EC/Cape Verde Fisheries Partnership Agreement (2019-2024). Implementation Protocol

PURPOSE: to approve the conclusion of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (2019-2024).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde entered into force on 30 March 2007. The current Protocol to the Agreement entered into force on 23 December 2014 and expires on 22 December 2018.

The evaluation report concluded that the EU tuna fishing sector has a strong interest in fishing in Cabo Verde and that a renewal of the Protocol would help strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance and contribute to improved governance of the fisheries in the region.

The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the European Union, a new Protocol on the implementation of the Agreement. At the end of the negotiations, the Protocol was initialled on 12 October 2018. The Protocol has been in provisional application since its date of signature. It must now be approved on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (2019-2024).

Objective

The new Protocol provides fishing opportunities for Union vessels in Cabo Verde waters, on the basis of the best available scientific advice and following the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). It will also enable the European Union and the Republic of Cabo Verde to work more closely on promoting sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Cabo Verde waters and support efforts by Cabo Verde to develop its blue economy, in the interests of both parties.

Fishing opportunities

The Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories:

- 28 freezer tuna seiners;

- 27 surface longliners;

- 14 pole-and-line tuna vessels.

Financial contribution

The European Union's annual financial contribution amounts to EUR 750 000, based on:

- a reference tonnage of 8 000 tonnes per year, for which an amount linked to access has been set at EUR 400 000 per year for the entire duration of the Protocol;

- support for the development of the sectoral fisheries policy and the blue economy of Cabo Verde for an amount of EUR 350 000 per year for the entire duration of the Protocol. This support meets the objectives of Cabo Verde's national policy on the sustainable management of its continental and maritime fishery resources for the entire duration of the Protocol.

The Protocol covers a period of five years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. from the date of its signature.