FAO holds interagency talks to implement the PSMA in Uruguay
Experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) visited Montevideo in Uruguay to support the implementation of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA). This is the fourth mission held under a project funded by the Republic of Korea to support Uruguay in improving its domestic measures to implement the PSMA and regional mechanisms to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
From 3 to 7 June 2024, participants representing different Uruguayan authorities and FAO experts discussed the existing framework to apply the PSMA and options to improve domestic coordination to grant authorisation of port use. FAO experts had the opportunity to review Uruguay’s working procedures and measures related to the PSMA, proposing improvements to ensure that IUU vessels seeking access to foreign ports do not benefit from such activities.
Government officers and participants included representatives from Uruguay’s fisheries authority (National Directorate for Aquatic Resources, DINARA) and other public agencies competent in port inspections and the fight against IUU fishing: the Prefectura Nacional Naval (Navy), the Ministerio de Salud Pública (Ministry of Health), the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Administración Nacional de Puertos (Port Authority), the Dirección Nacional de Trabajo (Ministry of Labour), the Dirección Nacional de Aduanas (Customs), the Oficina Nacional de Inmigración (Immigration Office) and INTERPOL.
The mission ended with an agreed draft protocol or memorandum of understanding that will serve as the basis for a standard procedure to process applications to access and use the port of Montevideo, ensuring participation and coordination from all relevant public authorities. As part of the following steps, Uruguay and FAO experts will work on possible amendments to other legal instruments within the framework of the implementation of the PSMA.