About Pew's Port State Performance

Pew’s Port State Performance research consolidates five years of movement data on IUU-listed vessels, tracking their port visits globally to evaluate port State performance in combating illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. From January 2004 to March 2009, 176 vessels were on IUU vessel lists maintained by four tuna and four high seas Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). Port State Performance is investigating where each vessel went while on an IUU vessel list.

World Map & Profiles

Port States with four or more reported vessel movements by IUU-listed vessels are profiled in the Country Profile section. Each country profile includes information concerning RFMO memberships, ratification of international treaties, discussion of the country specific findings and correspondence with the port State as well as a detailed list of all port visits by IUU-listed vessels.

The vessels profiled are case studies of three types of vessel movement behaviour Port State Performance has observed. Some vessels, such as the Rosita, especially after having been subjected to public ”fame” as an IUU-listed vessel, are regularly picked up and penalised by port authorities, eventually forcing them to stop their illegal business. Others, like the Cefey, manage to "escape" which means that they carry on their operations by moving to ports of Non-Contracting Parties of the RFMO where they are listed; while the third group, including the Athena F is made up of vessels that are entirely unaffected by port State measures.

Research

Port State Performance offers its preliminary results and conclusions as well as its initial recommendations and invites port States and other interested parties to offer comment or clarification on the research findings. Anyone wished to offer comment, please email Port State Performance

The Port State Performance combined IUU vessel list includes comprehensive information on all vessels listed on an RFMO IUU vessel list. The vessel movements file details each IUU-listed vessel’s activities over the past five years. Both the combined IUU vessel list and the vessel movements file are available for download.

Supporting Materials and Further Information

Port State Performance provides background information on the The Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, as well as a detailed glossary explaining all the terminology used. Resources and useful links are also suggested as a non-exhaustive selection of wider reading and further information concerning port States and IUU fishing.