On Tuesday, 7 January, the European Commission adopted the proposals that describe the contents of the new six-year (2020-2026) fisheries agreement between the EU and the Seychelles (see EUROPE 12356/18).
This is the EU’s most important current tuna agreement, both financially and in terms of fishing opportunities (see EUROPE 12294/30).
It will allow the EU fleet - 40 purse seiner vessels (22 from Spain, 16 from France and two from Italy) and eight surface longliners (four from France, two from Spain and two from Portugal) - to continue fishing for a reference tonnage of 50,000 tonnes of tuna in Seychelles waters.
The EU will provide Seychelles with an annual financial contribution of €5.3 million, €2.8 million of which is earmarked to promote the sustainable management of fisheries in Seychelles as well as to support the development of small-scale fisheries.
For the whole duration of the protocol, the total estimated value, including the EU ship-owners’ contribution for purchasing licences, amounts to €58.2 million, equivalent to €9.7 million per year.
Inspections. Cooperation on monitoring, control and surveillance on fishing activities will be further reinforced, including through the possibility of carrying out joint EU-Seychelles inspections on EU vessels fishing in Seychelles’ waters.
The protocol will contribute to the social and economic development of the Seychelles by better defining the conditions of local people working on EU vessels as well as by providing financial support for building the infrastructure required for local fishing activities.
The new six-year protocol contains new provisions reinforcing the monitoring of the EU fleet’s activities (including through the electronic reporting system and the electronic monitoring device).
Environmental protection is taken into account through provisions on the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs), support vessels and reinforcement of the role of observers.
These provisions take into account the creation of marine spatial planning zones in Seychelles waters.
For the first time, EU shipowners' payments will include a specific contribution to a dedicated fund that the Seychelles will set up to improve environmental management and observation of marine ecosystems in its waters. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)