Treaty on illegal fishing approved

A new treaty that aims to close fishing ports to ships involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has been approved by FAO’s governing conference. Once it enters into force, it will be the first ever legally binding international treaty focused specifically on this problem. It will also be the only one to enlist so-called “non-flag states” in the fight against IUU fishing, alongside flag states that are primarily responsible for the conduct of vessels flying their flags on the high seas. The Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing is set to enter into force once 25 countries have ratified it.