"The treaty is aimed at cracking down illegal fishing, which causes a multibillion-dollar loss that damages human nutrition and environmental sustainability", said Da Silva, director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In his speech at the OurOcean Conference, he urged all countries around the world to be part of the PSMA for it to be highly effective and also said that so far around 50 countries are party to the agreement but "we need many more."
He reiterated the FAO efforts to implement PSMA and the commitment to supply budgetary resources of its own to support poorer countries develop the technical, scientific and legal capacity required.
He said that PSMA, which requires rigorous inspections of vessels by port rather than flag states, is the main tool to tackle illegal fishing and also helps to tackle other serious problems such as the traffic of drugs and human beings.
He announced that FAO pledges of $41.9 million USD in funding initiatives for programs aimed at the fisheries sector, including improving fisheries management and livelihoods around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
"Healthy oceans are a vital condition for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and are particularly crucial for some of the poorest communities in the world who rely on small-scale fishing activities", said Graziano da Silva.
PL/MNA