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Oceans and fisheries

Mauritius

Sustainable fisheries partnership agreement with Mauritius

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

€725,000 out of which €275,000 for targeted actions for the development of the fisheries sector and €175,000 for targeted actions for the development of the maritime policy and ocean economy.

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).