Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joins global fight against illegal fishing through accession to Agreement on Port State Measures
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©FAO
17/04/2025, Cairo
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially become the 81st Party globally (representing 107 states) to join the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), the first binding international agreement that focuses exclusively on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It is the 6th country from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region to join, alongside Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman and the Sudan, and the second member of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) to accede. Saudi Arabia’s accession also represents a major step forward for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region, an area not yet covered by a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO). With its commitment, four of the eight Arab and African coastal states bordering these waters (Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Somalia, and the Sudan) are now Parties to the PSMA, reinforcing regional cooperation to combat IUU fishing in this critical marine area.
This important move demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to combating IUU fishing through its ports on both its Arabian Gulf and Red Sea coastlines. Through the implementation of the PSMA, Saudi Arabia sends a strong message that fish caught illegally will not be permitted to enter its ports. Through its accession, Saudi Arabia joins a global network of countries that have signed onto the PSMA, who meet regularly as well as exchange information through the Global Information Exchange System (GIES), an innovative digital tool that permits the sharing of vital information between port, flag, and coastal States, as well as other relevant organizations.
“Saudi Arabia’s accession to the PSMA is yet another important action demonstrating its commitment to sustainable fisheries in the region,” said Ahmed AlMazrouai, Senior Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer, FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa(RNE) and Secretary of RECOFI. He adds “not only has it taken a leadership role to champion collaboration through regional fisheries management in the Gulf and the Red Sea, its efforts at the global level are a model for the NENA region.”
The PSMA aims to prevent, deter and eliminate these harmful practices by denying port access and landing rights to vessels engaged in IUU fishing. By closing ports to such vessels, the agreement reduces the profitability and incentive for illegal fishing activities, while also helping to prevent illegally caught fish from entering domestic and global supply chains.
This important move demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to combating IUU fishing through its ports on both its Arabian Gulf and Red Sea coastlines. Through the implementation of the PSMA, Saudi Arabia sends a strong message that fish caught illegally will not be permitted to enter its ports. Through its accession, Saudi Arabia joins a global network of countries that have signed onto the PSMA, who meet regularly as well as exchange information through the Global Information Exchange System (GIES), an innovative digital tool that permits the sharing of vital information between port, flag, and coastal States, as well as other relevant organizations.
“Saudi Arabia’s accession to the PSMA is yet another important action demonstrating its commitment to sustainable fisheries in the region,” said Ahmed AlMazrouai, Senior Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer, FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa(RNE) and Secretary of RECOFI. He adds “not only has it taken a leadership role to champion collaboration through regional fisheries management in the Gulf and the Red Sea, its efforts at the global level are a model for the NENA region.”
The PSMA aims to prevent, deter and eliminate these harmful practices by denying port access and landing rights to vessels engaged in IUU fishing. By closing ports to such vessels, the agreement reduces the profitability and incentive for illegal fishing activities, while also helping to prevent illegally caught fish from entering domestic and global supply chains.