Ending Illegal Fishing Internationally

It is estimated that about one-fifth of all fish taken from our oceans have been fished illegally or lack any management. Illegal fisheries undermine management efforts to control overfishing and pose a major threat to the health of fish stocks and other ocean life. Illegal fisheries also undermine the livelihoods of coastal communities. The coastal waters and the high seas of developing countries both fall victim to internationally operating companies that fish illegally. At the same time fishing nations and port States find it difficult to share information, and cooperate to track violators and enforce regulations. The result is widespread illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

Port states are coastal countries with harbors and seaports, where fishing vessels dock to offload or transship their catches. Flag states are countries that provide the right to fly their flag to commercial ships operating at sea, including fishing boats. Any vessel that sails under the flag of a country must abide by that country’s laws and regulations.

Port State measures are a cost-effective mechanism to complement flag state responsibility to identify and penalize illegal operators. As a first step in August 2009, 91 countries finalized the text of the “Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing”. This internationally binding United Nations agreement establishes the duty of port states to inspect fishing boats and to deny access to illegally operating vessels. Pew Environment Group aims to support the fast ratification and implementation of the agreement as essential contribution to ensure a sustainable future for our oceans.

To ensure fast and effective implementation of the Port State Agreement, Pew seeks:

• The provisional application of key provisions of the treaty by port States, and the adoption of such provisions in the framework of regional fisheries management organizations.
• The development of guidelines to assist port States in the implementation of the Port State Agreement.
• The creation of an information sharing mechanism to exchange data on port State measures and vessel information to effectively track illegal operators. 
• The creation of a capacity building mechanisms to allow developing countries to effectively implement the treaty.
• An obligation for all vessels operating internationally to adopt a Unique Vessel Identification to prevent illegal operators to disguise their vessels.

Pew will continue to assist in efforts by national and international bodies, including fisheries management organizations, to create a global fishing record, create minimum standards for flag states, and adopt market legislation to eliminate the trade in illegally caught fish.

For more information, see www.PortStatePerformance.org.