Fisheries agreement resumes

European Union and Côte d’Ivoire renew their sustainable fisheries partnership

CÔTE D’IVOIRE: After nearly a year, the EU and Côte d’Ivoire signed a protocol that resumes their cooperation under the fisheries partnership agreement last week.

The protocol will grant EU vessels access to Côte d’Ivoire’s waters for a period of four years and a right to fish some 6,100 tonnes of tuna and other migratory species per year. In this way, the protocol contributes to EU efforts to increase food security and promote adequate supply of fisheries products to the EU market.

At the same time, the protocol aims to foster development of a sustainable fisheries sector in Côte d’Ivoire by improving scientific knowledge and administrative capacity for management of fisheries resources in Côte d’Ivoire.

As part of the agreement, the EU will assist local communities through job creation.

Moreover, with help of the EU sector-specific funding, Côte d’Ivoire will identify and implement projects to further improve the monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries, and fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

The total EU contribution under this new protocol will amount to €2 967 million. This comprises of €740,000 per year, of which €435,000 is earmarked for support to the sustainable fisheries sector in Côte d’Ivoire.

In addition to the EU contribution, EU shipowners will pay the Côte d’Ivoire administration a licence and capture fee of €80 per tonne. This fee will increase to €85 per tonne in the third and fourth year of the protocol’s implementation.

The protocol should also lead to better labour conditions on board of the fishing vessels. To this aim, the protocol includes a mutual commitment to ensure the respect the working conditions established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Finally, the protocol is expected to enhance respect of international obligations, as it explicitly refers to the recommendations and resolutions of the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and other international agreements and legal instruments applicable to fisheries.