EC/Guinea-Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement (2019-2024). Protocol

Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2019-2024)

The new Protocol provides fishing opportunities for EU vessels in Guinea Bissau waters, based on the best available scientific advice and in compliance with the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). It shall enable the European Union and the Republic of Guinea Bissau to work more closely together to promote the responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in Guinea Bissau's waters and to support Guinea Bissau's efforts to develop its blue economy, in the interest of both parties. 

Principles

The Parties undertake to :

- promote responsible fishing in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone on the basis of the principle of non-discrimination;

- ensure that this Protocol is implemented in accordance with the Cotonou Agreement concerning essential elements regarding human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, and fundamental elements regarding good governance, sustainable development and sound environmental management;

- publish and exchange information on any agreement allowing foreign vessels to enter Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone and on the resulting fishing effort, in particular the number of authorisations issued and the catches made.

Fishing opportunities

The Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories:

- shrimp freezer trawlers;

- fin-fish and cephalopod freezer trawlers;

- small pelagic trawlers;

- tuna freezer seiners and longliners;

- pole-and-line tuna vessels.

For the first three categories, fishing opportunities are expressed in terms of fishing effort (GRT) for the first two years and in terms of catch limit (TAC) for the last three years. The transition from an effort management system (based on GRT) to a catch limit system (based on TAC) shall be accompanied by the implementation of the system of electronic catch reporting (Electronic Reporting System, ERS) and catch data processing.

Financial contribution

The European Union's annual financial contribution amounts to EUR 15 600 000. It comprises:

- an annual amount for access to fishery resources in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone of EUR 11 600 000; and

- support for the development of the sectoral fisheries policy and the blue economy of Guinea-Bissau for an amount of EUR 4 000 000 per year for the entire duration of the Protocol. This support meets the objectives of Guinea-Bissau’s national policy on the sustainable management of its continental and maritime fishery resources for the entire duration of the Protocol.

Sectoral support

This shall contribute to the implementation of the national strategy for fisheries and the blue economy. It aims to support the sustainable management of fishery resources and the development of the sector, in particular by:

- strengthening: (i) the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities (including by putting in place the ERS and ensuring it is operational); (ii) the collection and processing of data for scientific purposes and the capacity to analyse and assess fishery resources and fisheries; (iii) the capacity of operators in the fisheries sector; (iv) international cooperation;

- supporting small-scale fishing; improving the conditions for exporting fishery products and promoting investment in the sector; developing infrastructure relevant to fisheries; supporting the blue economy and developing aquaculture.

No later than three months after the entry into force or, if applicable, the provisional application of the Protocol, the Joint Committee shall adopt a multi-annual sectoral programme and detailed rules for its application.

The new Protocol covers a period of 5 years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. from the date of its signature.