The Cape Town Agreement is an international treaty adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that establishes the first mandatory global safety standards for the design, construction, and equipment of commercial fishing vessels of 24 meters and over.
Following its official ratification threshold being met in February 2026, the agreement is set to enter into legal force in February 2027, a milestone that will finally provide fishers with legally binding safety protections and vessel inspections long enjoyed by the merchant shipping industry.
This webinar will highlight what it means for fishing vessel safety in the Arctic.