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 8 December 2017 – 7 December 2021 with a financial contribution of €575,000 out of which €220,000 for targeted actions for the development of the fisheries sector, and €135,000 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 (8.12.2017-7.12.2021 - provisional application as of 8.12.2017)
Nature of the SFPA
Tuna fishery agreement
Financial contribution
€575,000 out of which €220,000 for targeted actions for the development of the fisheries sector and €135,000 for targeted actions for the development of the maritime policy and ocean economy
Fee for ship owners
€65 per tonne caught for 2 years, then €70
Advances
Tuna Seiners: €8,500/year
Surface longliners: €4,125 for vessels of more than 100 GT; €2,050 for vessels of equal to/less than 100 GT)
Reference tonnage
4,000 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 23.10.2017 the decision UE 2017/1960 (OJ L 279 of 28.10.2017, p.1 ; protocol p.3). The protocol was signed by the parties and entered into provisional application on the 8th of December 2017 (information published in OJ L336/1 of 16/12/2017).
By Decision (EU)2018/754 on the Conclusion of the Protocol, the Council approved the protocol on 14 May 2018 (OJ L 128/1 24.5.2018).
Council regulation(EU) 2018/76 of 23.10.2017 on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the fishery partnership agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius (OJ L 14/1 of 19.01.2018).