EU fishermen who were unable to fish for five months in Senegalese waters will not be eligible to receive EU aid, the European Commission ruled on Wednesday 26 October.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries has taken stock of the sustainable fisheries agreement between the EU and Senegal. Senegal delayed granting fishing licences and European shipowners lost five months of fishing (January to May 2022) in Senegalese waters (see EUROPE 13012/5).
The Commission representative explained that, according to the legal service (of this institution), the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) does not allow compensation to be paid to fishermen who have suffered damage for 5 months. “The current EMFAF cannot be used to compensate fishermen in this specific case”, the Commission said.
It was highlighted that the EMFAF enables support for the various EU fisheries policies. It is geared towards strengthening the resilience of the fleet to challenges (climate, fish stock management). As the fund is not very large, “it is important for us to target the actions financed on the objectives set when the EMFAF was adopted”, the Commission argued. Adding that, for “a large number of fishermen” concerned, fishing has resumed in Senegal and some were able to fish during these 5 months and even afterwards in locations other than in Senegalese waters.
The Commission will soon hold talks with Senegal in the framework of a joint committee (provided for in the EU/Senegal fisheries agreement) and “our intention” is to raise the issue and “make the Senegalese face their responsibilities and see what compensation the EU could obtain from Senegal”, the Commission concluded.
Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spanish) called the Commission’s position “unacceptable”.
Isabel Carvalhais (S&D, Portuguese) said the Commission should find a solution and provide compensation for the fishermen affected.
Izaskun Bilbao (Renew Europe, Spanish) spoke about EU canners in difficulty in Senegal who are threatening to go bankrupt because of the fishing stoppages. She asked the Commission to be responsible and to grant this compensation.
150 workers have lost their jobs, losses are €230,000 per vessel and four Spanish Basque tuna vessels are close to bankruptcy, said Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish).
Nicolás González Casares (S&D, Spanish) criticised the Commission for not standing up for EU fishermen. Sustainable fishing in Senegal will be replaced by Chinese fleets, he assured.
The chairman of this European Parliament committee, Pierre Karleskind (Renew Europe, French), criticised the “apathy” shown by the Commission when it comes to respecting international law. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)