Marshall Islands step up fight against illegal fishing

The Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), is the first binding international agreement specifically targeting IUU fishing. Its objective is to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing by preventing vessels engaged in such activities from using ports and landing their catches. By doing so, PSMA reduces the incentive for these vessels to continue operating and blocks the entry of fishery products derived from IUU fishing into national and international markets. 

Majuro is the most important tuna transhipment port in the world. As such, the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), supported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZ MFAT), has been actively implementing Port State Measures (PSM) best practices since 2018, as a direct result, in 2023, the International MCS Network Organization presented MIMRA with the “Stop IUU Fishing Meritorious Achievement Award”. 

A complete description of its PSM system is available at MIMRA’s website www.rmimimra.com/index.php/port-entry.

“MIMRA’s capacity was progressively developed under the guiding principle “act first, formalise later.” This strategy facilitated the establishment of critical systems and procedures that were required not only to fulfil but exceed the requirements of the agreement,” said Beau Bigler, MIMRA Chief Fisheries Officer – Oceanic Division

The ratification process, as outlined in Article 26 of the PSMA, requires the signatories to deposit their ratification, acceptance, or approval instruments with the Depositary at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy.