The European Commission announced on 28 April that an agreement between the EU and the Republic of Mauritius had been reached on renewing the protocol to the sustainable fisheries partnership agreement. The current protocol came into effect on 28 January 2014 and expired on 27 January 2017.
The new protocol sets the conditions to allow EU tuna fishing vessels to fish in Mauritius' waters for a period of four years. It provides for a financial contribution of €575,000 per year and an increased contribution to be paid by vessel-owners. For the first time, it also includes specific provisions and financial incentives to support the development of the ocean economy in Mauritius “as a contribution to its economic growth”.
The aim is to broaden the scope of the relations between the EU and Mauritius in the field of fisheries and maritime economy. The protocol will come into force in the coming months, after the completion of adoption procedures on both sides. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)