Following the 44th NEAFC Annual Meeting, Panama did not maintain its Cooperating Non-Contracting Party (CNCP) status for 2026, resulting in the mandatory suspension of NEAFC-regulated fishing and fishing-related activities by Panamanian-flagged vessels during the 2026. The Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) issued the Technical Circular USOROP No. 2025-001, dated November 24, 2025, to notify …
Following the 44th NEAFC Annual Meeting, Panama did not maintain its Cooperating Non-Contracting Party (CNCP) status for 2026, resulting in the mandatory suspension of NEAFC-regulated fishing and fishing-related activities by Panamanian-flagged vessels during the 2026.
The Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) issued the Technical Circular USOROP No. 2025-001, dated November 24, 2025, to notify the suspension of all operations involving species or activities regulated by NEAFC before 23:59 hours UTC on 31 December 2025. This operational cessation will be mandatory throughout the year 2026.
The suspension will remain in effect until Panama submits a new application to recover the CNCP status and such application is formally approved by the Members. During this period, no Panamanian vessel may carry out regulated activities within the area of competence of NEAFC.
Attached:
