Pew Charitable Trusts Celebrates Landmark Ratification of Maritime Safety Treaty

Pew Charitable Trusts Applauds Ratification of International Maritime Safety Agreement

On February 25, 2026, the Pew Charitable Trusts celebrated a pivotal advancement in maritime safety as the Cape Town Agreement (CTA) secured enough backing from leading fishing nations, including Argentina, to come into effect next year. This binding international treaty is aimed at upgrading the safety standards of fishing vessels, ensuring more robust protections for crew members and observers at sea, and represents a crucial step in the global fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.

The Cape Town Agreement focuses on establishing a set of standards for the construction of industrial fishing vessels, encompassing vital aspects such as sea-worthiness, deck safety, heating systems, emergency procedures, and other life-saving measures. Prior to this landmark treaty, fishermen lacked comprehensive international protections comparable to those of other maritime professions. According to research commissioned by Pew and conducted by the FISH Safety Foundation, over 100,000 lives are lost each year in the fishing sector. The CTA aims to address this critical issue by prioritizing safety, thereby potentially preventing numerous fatalities.

Furthermore, enhancing safety standards on fishing vessels is expected to bolster initiatives against IUU fishing. Operators engaging in illegal fishing often cut corners in managing their vessels in pursuit of profits, which subsequently endangers the lives of workers in one of the world’s most hazardous occupations. With better management and standardized safety practices in place, authorities will have improved opportunities to detect and prevent IUU fishing activities.

The International Maritime Organization adopted the CTA in 2012, mainly applying to new vessels that are 24 meters or longer, and it will be implemented next year, buoyed by the ratification from 28 nations, surpassing the required 22 member states. Additionally, the agreement has already exceeded the threshold of covering at least 3,600 vessels, further validating its impending implementation.

The Cape Town Agreement aligns with two longstanding international agreements that aim to close loopholes in fishing regulations. These include the Food and Agriculture Organization's Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), which requires parties to strengthen and harmonize port controls, and the International Labor Organization's Work in Fishing Convention, which sets mandatory safety and labor standards on the high seas.

The momentum for more effective ocean governance has accelerated, with four major international agreements adopted or entering force since 2022. These include the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on Biodiversity in 2022, the World Trade Organization's fisheries subsidies agreement in 2025, the United Nations Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in January 2026, and now the CTA. Collectively, they signify a decisive shift toward ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.

Peter Horn, who leads Pew's efforts against illegal fishing, remarked, "The enactment of the Cape Town Agreement represents a crucial development towards enhancing the safety of fishermen at sea, strengthening the fight against IUU fishing, and promoting sustainable fisheries through improved oversight and management of fishing fleets. Until now, fishermen have lacked the same safety protections afforded to other mariners. As our global fishing sector loses over 100,000 lives annually, these protective measures are essential. Once this treaty comes into force next year, it will dramatically improve living standards in the fishing industry and reduce fishing-related mortality rates."

The Cape Town Agreement follows other influential ocean treaties, but the ambitious plans for sustainable governance are only as effective as their execution. Now, nations must turn commitments into tangible actions to ensure protection for not just global fisheries and the fishermen themselves, but for the entire ocean ecosystem.

Founded in 1948, Pew Charitable Trusts employs data-driven approaches to enact change, tackling challenges in a rapidly evolving world by illuminating issues, facilitating consensus, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to meaningful progress.