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Oceans and fisheries

Guinea-Bissau

Sustainable fisheries partnership agreement with Guinea-Bissau

The current fisheries partnership agreement concluded between the EU and Guinea-Bissau started on 16 June 2007. It is tacitly renewed for 4-year periods.

It is a multi-species agreement covering tuna as well as cephalopods, shrimps, demersal species and small pelagics fishing categories. The agreement is part of the tuna network of fisheries agreements in West Africa and is one of only 2 active multi-species agreements in the region (the other being Mauritania).

The current protocol applies provisionally as of 18 September 2024 for a duration of 5 years. The protocol allows EU vessels from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and France, to fish in Guinea-Bissau's waters.

Main features of the SFPA

Duration of the agreement

4 years renewable (16.6.2007 - 15.6.2011, 16.6.2011 - 15.6.2015, 16.6.2015 - 15.6.2019, 16.6.2019 -1 5.6.2023, 16.6.2023 – 15.6.2028)

Nature of the SFPA

Multi-species agreement

Duration of the protocol

5 years (18.9.2024—17.9.2029)

Financial contribution

€17,000,000/year, including €4,500,000/year to support the fisheries sector.

Fishing opportunities 

Cephalopods and fish: 3,500 GRT per year

Shrimps: 3,700 GRT per year

Pole and line tuna vessels: 13 vessels

Freezer tuna seiners and longliner vessels: 28 vessels

Small pelagics: 0t per year (possibility of revision pending favourable scientific assessment)

Fee for ship owners

Pole and line: €70 per tonne caught
Seiners and long-liners: €80 for seiners per tne caught for first two calendar periods, and €85 for following calendar periods. €70 for long-liner per tonne caught
Fish & cephalopods:  €310/GRT/year  
Shrimps: First 2 years of the protocol: €434/GRT/year 

Advances (non-refundable)

Pole and line: €3,600 per year (ref catches: 51,43t)
Seiners: €5,500 per year (ref catches for first two calendar periods: 68,75 t; ref catches for following calendar periods: 64,71t)
Longliners: €3,600 per year (ref catches: 51,43 t)

History

The previous protocol with Guinea-Bissau expired on 15 June 2019. A new protocol was negotiated between the parties on 16 May 2024. Following the adoption by Council on 10 September 2024 of the decision on the signature and provisional application of the protocol, the new protocol between the EU and Guinea-Bissau was signed and applies provisionally as of 18 September 2024.

Scientific advice

In accordance with the agreement and protocol, the two parties encourage scientific cooperation and consult a joint scientific committee (JSC) to strengthen monitoring of the marine biological resources and to examine scientific questions relating to the implementation of the protocol.

The EU-Guinea-Bissau JSC last met in Bissau, 29 March to 5 April 2022.

Report of the Tenth Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee to the EU-Guinea Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement

Report of the Ninth Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee to the EU-Guinea Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement

Report of the Eighth Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee to the EU-Guinea Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement

Report of the Seventh Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee to the EU-Guinea Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement

Documents

Current legal framework

Agreement adopted by Council Decision 2007/854/EC of 4.12.2007 (OJ L342 of 27.12.2007). 

Protocol adopted by Council Decision 2024/2588 of 3.10.2024 (OJ L, 2024/2589, 3.10.2024). 

Allocation of fishing opportunities adopted by Council Regulation (EU) 2024/2591 of 10.9.2024  (OJ L, 2024/2591, 3.10.2024).