The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life.
Learn more about our related campaigns: International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)Protect Bluefin Tuna GloballyShark ConservationStop Surface Longlining in the Gulf of Mexico
It is estimated that about one-fifth of all fish taken from our oceans have been fished illegally or lack any management. Illegal fishing undermines management efforts to control overfishing and poses a major threat to the health of fish stocks and other ocean life. Illegal fishing also undermines the livelihoods of coastal communities. The coastal waters and the high seas of developing countries are both victim to companies that fish illegally and can operate internationally. At the same time, fishing nations and port States have difficulties sharing information, and cooperating to track violators and enforce regulations. The result is widespread illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Flag states (the countries that provide the right to fly their flag to commercial ships operating at sea, including fishing vessels) have the primary responsibility to control the activities of their vessels. However, they do not always do so effectively and as a result IUU vessels flying their flags may carry on their activities unhindered. To address this situation, other measures need to be put in place.
Port State measures are a cost-effective mechanism to complement flag state responsibility. In November 2009, the Conference of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization adopted the “Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing”, and 15 countries and the European Union have since signed it. The Agreement needs 25 signatories to ratify it to take effect. Those 16 that have signed have indicated their “good faith” intention to ratify the Agreement and we hope that they act quickly to do so, at the same time as other countries both sign and ratify the Agreement so that it can enter into force. This internationally binding United Nations agreement establishes the duty of port states to inspect fishing boats and to deny port entry to illegally operating vessels. The Pew Environment Group aims to support the fast ratification and implementation of the agreement as an essential contribution to combating IUU fishing and ensuring a sustainable future for marine life across our oceans.
To ensure fast and effective implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement, the Pew Environment Group seeks:
The Pew Environment Group will continue to assist in efforts by national and international bodies, including Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, to create a global record of fishing vessels, and create minimum standards for flag state responsibility.
For more information, see www.PortStatePerformance.org.
Contact person: Elsa Lee
Jun 21, 2010 - Detailed methodology on how to undertake a capacity needs assessment for the implementation of port state measures in developing countries. The final report shall be released on July 20, 2010.
Read: Summary View: Full Report (Adobe PDF)
May 26, 2010 - A comparison of RFMO port state measures with the FAO agreement on port State measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
May 26, 2010 - The current system of port State control lacks transparency, accountability and the global reach to punish fishers who are illegally emptying our oceans.
May 26, 2010 - The Pew Environment Group has undertaken the first comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of current port State measures and the implementation challenges that port States face. The study also assesses the central role that Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) play in the process. The research focuses on port State measures directed specifically at vessels on the IUU-vessel lists adopted by RFMOs - vessels that have been found to engage in or support IUU fishing. Imposing sanctions on these vessels at port aims at rendering their operations less profitable and lucrative.
May 26, 2010 - Despite efforts by the 18 regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and individual governments to manage fisheries since the last session of the U.N. Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA) Review Conference in 2006, the vast majority of stocks managed by RFMOs are still either overexploited or depleted. A 2010 peer-reviewed evaluation of RFMO performance determined that two-thirds of stocks fished on the high seas and under RFMO management are either depleted or over-exploited. Similarly, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ‘‘In the case of straddling stocks and of other high seas fishery resources, nearly two-thirds of the stocks for which the state of exploitation can be determined were classified as overexploited or depleted.” These data confirm that RFMOs are failing to sustainably manage the high seas fisheries for which they are responsible and for which they should be accountable.
Stay updated with Pew News Now! We invite you to sign up to receive our weekly e-mail newsletter.
A Pew study published on Science finds that governments have been ineffective in stopping illegal fishing.
Read Closing Loopholes: Getting Illegal Fishing Under Control