FAO highlights Panama’s work against illegal fishing

Within the eighth conference “Our Ocean Panama 2023”, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Manuel Barange, acknowledged the use of a modern satellite surveillance system against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (INDRN) in Panama.

Barange’s words came during a visit by an FAO delegation to the fisheries monitoring centers that the Water Resources Authority of Panama (Arab) has, both at its headquarters and in International fishing port of Vacamonte in western Panama.

Barange assured that the use of this modern surveillance system will Panama is a fundamental change in the way the country deals with the problem of illegal fishing, considering that “it must be sustainable, we need it for a world without hunger and malnutrition, and these systems are part of the use of technology for the benefit of people and the improvement of the state of our planet .

Barange indicated that FAO is cooperating with Panamafirst of all, on the issue of the implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures, and now the implementation of the new Panamanian Law on Fisheries no. 204 of March 18, 2021. He added that all fisheries must be regulated 100 percent, and part of that precise regulation, monitoring, control and monitoring systems like the one you saw today in Panama with a modern system that is less than two years old and this is a fundamental change in the way Panama treats the problem of illegal fishing.

Representative FAO recognized that Panama it showed that control and inspection have changed and this is proof of the desire of the Channel countries for responsible and sustainable fishing, so it is certain that this will be reflected in the discussions they are having with the European Union (EU) and any other organization or country interested in fishing products from Panama.

The General Manager of the Arabs, Flor Torrijos She pointed out that she was satisfied with the arrival of the FAO delegation, especially the visit of Mr. Barange, an expert on fisheries issues. He explained that the Fisheries Monitoring Center at the ARAP headquarters dealt with specific cases of vessels within the framework of the eighth conference Our Ocean Panama 2023, which will be held in this capital city from March 2 to 3, where a representative of the FAO- and Manuel Barange will be one of the panelists who will deal with the topic “Sustainable and responsible fishing”.

Torrijos stated that he was arab has positive feedback, especially the human team, which adds value to the Fisheries Monitoring Center with the use of platforms, alarms, innovation and the commitment of this human staff to be 24/7 and to be able to identify suspicious activity with those alarms that are received. He added that the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, launched a policy of zero tolerance towards illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and there is a direct mandate to fight this practice and 100 percent deter people from changing their behavior.

Minister of Midas, Augusto Valderrama He said that for Panama it is a moment of satisfaction and joy that he shares with the Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the FAO, Manuel Barange, as well as the representative of the FAO in Panama, Adorinan Sánches, and the entire team of this body. which provided support to Panama all the time.

Valderrama confirmed the support FAO from the first day when Panama is at the level of advanced countries in regulating, monitoring and fighting against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and that these advances are now less than two years away, in the midst of a pandemic and a war (Ukraine-Russia), where resources are limited.

He thanked the Arap i team Maritime Administration of Panama (AMP) for a national effort, so that the country remains among the leading nations in the fight against crime, in absolute transparency and the adoption of the Fisheries Act that was more than 65 years out of date.

During the visit, the representative Mr FAO in Panama, Adorin Sanchez; the general manager and deputy general manager of ARAP, Flor Torrijos and Hamed Tuñón, as well as the secretary general of the institution Carlos Castro, the minister of agricultural development Augusto Valderrama, the head of the Fisheries Monitoring Center María Sierra FAO specialist, Julio Calderón and the program assistant of the international organization, Erika Pinto, while in Vacamonte was the regional director of ARAP West Panama, Yorlenys Gutiérrez.