Overview
Status: Dormant
The European Union and the Cook Islands signed a fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) on 14 October 2016, which took effect on 10 May 2017. It lasts for eight years and can automatically renew for another eight years.
The most recent protocol ended on 16 December 2021.
A dormant agreement means that the partnership exists, but there is no active protocol. As a result, with no rules on catches and contributions, the EU fleet cannot fish in Cook Islands waters. This also applies to direct licencing, in line with the agreement’s exclusivity clause and the common fisheries policy article 31(5).
However, dormant agreements can still be used for discussions and cooperation on fisheries issues.
News
On 4 December, the EU concluded an agreement with Norway and the UK on the management of jointly managed fish stocks in the North Sea for 2026.
Building on the success of the first fish in Poland to be awarded an EU food quality label, the Polish group Carp Valley has turned a centuries-old carp-farming tradition into a powerful brand that has become a source of both pride and economic benefits to the local community.
The European Commission has released the 2025 edition of the EU Fish Market report, revealing the latest trends in the European fisheries and aquaculture market.