Brussels, 05/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - According to a report published by the European Commission on 30 October on the EU/Côte d'Ivoire agreement on fisheries, the future protocol will include a reviewed reference tonnage, which is currently underutilised. In addition, the implementation of a monitoring and observation programme is seen by the authors of the report as a priority. As regards landings at the port of Abidjan by Community vessels, the need to make this port “more attractive technically and financially by improving the quality of services” is stressed. The inclusion of some major works and activities in the budget of the next European Development Fund (EDF) is suggested.
The partnership agreement on the fisheries sector concluded between the EU and Côte d'Ivoire covers the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2013. The financial contribution of the EU, which stands at €595,000, is entirely designed to support the fishing policy of Côte d'Ivoire. This agreement authorises Community vessels, mainly from Spain, Portugal and France, to fish in Ivorian waters. It is part of the network of tuna fishing agreements covering West Africa.
The fishing opportunities granted by the 2007-2013 protocol cover only tuna fishing vessels (seiners and longliners). The reference tonnage is 7000 tonnes. The utilisation rate of the fishing opportunities for longliners has been zero over the last three years, whilst the rate for Community seiners has been 100%, corresponding to 25 vessels. This did not, however, result in annual tuna catches reaching the reference tonnage level. The average annual catches of Spanish and French purse seiners during the period 2007-2010 was 3500 tonnes, which is half the reference tonnage. Catches therefore average out at 50% of the possible maximum. The report stresses the need to review the reference tonnage in light of the observed utilisation rate in recent years.
The other conclusions of the Commission's report are as follows: (1) as regards overall effectiveness, the agreement with Côte d'Ivoire respects the principles of good governance of the EU; (2) on a technical level, the implementation of the agreement is being carried out under good conditions, with the exception of control and monitoring, due to the absence of a legal framework, functioning equipment (for the satellite monitoring of vessels, for example) and human and nautical resources; (3) economically, the tuna agreements with the African countries generate some 800 jobs for European and African sailors. On a pro rata basis of catch, the agreement with Côte d'Ivoire creates some 420 jobs on land (processing factories and supply services); (4) the value of the catches made in the Ivorian zone is €4 million a year; (5) the added value generated by the agreement is in the order of €2 million, €360,000 for Côte d'Ivoire and €1.6 million for the EU; (6) the value of landings for factories is some €45 million a year, whilst the value for catches for the local market is in the order of €12 million; (7) the added value created by landings and transshipments is in the order of €2 million a year; (8) as regards the resource, the relative low level of catches in the Ivorian zone “does not compromise the renewal of tuna stocks and does not create any competition with Ivorian fleets”. (LC/transl.fl)