Access agreements, Artisanal fisheries, Governance, Transparency, Sectoral support
Anaïd Panossian
What future for Sustainable Fisheries ...

In view of the global evaluation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) that will be carried out by the Commission in 2021, the author highlights the key points which will need to be assessed from the perspective of the impacts on African coastal communities. The author also suggests essential improvements to be made for the future of SFPAs so that they better respond to the needs of these communities.

What future for Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements?

Access agreements

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A CFP external dimension fit for the future: more focus on good governance, less on paying access rights for EU fleets

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A CFP external dimension fit for the future: more focus on good governance, less on paying access rights for EU fleets

The author makes 4 recommendations to make the external dimension of the CFP more effective: (1) the EU should shift from access agreements to fisheries governance agreements, while (2) continuing to support informed participation of stakeholders in third countries; (3) it should also ensure that all vessels of EU origin, including those reflagged, abide by sustainability standards; and (4) it should actively engage, at international level, to promote transparent, fair, and sustainable access arrangements applicable to all fleets of foreign origin fishing in developing countries.

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The Gambia-EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement negotiations: Questions arising

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The Gambia-EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement negotiations: Questions arising

With Senegal’s yellow card, fisheries agreement negotiations between the EU and Senegal are at a standstill. Meanwhile, the EU will negotiate the renewal of its SFPA with The Gambia, whose waters are bordered on both sides by Senegal’s. How would access to the Gambian waters be used by EU fleets, at a time when they may be barred from Senegal waters?

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Yellow card Senegal: the fight against IUU fishing must also be waged in the coastal zone

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Yellow card Senegal: the fight against IUU fishing must also be waged in the coastal zone

At a time when the fisheries agreement is being renegotiated, Senegal is initiating a formal dialogue with the EU on the fight against IUU fishing. As part of this dialogue, the European Union has a responsibility to improve controls on vessels of European origin, and to impose heavy penalties when they fail to comply with the rules.

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São Tomé and Príncipe to develop offshore artisanal fisheries. Will the EU’s SFPA help?

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São Tomé and Príncipe to develop offshore artisanal fisheries. Will the EU’s SFPA help?

In this article, the author delves into the impacts of climate change and other challenges for São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) small-scale fishing communities. To develop the sector, the government is looking to develop offshore artisanal fishing. The author examines the factors that need to be considered for the upcoming renewal of the protocol of the EU-STP Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA).

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Fishing at a discount? Rethinking the design of fisheries access fees in Africa

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Fishing at a discount? Rethinking the design of fisheries access fees in Africa

The author discusses the design of access fees for foreign fishing vessels in African countries and explains why these fees are low in most African nations. He also debates conditions under which industrial fishing vessels of foreign origin should be given access, or not, to African coastal countries waters, and argues for a re-think of access fees design.

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States have an obligation to act against beneficial owners of vessels involved in IUU fishing

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States have an obligation to act against beneficial owners of vessels involved in IUU fishing

In this article, Pieter van Welzen argues that states have an obligation to act against their nationals who are beneficial owners and are involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated IUU fishing activities. For this, the author talks about the challenges for flag and coastal states to fight against IUU fishing in many cases, introduces indications in international law for beneficial owner state responsibility and summarizes key state practice.

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The best way EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements contribute to food security is by protecting and promoting artisanal fisheries

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The best way EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements contribute to food security is by protecting and promoting artisanal fisheries

In this article, the author reviews a recent report published by Poseidon and funded by German govenrment which looks at how to increase the benefits of EU SFPAs in African countries, with a particular emphasis on small-scale fisheries, gender equity and food security.

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Removing obstacles to co-management of West African artisanal fisheries

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Removing obstacles to co-management of West African artisanal fisheries

West Africa has pioneered several decades of artisanal fisheries management reform. Yet there are still major obstacles to co-management: a lack of political will reflected in low budgetary allocations; inadequate and poorly targeted support for fisher organizations; poorly defined roles and responsibilities of fishers in co-management; lack of enforcement of inshore exclusive zones; and inadequate defense of human rights and particularly the important role of women.

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West Africa: The EU should promote human consumption over the production of fishmeal and fish oil

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West Africa: The EU should promote human consumption over the production of fishmeal and fish oil

JOINT LETTER: 11 African artisanal fisheries organisations and development NGOs send a letter to Commissioners Virginius Sinkevicius and Jutta Urpilainen asking them to use the crucial voice of the EU through Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements and the EU-Africa partnership to address the impending food crisis in the West African region linked to the fishmeal and fishoil production.

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The role of artisanal fishing “exclusive” zones in preferential access to resources

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The role of artisanal fishing “exclusive” zones in preferential access to resources

This article analyses a series of studies jointly commissioned by CAOPA and CFFA on areas reserved to artisanal fisheries in several African countries. The author sheds light on common challenges for protecting small-scale fishers access and the pressing need for better developing co-management in coastal fisheries, and looks into how can the EU support protection of small-scale fishers’ access to resources.

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EU-Mauritania SFPA: scientists highlight key sustainability issues, do not consider coral reefs protection

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EU-Mauritania SFPA: scientists highlight key sustainability issues, do not consider coral reefs protection

The latest minutes of the meeting of the last Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Mauritania reveal that there is still a long way to go to ensure that all EU fleets active in Mauritania fish sustainably, particularly as regards the control and limitation of by-catches and discards.

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‘It takes two to tango’ – EU fishing partnerships agreements must become more attractive to partner countries

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‘It takes two to tango’ – EU fishing partnerships agreements must become more attractive to partner countries

The Commission’s SFPA evaluation concludes that they are“fit for purpose” and identifies areas for improvement in the implementation of the governance framework. Most of these areas are under the responsibility of the partner country, which suggests that there is a lack of commitment from some partner countries to make these fishing agreements a success.

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EU-Senegal fisheries partnership: transparency is essential at all levels

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EU-Senegal fisheries partnership: transparency is essential at all levels

In a contribution sent to the European Commission, co-signed with 8 other civil society and environmental organisations, we highlight the most important points to be taken into account for the renewal of the protocol, to ensure that the fishing agreement has a positive impact for small-scale coastal fishing communities.

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How can SFPAs improve working conditions for African crews on board distant water fishing vessels?

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How can SFPAs improve working conditions for African crews on board distant water fishing vessels?

On 25 June, seafarer’s day, CFFA reflects on how the social clause agreed by European social partners is spelled out in EU fishing agreements for non-Europeans working on board of EU vessels operating under Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements.

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Transparency, protected and equitable access to resources: the stakes of the EU-Mauritius agreement for small-scale fisheries

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Transparency, protected and equitable access to resources: the stakes of the EU-Mauritius agreement for small-scale fisheries

The European Parliament is set to give its consent at the end of May to the new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the EU and Mauritius. This article outlines the challenges that Mauritian artisanal fisheries face and highlights the priorities for sectoral support in the future SFPA protocol to support this sector.

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Potential negotiations in sight for an EU-Angola fisheries agreement: How would existing joint ventures be treated?

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Potential negotiations in sight for an EU-Angola fisheries agreement: How would existing joint ventures be treated?

The European Commission has decided to assess the merits of concluding a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with the Republic of Angola. For a dialogue on sustainable fisheries in Angola, the EU will need to address the issue of total fishing effort and the framework within which joint ventures operate, as well as revising the presence of European-owned vessels with a bad track record.

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Don’t miss the woods for the tree: Beyond FADs, overcapacity in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries needs to be addressed

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Don’t miss the woods for the tree: Beyond FADs, overcapacity in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries needs to be addressed

At the beginning of February, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Contracting Parties, meeting in Kenya, adopted Conservation and Management Measures on both anchored and drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). These measures were welcomed by many Indian Ocean nations that consider FADs one of the main reasons of tuna overfishing in the region. An article by Beatrice Gorez and Hélène Bours.

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Will a "CFP tomorrow" support sustainable artisanal fisheries in Africa?

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Will a "CFP tomorrow" support sustainable artisanal fisheries in Africa?

PRESS RELEASE: On 21 February, the Commission presented several measures to improve the sustainability of the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector. It includes four elements: Energy Transition, an Action Plan to protect and restore marine ecosystems, a Communication on the "common fisheries policy today and tomorrow and a Report on the Common Market Organisation for fishery and aquaculture products. How will these impact African small-scale fishing communities?

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The new fishing agreement between Seychelles and Taiwan is now public. But will tuna fisheries sustainability improve as a result?

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The new fishing agreement between Seychelles and Taiwan is now public. But will tuna fisheries sustainability improve as a result?

For several decades, The Seychelles’ access agreements with Taiwanese companies contained articles preventing the publication of content without prior written approval of the other party. In 2021, as part of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative process, The Seychelles Government announced it would endeavour to remove confidentiality clauses from their fishing agreement.

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Moving towards sustainable fisheries in Africa: A FAO discussion on foreign fishing access arrangements is essential

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Moving towards sustainable fisheries in Africa: A FAO discussion on foreign fishing access arrangements is essential

In this article, the author reviews the recent FAO access arrangements mapping report which focuses on access to developing countries waters by fleets of foreign origin. According to the FAO, this report is a first step towards facilitating “the identification of opportunities to enhance the trade of fisheries-related services, particularly for developing countries” with the objective of making access arrangements fairer and more sustainable.