ATLAFCO PSMA workshop held in Tangiers

ATLAFCO PSMA workshop held in Tangiers

December 2016 – Per Erik Bergh (Managing Director) attended the GFCM-ATLAFCO joint workshop ‘Supporting the regional implementation of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA)’ in Tangiers on 6-8 December.

The workshop was organised by the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO), an intergovernmental organization of 22 countries from Morocco to Namibia in cooperation with the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO).

Becoming a party to and implementation of the PSMA were debated and sessions also looked at the EU-IUU regulations, the role of civil society in stopping illegal fishing and support for the declaration of an international day for the fight against IUU fishing in relation to the implementation of the FAO-PSMA and links with fisheries crime.

Per Erik Bergh stated that “The workshop highlighted the progress that the region are making to support MCS and ensure that that port state measures are effective in the fight to stop illegal fishing. Stop Illegal Fishing, particularly through our work with the West Africa and FISH-i Africa Task Forces are seeing the vital importance of supporting port States in dealing with vessels suspected of illegal activity. The denial of port access is being used increasingly by developing countries that are concerned about the costs and risks involved in allowing port access for the purpose of collecting information. Further support is needed from the international community to encourage vessel inspections when there are suspicions of IUU fishing.”