The New Zealand government announced Monday that it has ratified an international agreement designed to fight illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Port State Measures Agreement set minimum standards for port access by foreign flagged fishing vessels and related support vessels, said Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy in a joint statement. "Widespread implementation of the agreement will make it more difficult and less economic to undertake IUU fishing," McCully said. New Zealand was the ninth country to ratify the agreement, which would come into force with 25 ratifications. "For New Zealand, it will means our fishers can operate in high value international fisheries with less threat of IUU fishers, while ensuring sustainability of our oceans," Guy said. "Supporting an international framework that enables long-term sustainable use of fisheries resources is important for New Zealand."