The fisheries partnership agreement (FPA) signed by the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire applied from 1 July 2007 until 30 June 2013. After this, it has been tacitly renewed for 6 years periods.
The current fisheries protocol covers the period 6 June 2025 – 5 June 2029 with an EU financial contribution of €2,96 million for the total period of application, out of which €435,000 per year are for the support and implementation of Côte d’Ivoire’s sectoral fisheries policy.
It allows vessels from France, Spain and Portugal to fish for highly migratory species (tuna and tuna-like species) in Côte d’Ivoire waters.
Main features of the SFPA
Duration of the agreement
6 years renewable (1 July 2007 - 30 June 2013)
Duration of the protocol
6 years (6 June 2025 - 30 June 2029)
Nature of the SFPA
Tuna fishery agreement
Financial contribution
€740,000 per year paid by the EU
Fees for operators
€80 per tonne caught until 5 June 2027, then €85 per tonne caught.
- Advance payment for tuna seiners: €12,000 per vessels per year until 5 June 2027, then €12,750 thereafter (equivalent to the fees due for 150 tonnes per year).
- Advance payment for surface longliners: €4,000 per vessel per year until 5 June 2027, then €4,250 thereafter (equivalent to the fees due for 50 tonnes per year).
- Support vessels in support of seiners: €3,500 per year.
- Observer fees: €400 per vessel.
Reference tonnage
6,100 tonnes per year
Fishing opportunities (number of vessels) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
SPAIN | FRANCE | PORTUGAL | TOTAL VESSELS | |
Freezer tuna seiners | 14 | 11 | - | 25 |
Surface longliners | 5 | - | 2 | 7 |
Scientific advice
Tuna-like species in the Atlantic are managed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which includes both the EU and Côte d'Ivoire as members. The EU and Côte d'Ivoire work together within ICCAT to study and manage tuna stocks. The EU's tuna fleet fishes sustainably and follows ICCAT's rules. According to the agreement and its implementing protocol, the EU and Côte d'Ivoire can hold scientific meetings to assess and recommend ways to manage fishery resources sustainably.