FAO and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) collaborate to build capacity on ocean affairs

FAO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI). The agreement focuses on capacity building regarding law of the sea and ocean affairs, including fisheries law and policy for sustainable utilization, conservation and management of living marine resources.

Framed in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 “Life Below Water”, additional areas of cooperation include the development and delivery of technical training and capacity building courses, workshops and seminars in law of sea and ocean affairs. Emphasis will be given to fisheries governance, including fisheries law and policy; as well as monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS), compliance and enforcement. 

Training activities will target legal and policy fisheries officers, MCS personnel, fisheries enforcement officers, prosecutors and judicial officers, mainly in developing countries. Central to the agreement is sharing information, knowledge and experiences on recent developments, emerging issues, challenges and opportunities in the law of the sea and fisheries and aquaculture. To facilitate exchange, the collaboration includes convening and hosting conferences, symposia, roundtable discussions and other fora.

Through the MoU, FAO will deliver technical assistance and advice to FAO Members on the law of the sea. The implementation of relevant international instruments and frameworks that factor cross-cutting issues such as climate change, gender, governance and nutrition will be an important part of the work.

It is expected that the collaboration will generate a plethora of valuable research findings, analyses and publications in the law of the sea, including legal and policy aspects and frameworks for fisheries.