What Happened
Panama has reinforced its fight against illegal fishing through a new interinstitutional cooperation agreement between the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama and the National Aeronaval Service. The pact is designed to improve planning, coordination, control, and operational support in the effort to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and protect the country’s aquatic resources.
The agreement was signed by SENAN director general Luis De Gracia and ARAP administrator general Eduardo Carrasquilla. Both institutions framed the move as a way to combine personnel, resources, and operational capacity to better safeguard Panama’s maritime spaces.
Why It Matters
Illegal fishing poses a direct threat to Panama’s marine ecosystems, coastal economies, and food security. When fishing occurs outside official rules or quotas, it can weaken stock recovery, reduce catches for authorized fishers, and undermine efforts to manage the country’s maritime resources sustainably.
Panama’s geographic position, with access to both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, makes maritime enforcement especially important. Coordinated patrols and stronger monitoring can help authorities respond more effectively to fishing violations, vessel activity, and other illicit conduct at sea.
How the Agencies Will Work Together
Under the cooperation framework, ARAP and SENAN will continue joint efforts in fisheries oversight, landing-site inspections, closed-season enforcement, and maritime and coastal patrols. Those tasks are central to tracking compliance and identifying irregular activity linked to illegal fishing.
De Gracia said the pressure Panama faces from illegal fishing, resource depletion, and other maritime crimes requires concrete and sustainable action. He added that SENAN will continue strengthening maritime surveillance and supporting measures aimed at preserving resources for future generations.
Background and Ongoing Enforcement
Carrasquilla described SENAN’s collaboration as sincere and selfless and said the agencies already have enforcement operations in place that have been highly successful. The new agreement formalizes and deepens that coordination as Panama works to protect its aquatic resources and promote sustainable use of the sea.
The push against illegal fishing fits into a broader national effort to defend the country’s maritime territory and ensure that fishing activity follows the rules established to conserve marine life. By linking enforcement and regulatory oversight, Panama is aiming to make its control efforts more effective across ports, coasts, and open waters.