Global action to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has intensified, the Food and Agriculture Organization said on Monday, noting that 100 States have now signed on to an international agreement battling the scourge.
The Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) is the first internationally binding instrument specifically designed to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing by denying port access to foreign vessels that engage in or support such practices.
“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”, said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General.
One in every five fish caught around the world each year is estimated to originate from IUU fishing.
This not only triggers devastating impacts on the sustainability of fisheries and the livelihoods of those who depend on them but also on the conservation of marine ecosystems.
IUU fishing undermines national, regional, and global efforts to achieve sustainable fisheries and its elimination is key to succeeding in reaching the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).