FAO Representative and government members

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of the Sea, Inland and Fisheries is holding a three-day technical seminar this week to seek a national strategy and action plan for on Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), aimed at preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the country.

The agreement approved in 2009 came into force in 2016 with 42 signatory countries. It is the first binding international instrument specifically aimed at combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and it aims to intensify global collaboration between fisheries, the port authorities, the Coast Guard and the Navy.

During the opening of the seminar in Maputo FAO Representative in Mozambique, Castro Camarada, said that "by becoming part of the Port State Measures Agreement, Mozambique gave a signal to the world of its commitment to combat illegal fishing and joined a growing countries that are determined to end to this phenomenon.

"The entry into force of the agreement was a significant achievement, but the most difficult work is only now beginning with its implementation that will be challenging, but it is certainly achievable, combining political will, capacity building and regional and global cooperation " he said .

The FAO Representative also said that "illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing continues to be a threat to the conservation and efficient management of fisheries resources worldwide, as well as in the Southwest Indian Ocean."

The aim of the FAO agreement is to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by concerted minimum global standards and measures to deny entry to ports, to conduct inspections and controls at the port of foreign vessels.

Henriques Bongece, Deputy Minister of the Sea, Inland and Fisheries, stated that "Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing is a pressing problem and significantly reduces the economic and natural resources of the environment and the global economy. "

Bongece also noted that "the effects of illegal fishing can be severe, particularly for developing coastal states and small island developing states with low income and dependent on fishing, as is the case in Mozambique."

FAO has supported a number of States members of the agreement in reviewing compliance with the provisions of the agreement and in formulating national strategies and action plans to gradually meet the requirements of the PSMA, related international instruments and regional mechanisms.

Attended to this seminar managers of national institutions, entities and authorities responsible for policy issues, legal and operational aspects of fisheries, port authorities, maritime transport and inspection authorities related to trade and customs and other institutions linked to the system of port States control.