Argentina’s approval of a law to accede to the FAO’s Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) on July 17 marks a significant step in IUU fishing in the southwest Atlantic, a region with albacore and bluefin fisheries. With Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay now all signatories of this agreement, the Southern Cone’s ports ( Brazil has not ratified PSMA) are better equipped to block IUU-derived tuna and other species, harmonizing regional efforts with global standards. PSMA is the only legally binding international treaty targeting IUU fishing and requires signatories to enforce strict port controls, including inspections and data sharing, to prevent illegally caught seafood from entering global markets.

The agreement’s impact is already evident since it entered into force in June 2016. The risk of IUU-caught seafood reaching ports has decreased worldwide, thanks to stricter controls. For the southwest Atlantic, where distant-water fleets target tuna and other valuable species, PSMA implementation means vessels face greater difficulties in offloading illegal catches. This not only deters IUU fishing but also strengthens the protection of vital marine resources by making it harder for illegal catches to reach the market. In February, Argentina acceded the Cape Town Agreement under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for mandatory safety standards for fishing vessels over 24 meters in length.