Nassau, The Bahamas:  Officials from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) paid a courtesy call on Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Hon. Michael Pintard recently. The team is in The Bahamas to assess the country's efforts as far Port State Measures Agreement is concerned. The Bahamas signed on to this agreement in 2016 and is a part of the regional project sponsored by the FAO and NOAA.

The team is in The Bahamas to assist the Department of Marine Resources and stakeholders build capacity in the country. While here, they will tour port facilities, review legal framework and meet with stakeholders. During the meeting, Minister Pintard thanked the group for their assistance to The Bahamas and called on greater cooperation in the country's efforts to track down US based ownership of boats that illegally fish in The Bahamas.