The IMO Assembly has called on Member States to accept the 2012 Cape Town fishing vessel safety agreement at its 29th session at IMO Headquarters in London, UK.
The resolution on entry into force and implementation of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement calls for the early acceptance of the treaty, as a means to address the alarmingly high number of fishermen's lives and of fishing vessels lost every year.
It aims to implement the provisions of the 1993 Protocol relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977.
To date, only five countries have accepted the agreement.
During the session, the Assembly also adopted a number of resolutions, including one commending the role of merchant shipping in rescuing mixed migrants at sea.
The Assembly also endorsed the decision of the Council to elect Mr Kitack Lim (Republic of Korea) as Secretary-General for an initial four-year term, beginning 1 January 2016.
