The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization marked the tenth anniversary of the first binding international agreement created specifically to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as its global fisheries committee met in Rome on September 7. FAO said the Port State Measures Agreement now has 86 parties representing 110 of its members, placing almost three quarters of coastal states under its rules.
The agreement seeks to stop illegally caught fish before it reaches markets. Foreign fishing vessels must request permission before entering designated ports and provide information about their identity, licences, fishing activity and catch. Port authorities can inspect vessels, deny entry or port services when evidence indicates illegal activity, and share findings with flag states and other governments.
FAO said parties now conduct more than 22,000 inspections each year at nearly 700 designated ports. Moldova became the newest country to deposit an instrument of accession, extending a system that entered into force in June 2016. Director-General Qu Dongyu said the expansion reflects wider recognition that illegal fishing crosses borders and requires faster international exchange of inspection information.
Implementation remains uneven because effective checks require trained inspectors, legal authority, equipment and connected data systems. FAO has provided technical and capacity-building assistance to more than 80 members. The agency is encouraging countries to fully apply the Bali Strategy adopted in 2023, which aims to broaden participation in the treaty and accelerate the exchange of port inspection data worldwide.
The anniversary opened alongside the 37th session of FAO's Committee on Fisheries, running from September 7 to 11. Delegates are considering illegal fishing, climate adaptation, small-scale fisheries, threatened aquatic species and international ocean agreements. The talks come as global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a record 235 million tonnes in 2024, generated 184 billion dollars in trade and supported more than 600 million livelihoods, according to FAO.
The committee is expected to issue policy guidance for governments and regional fisheries bodies before the session closes. FAO says closer coordination among ports can raise the cost and difficulty of illegal fishing by preventing suspect vessels from landing or moving their catch into legitimate supply chains. The next test will be whether growing treaty membership produces consistent inspections, prompt data sharing and effective follow-up across all major fishing regions.
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