A coordinated model for implementing treaties for safe and legal fishing

Key treaties under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the international Maritime Organization (IMO) support safe and legal fishing. A workshop in Mombasa, Kenya (18 to 24 November) brought together officials from the three UN entities along with Kenyan officials to develop a model of coordinated implementation of these instruments, which address fishing vessel safety, labour rights, and rigorous port State measures against illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

The treaties related to fisheries, which Kenya has ratified, are: the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C.188), the IMO 2012 Cape Town Agreement (CTA) and the STCW-F Convention.

Implementing the treaties in a holistic and harmonized manner helps strengthen inter-agency collaboration in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, forced labour and poor safety standards of fishing vessels.

The workshop brought together Kenya Fisheries Service (KeFS), responsible for the implementation of the PSMA, the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), competent authority for implementing both the CTA and C.188, alongside experts from FAO, IMO and ILO, to review Kenya's progress in aligning its legal, institutional and operational frameworks with these international standards.

A field visit to the Liwatoni fishing port in Mombasa allowed for simulated inspections and interactive discussions to explore practical mechanisms for cooperation, evaluating resourcing needs and laying the groundwork for an interagency approach.

The workshop underscores the importance of collective action in enhancing safety and working conditions of fishers, protecting marine ecosystems and combating IUU fishing, through collaboration across sectors.

The outcomes of this initiative will bolster sustainable fisheries management in Kenya and support planning of a scalable model for other nations seeking to implement these vital treaties effectively.

The workshop was coordinated by FAO with contributions from ILO and IMO.

See the 2012 Cape Town Agreement (Made simple) portal for further information.