Overview
Status: Protocol in place
Type of agreement: Tuna and tuna-like species
Protocol dates: 1 July 2023 (provisional application) - 30 June 2027 (entry into force 12 December 2023)
EU total financial contribution: €1,800,000 per year
The EU and Madagascar have a long-standing fisheries partnership, first agreed in 1986.
The sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) signed by the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its fisheries protocol applies from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2027.
Financial details
EU financial contribution: €1,800,000 per year, with €1,100,000 dedicated to supporting the sustainable development of Madagascar’s fisheries policy.
Fees for operators: €85 per tonne caught; €2.5/GT for the environmental tax for every ship
- Advance payment for tuna seiners: €16,150 per vessels per year (equivalent to the fees due for 190 tonnes per year).
- Advance payment for surface longliners >100 GT: €4,930 per vessel per year (equivalent to the fees due for 58 tonnes per year).
- Advance payment for surface longliners = or < 100 GT: € 3,145 per year (equivalent to the fees due for 37 tonnes per year)
- Support vessels in support of seiners: €5,000 per year.
- Observer fees: €30 per day at sea of the observer.
Access to waters
Reference tonnage: 14,000 tonnes per year, including a quota for sharks 220 tonnes.
Fishing access: Vessels from Spain, France, Italy, Portugal can fish for tuna and tuna-like species in Madagascar waters.
| Fishing opportunities (number of vessels) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | France | Italy | Portugal | TOTAL | |
| Tuna seiners | 16 | 15 | 1 | - | 32 |
| Surface longliners, tonnage above 100 | 7 | 4 | - | 2 | 13 |
| Surface longliners tonnage 100 and below | - | 20 | - | - | 20 |
Sectoral support
The EU provides an envelop of €1,100,000 per year to support the national strategy for sustainable fisheries. It should contribute to good ocean governance and the promotion of responsible and sustainable fisheries.
EU funding supports the following priorities
- developing sustainable small-scale fishing and aquaculture
- monitoring fishing activities to prevent illegal practices
- strengthening fisheries research, capacity to manage marine ecosystems and fishery resources
- improvement of fishery products quality and safety
Scientific advice
Tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean are managed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which includes both the EU and Madagascar as members. The EU and Madagascar work together within IOTC to evaluate and manage tuna and tuna-like species stocks. The EU's tuna fleet fishes in compliance with IOTC rules.
According to the agreement and its implementing protocol, the EU and Madagascar can hold scientific meetings to assess and recommend ways to manage fishery resources sustainably.
