Illegal fishing accord to be enforced from June

The world’s first-ever international agreement specifically targeting illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing is set to enter into force next month.

The agreement signed by 29 countries and European Union which signed as a single party will ensure that there is sustainable fisheries and responsible fish stock management globally.

“This is the dawn of a new era in the effort to combat illegal fishing. By denying unscrupulous fishers safe haven and access to markets, the PSMA will drive the seafood industry towards greater sustainability and have significant ripple effects throughout the entire fisheries supply chain,” said FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva.

#UNFAO: Groundbreaking illegal fishing accord soon to enter into force. #PortStateMeasures https://t.co/03RS7Oph3R pic.twitter.com/NM27HZc6sJ

— USUNRome (@USUNRome) May 16, 2016

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.

According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing is responsible for annual catches of up to 26 million tons, with a value of up to $23 billion each year.

Officials from 24 African countries met in Cameroon in December 2015 and called for China to stop illegal fishing off the West African coast after concerns that the practice had pushed local counterparts back to shore, depriving them of their jobs and livelihoods.

The officials further asked China to abolish destructive fishing practices and stop taking advantage of African countries’ fishing grounds.