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Global initiative marks taking steps to curb illegal and unsustainable taking of migratory wildlife

March 26, 2026 5 min read Environment & Ecology GS3 (Environment Biodiversity) GS2 (International Relations)
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What Happened

  • A global initiative has marked significant steps to curb Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, highlighting progress under international frameworks and the growing multilateral effort to protect marine fisheries.
  • The Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), now has 80 Parties as of March 2025 — covering 107 countries including the European Union as a bloc — making it the most comprehensive binding instrument targeting IUU fishing.
  • The European Union's CATCH (Catch Assurance Through Collaboration and Harmonisation) digital catch certificate system came into force on January 10, 2026, requiring all fishery products entering EU markets to carry digitally verified documentation proving legal origin.
  • The "Three Treaties" framework — the FAO's PSMA, the IMO's Cape Town Agreement (CTA) for fishing vessel safety, and the ILO's Work in Fishing Convention (C188) on fisher labour rights — is gaining international recognition as the comprehensive legal architecture for sustainable, fair, and legal fisheries.
  • IUU fishing generates an estimated tens of billions of dollars in illegal profits annually, undermining legal fishing industries, depleting fish stocks, and eroding coastal livelihoods in developing nations most dependent on marine resources.
  • The initiative marks a moment of reckoning: despite frameworks existing, enforcement at sea remains the critical weak link, particularly in the high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of developing nations with limited maritime surveillance capacity.

Static Topic Bridges

IUU Fishing: Scale, Methods, and Global Impact

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing encompasses three distinct but overlapping practices: fishing in violation of national or international laws (illegal), fishing not reported to or misreported to relevant authorities (unreported), and fishing conducted in areas or by vessels not subject to regulatory control (unregulated). Together they represent one of the gravest threats to ocean biodiversity and the global food supply.

  • IUU fishing accounts for an estimated 11–19 million tonnes of fish caught annually — equivalent to 15–30% of the world's total capture fisheries catch.
  • Global economic losses from IUU fishing are estimated at $10–23 billion per year, including unpaid taxes, licensing fees, and customs duties.
  • IUU fishing disproportionately harms developing countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, where fish is a primary protein source and maritime enforcement capacity is limited.
  • "Fishing under flags of convenience" — where vessels register under states with weak oversight to evade regulations — is a key enabler of large-scale IUU operations.
  • Forced labour and human rights violations on distant-water fishing vessels are strongly correlated with IUU fishing practices, linking environmental and labour law violations.

Connection to this news: The global initiative's focus on frameworks like PSMA and EU digital certification directly targets the legal and documentary loopholes that allow IUU-caught fish to enter global supply chains, cutting off the economic incentive for illegal operators.

The Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA)

The PSMA is the first internationally binding treaty specifically designed to prevent IUU-caught fish from reaching global markets by denying port access to foreign vessels engaged in or supporting IUU fishing. Adopted by the FAO Conference in 2009 and entering into force in June 2016, it operationalises the principle of "port state control" — that a country has the right to deny entry to vessels that have violated fisheries laws elsewhere.

  • As of March 2025, the PSMA has 80 Parties (107 countries including the EU as a bloc), up from 63 at entry into force in 2016.
  • Under the PSMA, port states must conduct inspections, share information with flag states, and deny port access to vessels found to have engaged in IUU fishing.
  • The FAO maintains a global record of vessels that have been denied port access, creating a reputational and operational deterrent.
  • The WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement (2022, the first WTO agreement on environmental sustainability) complements the PSMA by prohibiting subsidies to IUU fishing and to fishing of overfished stocks — a landmark multilateral step.
  • India is a member of the FAO and participates in COFI (Committee on Fisheries), but has not yet ratified the PSMA — a gap given India's status as the world's third-largest fish producer.

Connection to this news: The growth in PSMA membership and the complementary EU CATCH system represent layered enforcement: the PSMA blocks IUU vessels at port, while digital certification ensures IUU-caught fish cannot be laundered into legal supply chains through documentation fraud.

India's Fisheries Sector: Significance and Vulnerabilities

India is the world's third-largest fish producer (7.96% of global production) and a major seafood exporter, with the sector supporting the livelihoods of over 28 million people — primarily in coastal and riverine communities. The marine fisheries subsector is particularly critical, employing approximately 3.8 million coastal workers and generating US$8.1 billion in annual foreign exchange earnings.

  • India's fish production reached 195 lakh tonnes in FY2024-25 — more than double the 96 lakh tonnes in FY2013-14, reflecting major expansion through aquaculture.
  • Seafood exports in 2023-24: 17.81 lakh tonnes worth ₹60,523 crore, with the USA and China as top importers.
  • India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spans 2.02 million sq km — one of the largest in the Indo-Pacific — making maritime surveillance both critical and challenging.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020, aims to increase fish production to 220 lakh tonnes and fisheries exports to ₹1 lakh crore by 2024-25, with ₹20,050 crore investment.
  • India faces domestic challenges including overfishing in its coastal waters, illegal trawling in declared no-fishing zones, and the use of banned gear by commercial trawlers in traditional artisanal fishing grounds.

Connection to this news: India's large and economically vital fisheries sector makes the fight against IUU fishing a domestic policy priority as much as a global one. Domestic IUU activity undermines the livelihoods of the 28 million who depend on legal fisheries, while India's non-ratification of the PSMA leaves a gap in the international regime.

Key Facts & Data

  • IUU fishing: 11–19 million tonnes/year, causing $10–23 billion in economic losses annually
  • PSMA (FAO): First binding anti-IUU treaty; 80 Parties as of March 2025 (107 participants including EU)
  • EU CATCH digital certification: In force from January 10, 2026 — mandates digital proof of legal origin for all seafood entering EU markets
  • "Three Treaties" framework: PSMA (FAO) + Cape Town Agreement (IMO) + Work in Fishing Convention C188 (ILO)
  • WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement (2022): Prohibits subsidies to IUU fishing and overfished stocks
  • India: World's 3rd largest fish producer; 28 million livelihoods; US$8.1 billion annual marine exports
  • India's EEZ: 2.02 million sq km; India has not ratified PSMA
  • PMMSY (2020): ₹20,050 crore scheme targeting 220 lakh tonnes production and ₹1 lakh crore exports by 2024-25