FAO RECOGNISES SPAIN’S COMMITMENT TO COMBATING ILLEGAL FISHING

FAO recognises Spain’s commitment to combating illegal fishing. The award was presented during the opening of a training course for specialists from Latin America and Africa aimed at strengthening the fight against illegal fishing.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) presented Spain with a medal in recognition of its commitment to the implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), a key international instrument to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The distinction was received by the Secretary General for Fisheries, Isabel Artime, during the opening ceremony of the second edition of the International Fisheries Law Enforcement Course, jointly organised by FAO and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food aboard the fisheries training and cooperation vessel Intermares, in Vigo.

On the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the PSMA, FAO has recognised Spain’s contribution to international fisheries governance and its leadership in fisheries control, inspection and surveillance, as well as in the fight against illegal fishing.

In her acceptance remarks, Isabel Artime stated:

“This medal has a very special meaning for us. We see it not only as recognition of Spain’s work over the years, but also as a reflection of our country’s leading role in building a strong and coordinated international response to illegal fishing.”

Following the award ceremony, the Secretary General for Fisheries officially opened the second edition of the training course, which will run until 17 July and bring together around twenty public officials from Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Equatorial Guinea.

Artime underlined the importance of sharing knowledge and experience to protect marine resources and ensure that fisheries continue to provide employment, development and food security.

“I am convinced that this will be a mutual learning experience and that each of you will contribute to enriching this space for training and cooperation,” she said.

The course will provide participants with a comprehensive and practical understanding of the investigation, prosecution and sanctioning of fisheries-related offences, while strengthening knowledge of fisheries legislation and policy, fisheries management and governance, monitoring, control and surveillance, and enforcement procedures. It will also contribute to the effective implementation of the PSMA and other international instruments, while reinforcing international cooperation against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

This training activity forms part of the Fisheries Capacity Development Programme in Support of FAO International Instruments, which aims to assist States in implementing the PSMA and complementary international instruments to combat illegal fishing. The course combines theoretical and practical training and will be delivered by FAO experts, national authorities and invited lecturers.

The Intermares vessel: a benchmark for excellence in maritime and fisheries training

The Intermares operates as a highly specialised floating training and fisheries cooperation centre whose primary mission is to provide technical and practical training in real operational conditions. Its programmes are specifically designed for professionals in the fisheries and maritime sectors and related activities.

The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including classrooms, workshops, meeting rooms, laboratories and accommodation, providing an ideal environment for advanced training programmes. These facilities allow trainees to experience first-hand the working conditions they will encounter during future inspection missions and scientific observation campaigns, significantly strengthening the operational capacity of fisheries inspectors in their home countries.

The vessel also represents an example of efficient inter-administrative cooperation under an agreement with the Spanish Ministry of Defence. In addition to conducting its own training activities on board, the Ministry of Defence provides the ship’s crew, enabling an efficient use of public resources across the General State Administration.

Meeting with AMUPESCA

The Secretary General for Fisheries concluded her programme in Vigo with a meeting with the National Association of Women in Fisheries (AMUPESCA), during which she highlighted the close and longstanding cooperation between the association and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The meeting addressed the association’s planned activities for the coming months, with particular attention to its territorial expansion and to the needs of women working in the fisheries, shellfish harvesting, aquaculture and seafood value chain sectors.

Image: Secretaría General de Pesca