In 2023, the Commission adopted the  Recommendation by ICCAT amending Recommendation 18-09 on port State measures to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (Rec. 23-17).

• Form for reporting authorised ports, contact points and notification periods
• Advance Request for Port Entry (ARPE)
• ICCAT Port Inspection Report

In addition to lists of authorised ports, contact points and notification periods (see ICCAT Record of Authorised Ports), this Recommendation requires the submission of copies of inspection reports to the ICCAT Secretariat.

The Port Inspection Expert Group for Capacity Building and Assistance (PIEG) adopted a two-tier assessment process. CPCs wishing to request assistance for the implementation of port State measures (PSM) are requested to complete the  Self pre-assessment form. Once reviewed by the Expert Group, the full Self-assessment form should be completed.

ICCAT Port State Measures (PSM) Inspector Training Manual

In accordance with paragraph 8 of Rec. 23-17, CPCs are required to designate two types of points of contact:

• Port CPCs that grant access to its ports to foreign fishing vessels shall designate a point of contact for the purpose of receiving Advance requests of entry into port referred to in paragraph 13.
• Flag CPCs shall designate a point of contact for the purpose of receiving inspection reports where there is evidence that their vessels may have committed a potential infringement, as established in paragraph 35(b).

All foreign-flagged vessels falling within the scope of Rec. 23-17 and seeking entry into a designated port of a CPC shall submit an Advance Request for Port Entry (ARPE) to the designated port State CPC point of contact (available here) at least 72 hours prior to the estimated time of arrival. Such requests shall contain all information specified in paragraph 13 of the Recommendation referred to above.

In the event that a port CPC authorises entry into one of its designated ports of a foreign flag vessel, and after inspecting that vessel, collects enough evidence to assume that the vessel has committed an infringement of ICCAT conservation and management measures, the inspector shall record the infringement in the inspection report and transmit it to the port CPC competent authority, ICCAT Secretariat, the flag State point of contact (available here) and, as appropriate, to the relevant coastal State(s). Should the inspection provide evidence that the inspected vessel has engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) activities, the port CPC shall deny the vessel the use of the port in accordance with paragraph 22. In addition to the denial of use of port, port States may take other actions that are in conformity with international law.

Please click here to view a list of infringements and actions taken by Port States.

Infringements that do not fall within the jurisdiction of the port CPC, and infringements referred to in paragraph 35 for which the port CPC has not taken action, shall be referred to the flag State and, as appropriate, the relevant coastal State. Upon receiving the copy of the inspection report and evidence, the flag CPC shall promptly investigate the infringement and notify the ICCAT Secretariat of the status of the investigation and of any enforcement action that may have been taken within six months of such receipt. If the flag CPC cannot notify the ICCAT Secretariat regarding this status report within six months of such receipt, the flag CPC should notify the ICCAT Secretariat within the six-month time period regarding the reasons for the delay and when the status report will be submitted. The ICCAT Secretariat shall promptly publish this information in the secure part of the ICCAT website. CPCs shall include in their Annual Report (Ref. 23-24) information regarding the status of such investigations.

In accordance with paragraph 39 of Rec. 23-17: “Port CPCs shall submit each year by 15 September in relation to activity occurring between 1 January and 31 December of the previous year the data listed in Annex 1” and “The ICCAT Secretariat shall promptly publish this information in the secure part of the ICCAT website”.