Pact to oblige port states to inspect ships to deter illegal fishing

TOKYO, Jan. 19 Kyodo -
Countries that have ports will be required to inspect fishing vessels as part
of efforts to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and sales of
illegal catches, according to a draft international agreement.
Such states will also be required to check vessels' operational records before
port calls for the unloading of catches and to refuse entry to vessels deemed
suspicious, says the draft, a copy of which was obtained Monday by Kyodo News.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization aims to adopt the draft agreement
when it holds a meeting of its Committee on Fisheries in March.
The FAO will hold a meeting of experts from Jan. 26 in Rome to advance the
drafting of the text.
If adopted, the agreement would force Japan -- a major fishing nation and
importer of fisheries products -- to carry out various enforcement measures.
Parties to the agreement are ''deeply concerned about the continuation of
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and its detrimental effect upon
fish stocks, marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of legitimate fishers, and
the increasing need for food security on a global basis,'' according to the
draft.
''A party shall not allow a vessel to use its ports for landing, transshipping,
packaging or processing of fish if the vessel is included on a list of vessels
having engaged in, or supported, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
adopted by a regional fisheries management organization in accordance with the
rules and procedures of such organization,'' the draft says.
The parties recognize that port state measures ''provide a powerful and
cost-effective means of preventing, deterring and eliminating'' illegal fishing
of tuna and other precious fisheries resources in international waters, it
states.
The draft calls for increased regional and interregional cooperation with
''rapidly developing communications technology, databases, networks and global
records'' to support the port state measures.
The draft document also refers to the need for industrialized nations to help
developing countries adopt and implement the measures.
According to those familiar with negotiations for the draft pact, Japan is in
favor of drawing up the agreement but requests that the accord not include
binding measures because the country is worried about shouldering excessive
financial and other burdens to achieve the goals.
Environmentalists criticized Japan's negotiation stance over the pact.
''Port state measures are seen as the most effective remaining measures to
combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,'' said Ayako Sekine, a
member of the Pew Environment Group, an international conservation group.
''But Japan's negotiation stance has not strengthened the agreement but rather
weakened it, although the country is well aware that it is indispensable for
countries to eliminate the so-called IUU so as to make use of marine biological
resources in a sustainable fashion,'' Sekine said.
She urged Japan to take ''responsible action'' to make the port state agreement
''the most powerful and effective.''
==Kyodo