On 28 July 2025, Lord Teverson asked the UK Government Department for Transport about the proposed ratification of the Cape Town Agreement to enhance fishing safety.

The Cape Town Agreement (CTA), when in force, will contribute to safe, legal and sustainable shipping. 

The agreement is expected to boost safety standards for more than 64,000 vessels world wide that are 24 metres in length. It is aimed at facilitating better control of fishing vessel safety by flag, port and coastal States. 

The CTA is also expected to contribute to the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and prevent marine plastic pollution from abandoned fishing nets and other equipment. 

Lord Teverson Liberal Democrat 

“To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 13 May (HL6754), and following their announcement at the United Nations Ocean Conference in June of the UK’s “impending ratification” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2012 Cape Town Agreement for the safety of fishing vessels, whether it is their intention to finalise the ratification process before the 34th session of the IMO Assembly in November.”

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Minister of State (Department for Transport) 

“The UK Government is committed to supporting the Cape Town Agreement. It is the first global agreement on fishing safety, to ensure mandatory minimum standards to safeguard fishers working at sea and deter vessels engaged in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing from operating by making poor working conditions subject to detention and inspection globally.

The Explanatory Memorandum on the Cape Town Agreement will be laid as a Command Paper before Parliament upon their return from recess on 1 September for 21 sitting days. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be asked to commence accession procedures once Parliament has resolved it is content to accede.”

ENDS.

Source: See ‘my Society’ Hansard reporting

Photo: David Hammond 2023, Falkland Islands, FV Lilibet.  

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