Report of the FAO Workshop on Implementing the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing on the Atlantic coast of Africa, Praia, Cabo Verde, 20 to 24 July 2015
The workshop was attended by 44 representatives from 16 African coastal countries of the Atlantic Ocean.
The workshop focused on the implementation of the Agreement from policy, legal, institutional, capacity development, and operations standpoints. Following a short introduction, the need to implement the Agreement, both at the global and the regional levels, was stressed.
Key provisions for the implementation of the Agreement were highlighted at the workshop along with the role of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in supporting implementation of port State measures. The questionnaire that had been distributed to participating countries in advance of the workshop with the purpose of improving their understanding of present practices, procedures and legal frameworks of countries in the region on port State measures was analysed to ensure that recommendations to be made for the region were based on a sound knowledge basis.
The role of fisheries managers and inspectors in implementing the Agreement was also highlighted. Participatory activities in working groups were conducted which led to the formulation of recommendations both at the regional and domestic levels. Opportunities for regional cooperation among countries were also addressed.
The workshop participants formulated recommendations based on three components: legal and policy, operational, and institutional and capacity development, and regional cooperation in the above-mentioned working groups. Recommendations were made under each of these categories with reference to national level and regional level.