15 June 2026, Chișinău – The Republic of Moldova is now a party to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA), the first binding international treaty dedicated to combating illegal fishing through enhanced port state controls. The country deposited its instrument of accession with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the agreement entered into force in the Republic of Moldova on 20 May 2026.

Approved by the FAO Conference in 2009 and in force worldwide since 5 June 2016, the PSMA was created specifically to combat at the international level illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It sets common standards for port controls: Foreign-flagged vessels suspected of carrying illegally caught fish and conducting related activities can be denied entry or inspected, and their catch can be banned from being landed, shipped or sold. By closing ports to illegal operators, the agreement cuts off the access points on which IUU fishing depends.

Since 2018, 5 June has been marked globally as the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, raising awareness on sustainable fisheries.

For the Republic of Moldova, accession means adopting these common international rules and joining the global network through which countries share information on vessels suspected of illegal fishing and related activities. Alongside national measures and controls, accession connects the country to a coordinated system that makes it harder for illegally caught fish to find any market. It also supports fair and transparent trade and helps protect consumers.

"Illegal fishing is a problem no country can solve alone, and every new Party makes the international system stronger," said Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in the Republic of Moldova. "By joining the PSMA, the Republic of Moldova adds its voice to a worldwide effort to keep illegally caught fish out of trade and to protect shared aquatic resources for future generations. FAO is proud to stand with the country on this path."

The Agreement will be implemented through existing national mechanisms, with the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) responsible for carrying out the country's obligations under the Agreement and for exchanging information with authorities abroad.

"Joining this Agreement reflects our commitment to responsible, transparent trade and to protecting consumers in the Republic of Moldova," said Ludmila Catlabuga, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry. "It is another concrete step in aligning our standards with those of the European Union and strengthening our partners' confidence in the country's food safety controls."

With this step, the Republic of Moldova becomes one of 86 Parties to the Agreement — a group that includes the European Union and all its member states, together representing well over 100 countries, and the widest support enjoyed by any instrument of its kind. The PSMA contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal target 14.6 on ending IUU fishing, which remains one of the gravest threats to marine ecosystems and to the livelihoods of millions worldwide.

FAO continues to work alongside the Republic of Moldova across food safety, agriculture and the responsible management of natural resources.