EU/Mauritius Fisheries Partnership Agreement: implementing the Agreement (2022-2026). Protocol

The European Parliament adopted by 526 votes to 37, with 52 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius (2022-2026).

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

The objective of the Protocol is to enable the European Union and Mauritius to work more closely together in promoting cooperation in the field of ocean economy, aquaculture, sustainable development of the oceans, maritime spatial planning, marine energy and the marine environment, maritime policy development and the blue economy, while contributing to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

The EU-Mauritius FPA allows the EU fleet to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in Mauritian waters, with annual fishing possibilities of 5 500 tonnes for 40 purse seiners, 45 surface longliners and a number of authorised EU auxiliary vessels, as established by the relevant resolutions of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

This agreement is important for the EU tuna fleet in the Indian Ocean and strengthens relations between the EU and Mauritius.

The new protocol provides for a total financial contribution of EUR 2 900 000, i.e. EUR 275 000 per year for access to Mauritian waters, EUR 275 000 per year for support for Mauritius' sectoral fisheries policy and its implementation, and EUR 175 000 per year to support the implementation of the maritime policy and the development of the blue economy. In addition, a financial contribution will be paid by shipowners in accordance with the provisions of the Annex.