EC/Mozambique Fisheries Partnership Agreement
PURPOSE: to conclude a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Mozambique.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.
CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal is to conclude a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Community and the Republic of Mozambique, which was initialled on 21 December 2006. The Agreement provides Community fishermen with fishing opportunities in the Mozambique fishing zone for a period of five years from its entry into force and is renewable. Once approved the 2004 Fisheries and Partnership Agreement will be repealed.
The main objective of the new Partnership Agreement is to strengthen co-operation between the European Community and the Republic of Mozambique, thereby creating a framework of partnership in which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in the fishing zones off the coast of Mozambique.
In summary, the main provisions of the proposed Agreement and attached Protocol are as follows:
Scope: the Agreement sets out the principles, rules and procedures that govern economic, financial and technical issues as well as matters of scientific interest to both parties. It also covers: conditions governing access by Community vessels to Mozambique’s waters; arrangements for policing fisheries in Mozambique’s waters (with a view to ensuring that conservation measures are complied with); the prevention of illegal and unregulated fishing; and lastly the setting up of fishing operator partnerships.
Principles: both parties agree to promote responsible fishing; to implement a sectoral fisheries policy; to carry out regular evaluation reports; to implement the Agreement according to good economic practice and social governance; and to agree that seamen from Mozambique and/or APC seamen on board Community vessels will be regulated according to standards set by the ILO.
Scientific co-operation: both the Community and the Republic of Mozambique agree to monitor the evolution of resources in the fishing zone off Mozambique through joint scientific meetings that will be held annually.
Community access: Community vessels will be given access to the fishing zones off the Republic of Mozambique. Community fishing activities will be subject to the laws and regulations in force in Mozambique.
Licences: Community vessels will only be allowed to fish in the waters off Mozambique if they are in possession of a fishing licence issued under this Agreement.
Financial Contribution: the Community agrees to pay a single financial contribution, which is set out in the Protocol attached to this Agreement. The single contribution is composed of two related elements. Firstly, access by Community vessels to the fishing off Mozambique and secondly, to support responsible and sustainable fishing.
The financial contribution will amount to EUR 900 000 per year. It shall be entirely allocated to support the implementation of initiatives taken in the context of the sectoral fisheries policy and it shall be drawn up by the Government of Mozambique. This will comprise of EUR 650 000 per year equivalent to a reference tonnage of 10 000 tonnes per year and a specific amount of EUR 250 000 per year for the support and implementation of Mozambique’s sectoral fisheries policy.
Fishing opportunities: for a period of five years (beginning on 1 January 2007) the fishing opportunities granted under the terms of the Agreement will be as follows:
Highly migratory species:
· freezer tuna seiners: 44 vessels;
· surface longliners: 45 vessels.
In other provisions, the Agreement sets out the terms and conditions for terminating or suspending the Agreement as well as setting up a Joint Committee the purpose of which is to monitor the application of the Agreement.
The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol to the Agreement shall be allocated among the Member States as follows: For tuna fishing :
- Purse seine vessels: Spain: 23; France: 20 and Italy : 1.
- Long-liners: Spain: 21; France: 15; Portugal: 7 and the United Kingdom: 2.
If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol, the Commission may consider licence applications from any other Member State.