How Port State Measures are locking IUU catches out of markets a decade on. Ten years ago, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing reached a major milestone with the entry into force of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA). The PSMA is the first legally binding international agreement specifically designed to combat IUU fishing, making it far harder for illegally caught fish to reach markets and directly addressing the incentives driving the practice.
In the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) has translated these global commitments into regional action. The region has been implementing key port states measures since as early as 2008, notably by channelling the use of technologies such as vessel monitoring systems (VMS), which are now required to be installed on national fleets. The GFCM has also established an IUU vessel list and conducts joint inspection schemes A milestone for monitoring in the Black Sea: advanced VMS transponders deployed across the Turkish fleet.
A major step forward was reached this year under the GEF-funded Fisheries and ecosystem-based management for the Black Sea (FishEBM Black Sea) and Fisheries and ecosystem-based
management for the Blue Economy of the Mediterranean (FishEBM Med) projects: by the end of 2026, over 850 vessels, the majority of the Turkish industrial fishing fleet, will be equipped with
advanced vessel monitoring system (VMS) transponders.
Türkiye operates the largest fishing fleet and accounts for the highest capture production in the GFCM area of application. The deployment of the new devices, together with the inauguration of
the Marmara Fisheries Control Centre in Yalova on 8 May 2026, marks a significant step forward in strengthening regional monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) capacity.
The devices will provide authorities with real-time operational data, including position, speed and heading, enabling real-time tracking of vessels. They will also generate alerts when vessels
operate in fisheries restricted areas or engage in activities where fishing is prohibited. The devices will provide authorities with real-time operational data, including position, speed and heading, enabling real-time tracking of vessels. They will also generate alerts when vessels operate in fisheries restricted areas or engage in activities where fishing is prohibited.
Channelling VMS technology for truly regional oversight
Countries across the region have moved to adopt new VMS technology as it allows authorities oversight over large zones that would otherwise be challenging to control. The GFCM has been
conducting pilot studies to ensure countries choose the technology most tailored to their needs. It also facilitates the instalment of new devices on national fleets. Under the FishEBM MED
project, Montenegro and Albania are set to deploy devices on their small-scale fleets later this year.
Closing enforcement gaps requires robust monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) capabilities. Inspectors and fisheries officers from across the region have gathered to bolster their knowledge of MCS tools in three GFCM trainings in Malta, Spain, and Türkiye. During the trainings, officers also worked towards a more harmonised methodology to better assess IUU
fishing, as the phenomenon remains elusive In parallel, Albania, Georgia, and Ukraine launched initiatives to develop national plans of action to combat, deter and eliminate IUU fishing (NPOA-IUU), identifying legal and institutional measures needed to align national frameworks with regional standards and international best practices. Türkiye is set to launch its NPOA-IUU shortly.
Turning commitments into compliance
A decade from the entry into force of the PSMA, Mediterranean and Black Sea countries continue to deliver on international commitments with measurable results. Fishing pressure in the region
has declined by around 50 percent since 2013 and overexploited stocks are at their lowest recorded level in the assessed time series. This progress reflects years of cooperation, commitment and investment in stronger management and control systems.
About the GFCM
The GFCM is a regional fisheries management organisation operating under the framework of FAO, whose competence extends over all marine waters of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Its main objective is to ensure the conservation and the sustainable use of living marine resources, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture. GFCM Members include 24 contracting parties (Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, European Union, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine) and five cooperating non-contracting parties (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Jordan, Moldova, Saudi Arabia).
Image: ©FAO-GFCM/Carlos Díaz Martin