The European Commission has welcomed the positive vote of the plenary session of the European Parliament to the protocols to the bilateral Fisheries Partnership Agreements between the EU and Madagascar, the EU and Cape Verde and the EU and Guinea Bissau.
“I am very pleased that the European Parliament has voted to give its consent to the new fisheries protocols between the EU and Madagascar, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau,” said European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella.
“In line with the principles of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), these protocols contribute to the responsible fishing and sustainable management of fisheries resources. The protocols further consolidate the network of agreements for the fishing of tuna in the Indian Ocean and in the waters of West Africa. In the case of Guinea-Bissau, EU vessels will also be allowed to fish other species such as shrimps, fin-fish and cephalopods,” Vella pointed out.
“Our partner countries will benefit not only in terms of receiving financial contribution for access of EU vessels to their fisheries resources, but they will also receive funding to support the development of their fisheries sectors, in particular the artisanal fisheries and the reinforcement of their fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance capacities. The proper implementation of this sectoral support by the EU to the partner countries is a key priority and will be monitored closely by the Commission,” the Commissioner added.
The new fisheries protocol between the EU and Cape Verde allows 71 EU vessels, mostly from Spain, to perform fishing activities for four years in the African country’s waters.
Cape Verde will receive EUR 550,000 annually in return during the first two years and EUR 500,000 during the two following ones the agreement is in effect. Half of the financial compensation should be allocated to promote sustainable fisheries and support local fishermen.
The agreement with Madagascar allows 94 European vessels to perform fishing activities in this fishery ground, particularly freezer tuna seiners, surface longliners and pole and line tuna vessels with the flags of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.
Madagascar will receive a financial compensation of EUR 866,250 per year the first two years and a further sum amounting to EUR 787,500 in the last two years. Furthermore, the EU will grant EUR 700,000 per year to support the Madagascan fisheries policy and promote sustainability in its waters.
The agreement with Guinea Bissau allows EU vessels — especially from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and France to resume fishing in waters of the African country over the next three years.
In return for the fishing permits, the EU will pay the Government of Guinea-Bissau an annual contribution of EUR 9.2 million. Out of that total, EUR 6.2 million will cover access to fishery resources from the country and the remaining EUR 3 million will be allocated to developing the local fisheries sector.
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