• Twenty five fisheries officials and experts from 19 countries attended the course in Zaragoza
• The programme featured lectures, case studies, and practical exercises delivered by FAO officials, as well as guest lecturers from organisations such as MAPA-SGP, CSIC Vigo, and EFCA

In a collaborative effort to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, CIHEAM Zaragoza, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), recently organised the second edition of an advanced course on fisheries monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) in Zaragoza (Spain) from 13 to 24 May 2024.

The course brought together 25 fisheries officials and experts from 19 countries (Bangladesh, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Somalia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom).

The programme included lectures, case studies and practical work that were  held at CIHEAM Zaragoza. A practical technical visit to the fishing port of La Rapita in Tarragona (Spain) was organised at the end of the first week, where participants observed different fishing boats and gears, gaining first-hand experience of inspection activities conducted by national inspectors. Towards the end of the course, participants had the opportunity to visit the Spanish Fisheries Monitoring Centre at the Spanish Secretariat for Fisheries in Madrid, where they attended lectures on Spanish MCS systems, selection and training of fishery inspectors, and the implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA).

The Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) was established in 2016 in response to the growing threat posed by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and as the first binding international agreement targeting this global issue. The PSMA aims to prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing by denying access to ports and landing of catches by vessels engaged in such activities. These measures apply to fishing vessels entering designated ports in States that are not their flag State.

Effective implementation of the PSMA contributes to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and ecosystems. To support the 77 states and the European Union that are currently part of this agreement, the FAO launched the Global Capacity Development Programme in 2017. The programme seeks to improve fisheries and aquaculture governance in developing countries through capacity development and training for the effective implementation of international instruments and their integration into national policy and legal frameworks. The FAO has developed a comprehensive Training Programme Prospectus to support these activities, with a focus on topics such as the Law of the Sea, ocean affairs, fisheries governance, and monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS), as well as information exchange. However, many States still lack the necessary MCS expertise to effectively combat IUU fishing and achieve key fisheries management objectives.

In light of this challenge, the advanced course on fisheries monitoring, control, and surveillance was designed to equip participants with a robust understanding of MCS systems, processes, and tools, as well as practical skills to support their day-to-day work in combatting IUU fishing. The course featured lectures, case studies, and practical exercises delivered by FAO officials, as well as guest lecturers from organisations such as MAPA-SGP, CSIC Vigo, and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA).

Due the success of this second edition,  CIHEAM Zaragoza and FAO are now working on the possibility of extending their collaboration on this course over the next five years, to further promote that capacity development and international cooperation in addressing the global issue of IUU fishing.