The statement, released by the press office of that international organization, also highlights that efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing received a boost from China, which became a member state of the FAO Convention on Measures to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Such Illegal Activity.

Qu Dongyu, Director-General of that organization, stated that China’s accession to the PSMA “is a milestone in the global effort toward responsible governance and sustainable development of fisheries.”

“This step reflects the growing and firm commitment of all States that preceded and will succeed China to join forces to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through the PSMA framework,” the senior official added.

China’s fishing fleet is estimated to number more than 500,000 vessels, 342,000 of which are motorized, placing it among the top three countries in terms of fishing capacity.

The PSMA supports sustainable fisheries by ensuring that only legal, regulated, and declared fish catches are landed in ports and ultimately marketed.

This is achieved by allowing Parties to deny port entry or use to foreign vessels suspected of engaging in IUU fishing, thereby preventing catches resulting from these illicit practices from reaching markets and consumers, the document states.

The number of Parties to the PSMA Agreement currently stands at 82, including the European Union on behalf of its Member States, bringing the total number of countries now bound by it to 108, the source adds.

ef/ro/ort