish exports come from developing countries, highlighting the importance in terms of revenue that sustainable management practices have.
It is estimated that each year, IUU fishing adds catches of about 26 million tonnes, with a value reaching USD 23 billion. Illegal fishing threatens not only marine ecosystems, but also the livelihoods and food security of millions of fishermen from around the world, warned FAO head.
Graziano da Silva and Conde’s interventions, accompanied by ministers and officials representing the parties that have joined the treaty, were produced in the context of the annual meeting of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, which began today in Rome.
FAO Director General stressed that while the PSMA is a “powerful and affordable tool” to combat illegal fishing, it must be accompanied by other measures, so he expressed hope that the momentum generated by its entry into force encourages greater collaboration.
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