This year marks the 10th anniversary of the global implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (the Agreement). On June 5, China’s celebration of the global implementation of the Agreement, together with the opening ceremony for global marine fishery governance and development event series, was held in Shanghai. 

Since acceding to the Agreement one year ago, China has earnestly fulfilled its obligations under the Agreement and carried out the following work. First, China has established a robust institutional framework, including setting up an inter-agency coordination mechanism, designating a national focal point, strengthening legal safeguards, and issuing implementation guidelines. Second, China has standardized port inspection procedures. It has designated its first batch of 23 ports under the Agreement and conducted port state inspections of foreign fishing vessels, while providing guidance for Chinese distant-water fishing vessels subject to inspections by other port states. Third, China has actively participated in international cooperation by attending meetings of the Parties to the Agreement and other relevant international conferences and by contributing to discussions on the Agreement’s rules. A Chinese expert has been nominated as the Asian regional representative to the Agreement’s Working Group on Sustainable Operations. Fourth, China has organized capacity-building events on implementation as well as an international symposium on the Agreement, so as to enhance implementation capability. In addition, China has strengthened public awareness, laying a solid foundation for the implementation of the Agreement in China.  

The 10th anniversary of the Agreement’s entry into force is both a milestone and a new starting point. Moving forward, China will further advance its implementation of the Agreement, strengthen its port state control system, actively participate in global fishery governance, and effectively combat illegal fishing. With a more proactive approach, China will strive to be an advocate and an active participant in the sustainable development of global marine fisheries.  

The Agreement, developed under the leadership of the FAO, is a landmark treaty in global marine fishery governance. It aims to block illegally caught fish from entering markets through the effective application of port state measures, thereby ensuring the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and marine ecosystems. To date, the Agreement has 85 Parties, representing 111 countries and covering approximately three-quarters of the world's coastal states.