Fishing deal

Spain has become the latest country to accede to the IMO’s 2012 Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety, significantly boosting the number of vessels needed for entry into force. The entry into force will result in benefits including fewer accidents, fewer lives lost and a more effective infrastructure for monitoring and targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. “With Spain’s accession we are approaching halfway to reaching the entry into force criteria for this vital treaty. I urge other IMO member states to follow suit,” said IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim.