The new treaty requires that parties designate specific ports for use by foreign vessels, making control easier. Those ships must request permission to enter ports ahead of time, and provide local authorities with information, including on the fish they have on board. The ships must also allow inspection of their log book, licences, fishing gear and actual cargo, among other things, FAO said.
The agreement calls on countries to deny entry or inspect vessels that have been involved in illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, and to take necessary action.
To support this, the agreement also includes the obligation for parties to share information regionally and globally, regarding any vessels discovered to be involved in such fishing.
The agreement applies to any use of a port, so even vessels that are just refuelling will have to comply with inspection requirements, FAO said.
“Preventing unscrupulous fishers from landing their ill-gotten hauls makes it much harder for such catches to enter national and international markets,” FAO stressed.
Support for implementation
In some cases, developing coastal countries and small island developing States, which often host some of the world’s most attractive fishing areas, face difficulties in implementing the agreement, the agency said.
Accordingly, FAO said it has invested substantially in capacity-building projects to support the application of port state measures.
FAO added that it is launching a series of national, regional and inter-regional initiatives, including a global programme on capacity development for implementation of the agreement.
The following States and regional economic integration organizations are Parties to the agreement: Australia, Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, European Union – Member Organization, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palau, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, United States, Uruguay and Vanuatu.