On Thursday 3 February, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries voiced their concerns about the problems encountered by EU vessels with the implementation of the fisheries agreement with Senegal, which has been in force since 2019.
The European Commission has tried to reassure MEPs of the problems, particularly with regard to the issuing of licences to EU vessels to fish in Senegalese waters. This is the third year of the 5-year protocol (see EUROPE 12600/13).
Captures. The Commission representative referred to unresolved differences of opinion over the catches made by EU vessels. The EU has made compromise proposals “with a view to arriving at figures on catch data and we are awaiting a response from Senegal”, the Commission said. As a result, Senegal has not issued the fishing licences requested for 2022. However, ships have applied and paid the fees. “We are trying to solve this problem”, the Commission said. The Commission hopes that an extraordinary meeting of the ‘mixed committee’ under the EU/Senegal protocol can take place in February.
Bait boats. Senegal limits the access of European ships to Hann Bay. However, the bait boats need to take the live bait from it. The ships in question are in very difficult situations (economic losses and jobs threatened).
However, a scientific report concluded that taking live bait in this bay had no impact on the resource. The EU believes that Senegal could accept a compromise (regulated access with time and space limits). “We are in a stalemate. I hope that we will be able to meet quickly with the Senegalese to find a solution”, said the Commission.
Finally, EU compensation funds are excluded, as there is no complete cessation of activities. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)