Brussels, 03/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 3 June, the European Commission welcomed the coming into force from 5 June of the international treaty on port state measures that seek to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Port State Measures Agreement, adopted and promoted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), allows countries to keep illegal operators out of their ports and to prevent them from landing illegal catches.
Karmenu Vella, European Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner, hailed the coming into force of the agreement: “We now have a powerful instrument that will help fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing at European and at global level. This is a significant improvement to international ocean governance”. The Commission says that the EU has always played a leading role in the fight against IUU fishing activities and was among the first to approve this major international agreement in 2011. IUU fishing is worth up to €10 billion a year, 15% of the global seafood market.
The agreement ensures better control of what happens in ports and is a key tool to prevent IUU fish from entering the market. It sends a clear message: when it comes to illegal fishing, we will not turn a blind eye, the Commission says.
The Port State Measures Agreement was originally adopted by the FAO in November 2009. It will come into force on 5 June 2016, 30 days after the 25th ratification. It requires that countries officially designate ports for use by foreign fishing vessels. These vessels should send prior notifications to enter designated ports and provide port authorities with information, including on the catches they have on board. The Agreement also calls on countries to deny entry or inspect vessels that have been involved in IUU fishing and to take appropriate action. The exchange of information between coastal and flag states will also improve significantly. Several additional countries are expected to ratify the agreement in the forthcoming months.
To date, 29 countries and the EU (who have signed as one single party) have signed the agreement. The parties account for more than 62% of fish imports worldwide and 49% of exports, totalling to more than €119.18 billion and €124.56 billion respectively in 2013. FAO estimates that each year, IUU fishing adds catches amounting to 26 million tonnes, with a value reaching €20.61 billion. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)