The sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) signed by the European Union and Mauritius on 21 December 2013 entered into force on 28 January 2014, for a period of 6 years, tacitly renewable for additional periods of 3 years.
A new fisheries protocol concluded between the European Union and Mauritius covers the period 21 December 2022 – 20 December 2026 with a financial contribution of €725,000 out of which €275,000 for the support and implementation of Mauritius's sectoral fisheries policy, and €175,000 for targeted actions for the development of the maritime policy and ocean economy.
It allows vessels from Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy to fish in the Mauritian waters and is part of the tuna network fisheries agreements in the Indian Ocean.
Main features of the SFPA
Duration of the agreement
6 years renewable for additional periods of 3 years (entry into force on 28.1.2014)
Duration of the protocol
4 years (21.12.2022-20.12.2026 - provisional application as of 21.12.2022)
Nature of the SFPA
Tuna fishery agreement
Financial contribution
An annual contribution of €725,000 out of which:
- €275,000 to support the fisheries sector
- €175,000 to develop the maritime policy and ocean economy of Mauritius
Fee for ship owners
€80 per tonne caught
Advances
Tuna Seiners: €9,360/year
Surface longliners: €4,560 for vessels of more than 100 GT; €2,400 for vessels of equal to/less than 100 GT)
Reference tonnage
5,500 t./year
| CURRENT PROTOCOL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing possibilities | |||||
| SPAIN | FRANCE | ITALY | PORTUGAL | TOTAL VESSELS | |
| Tuna seiners | 22 | 16 | 2 | - | 40 |
| Surface longliners | 12 | 29 | - | 4 | 45 |
History
The first fisheries agreement concluded between the Community and Mauritius dates back from 1989.
Documents
Current legal framework
Framework agreement: the Council adopted on 28.1.2014 the decision No 2014/146/EU concluding the framework agreement (OJ L 79 of 18.3.2014, p.3); the agreement entered into force on 28.1.2014 (OJ L 79 of 18.3.2014, p.1).
Current protocol : the Council adopted on 8.11.2022 the decision UE 2022/2585 (OJ L 338 of 30.12.2022, p.4 ; protocol p.6). The protocol was signed by the parties and entered into provisional application on the 21 of December 2022 (information published in OJ L338/1 of 30/12/2022)
Council regulation (EU) 2022/2584 of 8.11.2022 on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the protocol implementing the fishery partnership agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius (OJ L 338/2 of 30.12.2022).