When it comes to fishing vessel safety, the mission is clear, says Sandra Allnutt of the IMO: enhance safety to save lives. Ms Allnutt, Head of Maritime Technology in IMO’s Maritime Safety Division commented: ‘We want to reduce loss of life in one of the most dangerous professions in the world, and we want to enhance safety on board fishing vessels.’

She was speaking following a regional seminar in Cape Town to promote ratification and implementation of a key fishing vessel safety treaty known as the Cape Town Agreement of 2012. She added: ‘This Agreement, once fully ratified, in force and implemented, will be an internationally binding agreement which will facilitate better control of fishing vessel safety by flag, port and coastal States. It will also contribute to the fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.’