EC/Denmark/Greenland Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020. Protocol
PURPOSE: to conclude a protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community on the one hand, and Denmark and Greenland, on the other hand.
NON LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2016/817 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other hand.
CONTENT: with this Decision, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other hand, is approved on behalf of the Union.
Fishing opportunities: the Protocol grants fishing opportunities to Union vessels in the fishing zone of Greenland, in line with relevant conservation and management measures and within the limits of the available surplus.
To this effect, the protocol sets an indicative annual level of fishing opportunities granted by Greenland (in tonnes) to Union vessels by species:
- cod;
- pelagic redfish;
- demersal redfish;
- halibut;
- northern prawn;
- capelin;
- grenadier;
- by-catch (catches of all marine living organisms where these are not mentioned as target species on the fishing authorization of the vessel or do not meet the minimum size requirements; these are limited to a rate of 5% in the Northern prawn fisheries and 10% in other fisheries.
Following results to be assessed by the ICES Advisory Committee on the ongoing investigations and surveys at sea carried out on the different components of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in Greenland waters and more particularly on spawners located West Greenland inshore, West Greenland offshore and East Greenland offshore, the Joint Committee may revise or adjust the indicative fishing opportunities for cod.
Experimental fisheries: the Protocol contains provisions setting out the principle of sustainable fisheries. A programme for experimental fisheries for species not included in the Protocol is provided for as well as scientific cooperation with the aim of strengthening the principles of sustainable fisheries.
Financial contribution: the Protocol provides for a total annual financial contribution of EUR 17.799.978 per year for its duration.
This amount corresponds to:
- EUR 13.168.978 per year for the access to the Greenlandic fishing zone,
- EUR 2.931.000 per year, corresponding to the additional envelope paid by the EU in support of Greenland's fisheries policy and
- EUR 1.700.000 as an annual reserve for additional and new fishing opportunities that may be accepted by the EU subject to scientific advice and surplus resources.
The two Parties have agreed to cooperate to implement Greenlandic sectorial fisheries policy and to that end shall continue the policy dialogue on the relevant programming.
Joint committee: the Partnership Agreement sets up a Joint Committee to monitor the application of the Partnership Agreement and ensure its implementation. Furthermore, in accordance with the Protocol, the Joint Committee may approve certain modifications to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such modifications, the Commission is empowered, subject to specific conditions, to approve them under a simplified procedure.
Period of application: the Protocol covers a period of five years from 1.1.2016.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 17.5.2016.