The National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA), with technical support from a fisheries advisor funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has introduced enhanced port state measures (PSM) aimed at combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
Under the new system, all fishing vessels, both foreign and FSM-flagged, must notify their arrival at FSM ports using the Forum Fisheries Agency’s (FFA) electronic PSM system. This notification triggers a detailed inspection process involving risk assessments in three key areas: vessel identity, recent activities and licensing compliance.
“NORMA’s strengthened port state measures are a vital step in safeguarding FSM’s fisheries resources and upholding international commitments,” said Rocco Samuel, assistant director of NORMA’s Compliance Division.
“By integrating advanced risk analysis and data-driven decision-making, we are reinforcing our ability to detect and deter IUU fishing activities before they enter our ports.”
Compliance officers use tools such as the FFA VMA system, the Starboard Maritime Intelligence platform, and FSM’s Integrated Fisheries Information Management System to assess risk and determine if further investigation is needed.
If a vessel is flagged for non-compliance, NORMA may join the Border Control & Maritime Surveillance team for inspection before granting transhipment or landing rights.
These developments are bolstering FSM’s leadership in regional fisheries management and support global efforts to preserve marine resources in the western and central Pacific Ocean.
