FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA)

The Port State Measures Agreement is the first binding international treaty aimed specifically at IUU fishing, entering force in June 2016. It requires parties to deny port entry or services to foreign vessels suspected of illegal fishing, demand advance notice and authorization documents, and inspect a share of landings. By closing ports to IUU catch, the PSMA raises the cost of laundering illegal fish into legitimate supply chains, complementing catch documentation schemes and at-sea monitoring.