(MM / 01-09-09) Organizations for ocean conservation and environmental groups positively evaluated the compromise reached by the international fishing powers in the meeting of the Organization of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. They have agreed a text that will become binding on “measures of port State.” This text is a crucial step to end illegal, unreported and unregulated fish (IUU).

This agreement has great significance, since, according to recent estimates, the total value of losses caused by illegal fishing (IUU) reaches quantities between the 10 billion dollars and 23.5 billion dollars annually, which represents between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish.

The new text, which will be part of international law, will be ready for ratification at the FAO Conference in November 2009. According to new legislation, the port States will deny the access of ships having taken part in illegal fishing (IUU), and they will prohibit those vessels to dock, transfer or process fish. States will not be allowed to provide services to these vessels. It will also be required to make inspections to the fishing boats, especially those which are suspected of having engaged in illegal fishing (IUU) before.

"This international agreement, signed by nations around the world, is an important step in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing," said Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana Europe. "Due to the fact that pirate fishing vessels change their flags and nationalities very quickly, the States have also to ratify and implement the agreement as soon as possible in order to stop them."