Panama strengthens oversight of its international fleet with a new transshipment monitoring policy

A new policy document adopted by the government of Panama is slated to help the Central American country improve controls of its international service fleet and boost transshipment oversight as part of a move to secure increased compliance with national and international regulations. 

The Guide for Transshipment Authorisation, developed in collaboration with Global Fishing Watch and the IMCS Network with contributions from WildAid, was announced by the Panama Authority of Aquatic Resources (ARAP) on Jan. 3 through a formal administrative resolution. It will support Panamanian authorities in improving the transshipment authorization process through a standardized, step-by-step procedure that uses both the vessel monitoring system (VMS) data from Panamanian-flagged vessels and automatic identification system (AIS) data from the Global Fishing Watch map. 

“By enhancing transshipment controls and integrating cutting-edge monitoring technology, Panama is setting a powerful example for responsible fisheries management,” said Adel Heenan, Head of Applied Research and Capacity Development Transfer at Global Fishing Watch, who noted that the Guide is the end result of a more than two-year collaboration which saw the team work closely with Panamanian officials to better understand the authorities’ tasks and identify opportunities for improvement.

Although transshipment—the transfer of catch between vessels—plays a vital and routine part in the commercial fishing industry, it can be associated with an increased risk of illegal, unreported and unregulated fish product entering the seafood supply chain, thereby facilitating criminal activities in the fisheries sector. This is because transshipment activities often take place on the high seas, out of sight and reach of authorities. Limitations in effective monitoring and controls enable unscrupulous actors to manipulate data for financial advantage, ultimately opening the door to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other maritime crimes, such as the trafficking of weapons, drugs and even people. Clearer, improved monitoring practices help to reduce this threat.

A key fisheries nation with the world’s largest carrier fleet, Panama has twice received a European Union (EU) “yellow card” for non-compliance with international conservation and management measures as well as shortcomings in efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The reported non-compliances included inadequate control over Panama’s flagged vessels which undermined traceability and catch verification and resulted in inadequate law enforcement and poor implementation of United Nations Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) to prevent fish caught through IUU fishing activities from reaching national and international markets. In response, Panama has taken steps to strengthen its fisheries oversight, including adopting new regulations, enhancing transparency, and reinforcing monitoring mechanisms

Since the latest yellow card was issued in 2019, Panamanian authorities have sought to address EU concerns through a multipronged approach, including international cooperation, transformation of infrastructure and legislation, knowledge transfer, capacity development as well as technical and financial support. Indeed, in 2019, Panama began publicly sharing vessel tracking data for its international fleet on the Global Fishing Watch platform, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability through vessel tracking data transparency. This was followed by a new fishing law in 2021 and revised regulations in 2023, including a focus on transshipment. Panama has also implemented bilateral agreements to facilitate information sharing between national authorities and regional institutions. Against this backdrop, the Guide for Transshipment Authorization is the latest effort by Panamanian authorities to implement improvements on the oversight of Panamanian flagged vessels in international service and involved in transshipment. 

“The adoption of the Guide is a concrete step in Panama’s commitment to accountability and stronger fisheries management,” continued Heenan. “It will improve the country’s control and monitoring of fishing internationally and ultimately help protect marine ecosystems from overexploitation and the livelihoods of people that depend on them.”