Rome, Italy - 11/23/2009 - The Pew Environment Group today
welcomed an announcement by the United Nation’s Food and
Agriculture Organization that the new treaty to address illegal
fishing is open for signature and called on governments to
ratify and implement this treaty. Officially known as the
Agreement of Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, the treaty
specifies minimum standards for inspection and provides port
States with the obligation to prohibit entry to illegal fishing
vessels. “Governments must immediately start to crack down on
illegal fishing and refuse port entry to those responsible,”
said Stefan Flothmann, director of International Ocean
Governance at the Pew Environment Group. “Ratifying and
implementing the treaty is critical to end illegal fishing.” The
treaty is now open for signature with some countries already
signing at yesterday’s meeting. The agreement will legally enter
into force after 25 countries have ratified it. In