The Palau Congress has voted unanimously to ratify the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA).
The PSMA is an international treaty designed to help stop illegally caught fish from entering the market. Once implemented, the legislation will bolster the island nation’s ability to protect its new marine sanctuary from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“Palau will not tolerate poachers in our ocean,” said Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., president of the Republic of Palau. “We are getting tough on illegal fishing at home, and today we are signing up for the global fight.”
Located amid some of the world’s richest fishing grounds, the Pacific island nation has been combatting illegal fishing by foreign vessels for years. In June, the government burned four Vietnamese vessels caught engaging in illicit fishing off Palau’s Kayangel Island.
“Palau continues to lead in the global fight to end illegal fishing, and ratification of this agreement underscores the country’s commitment to preventing thieves from operating in Pacific ports,” said Tony Long, director of ending illegal fishing at The Pew Charitable Trusts. “There is significant momentum building to use these port state agreements to counter the trade in illegal fish.
“It is now time for governments to get on board and make this agreement a reality,” he added.
There are currently 14 parties to the PSMA and Palau will become the 15th country to sign on to the agreement, which will become legally binding once it is ratified by 25 governments.
