According to the report FAO has opened for signature the “Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.” It is told that the Agreement breaks new ground as the first global, legally-binding instrument that is specifically designed to address IUU fishing through actions by port States.
The main aim of the Agreement is to make IUU fishing more costly and more risky for those who continue to undermine effective fisheries management. By recognizing the key role that port States play in the movement of IUU fish around the world, and the necessity for international cooperation and information sharing to address this global issue, the Agreement represents a significant step forward in the global effort to combat IUU fishing.
This Agreement is said to allow more powers to States and other entities to take strict measures to strengthen their ports against IUU fishers and to enhance port state measures through flag State control. Delegates of 91 FAO member countries concluded two years of negotiations on the Agreement last August. The Agreement was concluded under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution and was formally adopted by the FAO Conference. It is now open for signature and will enter into force 30 days after the 25 th ratification is received by the Director-General of the FAO.
The Agreement has already signed by many countries like Angola, Brazil, Chile, the European Community, Japan, Indonesia, Norway, Samoa, the United States, and Uruguay.
