European Parliament approved (545 votes in favour, 89 against and 15 abstentions), on Wednesday 20 May, conclusion of new fisheries protocol between European Union and São Tomé and Príncipe.
The protocol covers the 2025-2029 period and allows European vessels to fish up to 6,500 tonnes of tuna and migratory species per year in the archipelago’s waters. It opens fishing opportunities for 26 European tuna seiners and nine longliners, mainly Spanish, French and Portuguese (see EUROPE 13682/14).
In return, EU will pay €825,000 per year, of which €500,000 will go towards supporting local artisanal fisheries and strengthening monitoring of activities.
Parliament also approved (476 votes in favour, 101 against and 74 abstentions) conclusion of protocol implementing fisheries agreement between EU and government of Cook Islands. The protocol, which covers the 2025-2032 period, opens fishing opportunities for four European tuna seiners, with 40 days of fishing per year in the Cook Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Union will pay annual financial compensation of €460,000, part of which is intended for sustainable development of local fisheries sector. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)