FAO relaunches technical assistance to help the Philippines combat IUU fishing
FAO and representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) met virtually on 4 February 2022 to re-launch the Workplan of Assistance to the Philippines in the implementation of the 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Philippines has been a Party to the PSMA since 2018, and has been receiving assistance from FAO since 2019 to implement the PSMA, complementary instruments and tools. Restrictions imposed by the global pandemic have significantly impeded progress in the last two years.
The Work Plan of Assistance, supported by funding from the Government of the Republic of Korea, includes components on reviewing the policy, legal and institutional frameworks; supporting BFAR in assessing and updating their monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) systems, operations and procedures; capacity building and tailor-made training.
The assistance provided by FAO will build on progress made by the country in combatting IUU fishing so far, including the implementation of the PSMA regulations from November 2021, drafted with the assistance of FAO, and the formal designation of two ports for the purposes of the PSMA, pursuant to its Article 7.
A revised timeline of implementation has been agreed for the delivery of the workplan, including a field mission foreseen to take place during the second quarter of 2022.