Thailand announced Friday, 6 May that it has acceded to the Port State Measures Agreement, an international accord designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Rome deposited Thailand’s instrument of accession to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 6 May. It will still need to ratify the agreement to formalize its commitment to the treaty.
A statement issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in the United States said the accession by Thailand would “provide a critical momentum for the agreement to enter into force.”
The PSMA stipulates authorities at ports of entry for seafood conduct dockside inspections, block entry to vessels known to be involved in IUU and share information with other parties to the PSMA regarding vessels known or believed to contain IUU products.
The treaty requires 25 countries to ratify it in order for it to take effect. Guyana became the 23rd country to ratify the treaty on 23 March. Countries that have signed on so far include the United States, Norway, South Korea and the European Union.
The statement issued by Thailand on 6 May said its commitment to the PSM shows “Thailand’s strong commitment to work with the international community to address this common challenge.”
“As a State Party to the Port State Measures Agreement, Thailand is committed to strengthening measures to prevent the IUU-caught fish from entering national and international markets. Thailand will also work closely with partners around the world to further enhance regional and international cooperation to combat IUU fishing and ensure sustainability of ecosystems as well as the preservation of marine biodiversity,” the statement said.
