China’s recent ratification of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing – also known simply as the Port State Measures Agreement – is a “concrete measure” that shows China’s authentic resolve in fighting illegal fishing, according to the China Aquatic Product Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA).
On 21 January, the Chinese State Council officially certified the agreement after signing it initially in 2016. The agreement aims to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing by preventing vessels engaged in illegal fishing from using ports and landing their catches.
“As a responsible major fishing country, China’s formal certification to the agreement at the beginning of 2025 is a great event for the international fishing community,” said Zhu Zhengguang, the head of sustainable trade and value chains and the deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation at CAPPMA.
Zhu told SeafoodSource that the move represents “a milestone event in the process of promoting the modernization of China’s fishery industry.”
China’s ratification of the agreement does not mean it becomes a party to the agreement, which would require it to enforce its provisions. Acceding to the agreement solely means China is committing on its own to take actions “not only to combat IUU but also take actions in monitoring ports” in preparation of becoming a party, Zhu said.