Luanda - Angola, Eritrea and Nigeria recently signed a treaty as new members of the Agreement on Measures of the State of Porto, aimed at fighting against illegal fishing.
This treaty is the first legal instrument specifically designed to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, whose compliance is mandatory, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
According to FAO, the nations participating in the agreement must prevent the entry of foreign ships that practice or support this type of illegal activity in their ports.
With the accession of Angola, Eritrea and Nigeria, the total number of port countries committed to the agreement in favour of more sustainable fishing rose to 60%.
To the director of the Division of Fisheries and Aquaculture of FAO, Manuel Barrange, the elimination of this type of illegal activity is essential to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Official data indicate that more than 50 countries have received support from the UN agency to review laws, strengthen institutional capacity, monitoring systems and operations.
FAO's assistance extends to forms of control and surveillance to better implement port State measures and fulfill international commitments as shipowners or being coastal and market.
