1 December 2015: Palau has ratified the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, becoming the first Pacific country to do so, and the Agreement’s 15th Party. President of Palau Tommy Remengesau submitted his country’s ratification with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Director-General, on the sidelines of the Paris Climate Change Conference.

FAO member states adopted the Port State Measure Agreement in 2009, which will enter into force when there are 25 Parties to the Agreement. With a number of other countries close to becoming Parties, FAO says, the Agreement could come into effect in 2016.

The Agreement sets standards for the inspection of foreign ships that enter the port of another state and allows a country to block entrance of a vessel it suspects has engaged in illegal fishing. This action helps to prevent illegally caught fish and seafood from entering local and international markets. According to FAO, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices account for over 15% of total global output. More broadly, the agreement’s potential to address IUU fishing is expected to help support food security and protect biodiversity by tackling the types of fishing that undermine the sustainable management of fish stocks, according to the UN.

In remarks at the Paris event, Remengesau supported the Agreement’s adoption, noting its importance in the success of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary. He also highlighted the threats that climate change poses to the marine environment. Remengesau explained, “large marine protected areas (MPAs) are critical to allow marine biodiversity to recover and fish stocks to rebound, benefiting our region and the world by helping the oceans to maintain their critical function as an effective carbon sink.”

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva welcomed Palau’s ratification, expressing hope that its action will inspire other small island developing States (SIDS) to ratify the Agreement, particularly given SIDS’ dependence on fisheries and their vulnerability to IUU fishing. He described the Agreement and the Guidelines for Flag State Performance as “essential” in both ocean conservation and in achieving long-term development goals, particularly goals on planetary health and food security. [FAO Press Release] [UN Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of COP 21]