KKP-FAO Holds International Meeting To Discuss IUUF In Bali, Here Are The Results

Chairperson of the 4th MOP PSMA Nilanto Perbowo (first from the left) and DJPT Tri Aris Wibowo (second from the left). (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) together with the World Food Organization (FAO) have held 4th Meeting of The Parties To The FAO Agreement On Port State Measures (PSMA) in Badung Regency, Bali, on 8-12 May 2023.

The meeting, which was attended by hundreds of delegates from PSM member countries, observers, and representatives of international institutions, discussed the role of ports in narrowing illegal unreported fishing (IUUF) practices globally.

The PSMA is provisions made by the government on foreign-flagged fishing vessels that will enter and/or use other fishery port or port facilities appointed in order to prevent, obstruct, and eradicate illegal fishing, not reported, and not regulated (IUUF).

Chairperson of the 4th MOP PSMA Nilanto Perbowo said that at the meeting three global commitments to be adopted by each country were agreed upon, and one recommendation was approved.

"We managed to adopt three work papers prepared in three technical working groups. Well, there were three adopted, then the fourth was recommended by Indonesia to be implemented by all countries," Nilanto told reporters in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 16.

For the first commitment, namely each country adopts a reference framework for exchanging information. Nilanto said, with the disclosure of information, it would narrow the space for illegal fishing practices in Indonesian territory, especially dark ships entering the territory of the Republic of Indonesia.

"All parties are asked for data and information if there are coastal countries that are receiving request for ships in certain countries. The final goal is to kill illegal ships," he said.

The second point is that the delegation countries agreed to adopt a strategy to increase the effectiveness of port countries' measures to prevent, hinder, and eliminate IUU fishing.

While the third point is to adopt an agreement by questionnaires from each country for a review and assessment of the effectiveness of the application of the agreement on the results of the PSMA MOP trial.

For the fourth, namely recommendations regarding the operationalization of the global information exchange system (Operationalization of the Global Information Exchange System/GIES).

On the same occasion, Director of Fisheries Port of the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DJPT) Tri Aris Wibowo said, Indonesia felt the concrete benefits of the global agreement.

"(The concrete benefit) is to provide a strong position for Indonesia, that ships from other countries cannot arbitrarily enter the territory of the Republic of Indonesia and carry out illegal fishing," he concluded.