EU renews Sustainable Fishing Partnership Agreement with Cape Verde

Last Friday, the EU and Cape Verde agreed to renew the current Sustainable Fishing Partnership Agreement (SFPA) protocol, which expires at the end of the year. The outcome of the negotiations is a balanced deal, profitable to both parties.

This fisheries agreement allows EU vessels from Spain, Portugal and France to fish in Cape Verdean waters and is part of the tuna network fisheries agreements in West Africa.

The new agreement covers a period of 5 years and will offer EU vessels the possibility to fish 8000 tons of tuna and tuna-like species in Cape Verdean waters. In return, the EU will pay Cape Verde a financial contribution of 750 000€ per year. Part of this yearly contribution (350 000€) will be used to promote the sustainable management of fisheries in Cape Verde. This will be done through reinforcement of control and surveillance capacities (including strict shark monitoring), and support of the local fishing communities. Provisions regarding cooperation between economic operators and in the field of blue economy have also been introduced.

The new protocol will enter into force when the necessary legislative procedures for its conclusion have been completed.