What was the sectoral support to Mauritania used for : the EU Commission publishes its report

Following the round table of Nouakchott last October, and in response to the questions of numerous participants on the lack of transparency regarding the use of the funds from the fisheries agreement, the EU delegation in Mauritania published a note on what had been done with the sectoral support funds between 2008 and 2012. The document establishes a non-exhaustive list of projects that have been realized or that are in course. However, some questions remain on some projects, such as the delay in the delivery of a new patrol boat (5 million euro) paid by the EU Commission. The 2008-2012 Protocol to the EU/Mauritania FPA foresees 65 M€ of sectoral support which the State committed to invest in the development of the fishery sector. The EU allocated on an annual basis the financial compensation, a part of which was saved by the budget authorities for key institutions of the Ministry of Fisheries, in order to conduct their missions (surveillance, research, sanitary, education) and implement plans of action in the form of projects. Regarding the global envelop, the EU has dedicated 1M€ per year to support the National Parc of Banc d’Arguin, one of the main marine protected coastal areas in West Africa. The DSPCM was the main beneficiary institution of sectoral support which financed 100% of its investment budget and part of its operating budget and the State also granted funds to IMROP (scientific research).

Sectoral support allowed financing numerous average size facilities, whereas large projects – main issue of the State’s fisheries national strategy for 2008-2012 and therefore of the EU sectoral support – are still at the stage of execution or implementation.

Sectoral support also allowed to help the setting up of the National office for sanitary inspection of fisheries and aquaculture (ONISPA) by financing its entire investment budget, focused on 2 main activity axis (support to sanitary inspection and support to the accreditation of laboratories to ISO 17025 standard).

Supports in terms of maritime education and employment were fulfilled, as well as supports dedicated to small scale fisheries. Moreover, some protection measures for the marine environment were taken. Institutional capacities of the Ministry of fisheries were also reinforced. At last, the document draws programs set up after the 31/07/2012.

Mauritanian fishing sector supports key elements of the FPA with the EU

Officially reacting to the proposal for a Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the EU, the Mauritanian fishing sector from Nouadhibou (one of the two main fishing centres in Mauritania) expressed its support for the following elements of the proposal, which ‘answer the hopes and essential concerns’ of the Mauritanian fishing sector and ‘make a definite break with past practices’:

•  The ban of foreign fishing on octopus;

•  The payments to be made according to quantities of fish caught;

•  New zoning to be put in place and the use of fishing techniques in line with responsible fisheries

•  The increase of the proportion of nationals to be embarked on board EU vessels

Pêchecops and CFFA want a sustainable fisheries partnership between EU and Mauritania

On June 8, Pêchecops (NGO Mauritania) and CFFA sent a letter to the EC Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, insisting on the fact that ’the promotion of sustainable fisheries in the relations between Mauritania and the EU, - including the protection and development of artisanal and coastal fisheries-, will be best achieved by the conclusion of a partnership agreement based on good governance and transparency.

Pêchecops and CFFA ask for a serie of conditions to be met, including:

• European fleets access must be strictly limited to stocks for which the existence of a surplus of resources non-exploitable by local fleets is demonstrated. Within these limits, access shall be limited to European operators who use selective fishing techniques (prohibition of tickler chains, Nordmøre grid on trawlers, etc.), obey the rules and regulations, and land their catches in Mauritania. Through an adequate zoning, industrial vessels should be excluded from the artisanal fishing zones and from other sensitive areas (coral areas, etc). To protect marine ecosystems and populations depending on them, it is important that these measures apply in a non discriminatory manner to all industrial vessels, local and foreign (including European and Chinese); 

• Conditions of full transparency concerning all authorized fleets operations should be established: regularly updated lists of authorised vessels should be made accessible to the public via the internet; 

• It is essential that the EU supports a joint framework where Mauritanian and European non-governmental actors can dialogue, allowing them to develop a common vision of the sustainable development of fisheries in Mauritania;

Pêchecops and CFFA also request for a commonly agreed investments policy to be part of the partnership, in order to finance:

• The implementation of fisheries management plans;

• Superstructures and infrastructures for landing catches;

• The development of sustainable small-scale and coastal fishing given its comparative advantages for delivering sustainable fisheries and;

• The training of young people and women to acquire fishing and processing skills.

CFFA recommendations for future FPA ex-ante ex-post evaluations

CFFA has published a paper proposing recommendations for improving the process of future FPAs evaluations.

It was sent it to the EC, with a letter asking for: 

• All evaluation reports to be made systematically public (rather than made available on request); 

• In order to improve public participation in the decision making process, evaluations need to be reviewed and commented on by stakeholders from both parties before new agreements are concluded;

• Several issues should be given more consideration in the evaluations, including the impacts of the EU owned fleets activities fishing outside fishing agreements, the by-catch taken by European vessels (composition, value), the implementation of the social clause, etc.

Full paper on FPA evaluations.

Fisheries Agreements reform: The EU must act in a coherent manner for sustainable fisheries

In a document published at the occasion of the first exchange of views between European parliamentarians on the CFP external dimension reform, on 25 January 2012, CFFA demands the EU ’to address, in a clear and coherent manner, the complexity of EU-developing countries fisheries relations (access to resources, access to markets, investments, etc). The EU needs to develop a framework which will ensure that all the components of fisheries relations with developing countries contribute to sustainable fisheries.

To this end, the EU should develop Sustainable Fisheries Development Partnerships, which sole objective should be to create a favorable environment, in the third developing country concerned, for environmentally, socially and economically sustainable operations, in line with the objectives of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible fisheries.

In the particular case where EU flagged and EU owned vessels are fishing in developing countries waters, good governance agreements should be signed between the EU and the coastal country concerned. Such agreement will stipulate the conditions under which EU operators can undertake fishing activities in the third countries concerned, ensuring these activities are in line with the third countries initiatives and efforts undertaken through the sustainable fisheries partnerships.

Some specific issues are also addressed in the document:

1. The case of tuna

2. The need for EU investments in developing countries sustainable fisheries

3. Support to Small scale fisheries

4. Improving transparency and accountability

Impact analysis of the Poly Hondone Pelagic Fishery-Mauritania Convention

Presented as a model for promoting high value-added activities in order to take advantage of abundant, low market value pelagic resources, the investment program, included in the June 2011 Convention between the Chinese group POLY-HONDONE PELAGIC FISHERY and Mauritania, mainly targets demersal species, especially octopus, which goes against the sectoral policy, focused on the reduction of fishing effort through its development plan.

This Convention with a Chinese group, which has been implemented as the EU-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement negotiations were starting, only reinforces the skepticism of some as regards our fishing policy. According to them, the possible withdrawal of European cephalopod trawlers will be followed by the introduction of other foreign fishing vessels, with little regard for the sustainability of fisheries. This feeling is reinforced by recent decisions, such as to allow pair trawling, which do not seem to reflect the interest for sound management which led to the prohibition of tickler chains used by EU shrimp trawlers.

Read the analysis (in French only):

Analyse de la Convention par Pêchecops

EU-Mauritania FPA: contribution of the Mauritanian NGO "Mer Bleue"

The Mauritanian NGO "Mer Bleue" congratulated the European Parliament for its resolution of May 14th on the new fisheries agreement. We are convinced that this resolution will be a crucial step in achieving sustainable and equitable fisheries in Mauritania and in the subregion. By this contribution, they wish to echo the MEPs’ call for FPA negotiations between the UE and Mauritania to be preceded by a broader debate allowing the participation of citizens, Civil Society organizations and national parliamentarians, in order to ensure democracy and transparency in fish resources management.

CAOPA’s contribution to the first NEPAD/FAO consultation meeting

The first Stakeholder Consultation Meeting jointly organised by NEPAD (The New Partnership for Africa’s Development) and the FAO in support of the implementation of the FAO Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa will take place on 10-12 May 2011 in Midrand, South Africa. It will bring together participants from regional fisheries organisations, regional economic communities, donors as well as civil society. The three-day event will consist of a one-day plenary session and two days of consultation in working groups.

The aim is to strengthen and accelerate the fisheries and aquaculture sector in terms of their governance, management and adaptability to climate change. By doing this, the participants will address the rising importance of fisheries in meeting the MDG objectives; and the sector’s crucial role in economic development and poverty alleviation in Africa, in line with the CAADP targets.

The CAOPA (The African Confederation of Small-scale Fisheries Professional Organizations) will participate to the event, and has drafted a series of recommendations for African governments and for international, regional and national institutions. These include that:

• Access to resources should be conditional to sustainability criteria; 

• Priority should be given to local fleets, especially small-scale fisheries; 

• Fisheries agreements should be concluded on a scientific basis while respecting the precautionary approach; 

• Priority should be given to fishing for human consumption;

• Effective participation of local actors in co-management plans should be promoted by policy frameworks;

• Decision-makers should be engaged in an integrated coastal planning strategy; 

• Parties of fisheries agreements should reinforce their actions towards a real partnership in order to develop efficient management systems and to avoid overexploitation; 

• Value-adding activities should be promoted by structural actions in order to give SSF priority access to markets; 

• International fish trade should be fair and equitable; 

• Standards and regulations should be introduced in a way that allows producers to comply with them; 

• A permanent participation mechanism should be established in order to inform and involve small-scale fisheries professionals.

The CAOPA also stresses that small-scale fisheries professional organizations should be strengthened by:

• Setting up an appropriate deliberative process in order to confront ideas and interests and take coherent and legitimate decisions; 

• Defining ways to formally identify and integrate actors; 

• Establishing an appropriate information sharing system; 

• Building capacity by education and awareness raising; 

• Making fishing communities aware of climate change impacts and how to mitigate related risks.

Read the full contribution (in French):

Recommandations de la CAOPA

Who should have the right to fish?

"Who should have the right to fish?" A question from the Greens in the European Parliament", new GREENS-EFA leaflet on the CFP reform.

Transparency in FPAs

CFFA and its Kenyan partner, Transparent Sea, organized and facilitated a workshop in the European Parliament, on January 26th, on ’how to improve transparency in the future CFP external dimension’ (see article on the benefits and limits of transparency).

At this occasion, Gaoussou Gueye, Secretary of the African Confederation of Small-scale Fisheries Professional Organizations (CAOPA), raised the issue of transparency in the context of EU-ACP relations through two cases: the Fisheries Partnership Agreements and the implementation of EU financed support programmes to the fisheries sector.

More information:

La transparence dans la réforme de la dimension externe de la PCP

Policy Coherence for Development and Fisheries

The principle of coherence was introduced by the 1992 Maastricht Treaty. It introduced an obligation on the EC to consider the impact of all its policies (including fisheries) on the stated objectives of its development policy.

This notion has been mentionned several times during the parliamentary hearing on Fisheries Partnership Agreement, on November 17 in Brussels. We feel it is necessary to remind what is meant by policy coherence for development and how it is currently being applied in fisheries.

Read our briefing:

Policy Coherence for Development and Fisheries

Visit of a delegation of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee in Mauritania

The issues at stake in the EU-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement were raised in a joint paper by Pêchecops and CFFA, at the occasion of the visit of a delegation of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee in Mauritania. The paper will be distributed this week in Mauritania.

"In 2006, Mauritania and the European Union have signed a Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) for the period 2006-2012. The current protocol of this agreement, covering the period 2008-2012, provides a 4-year financial support of 305 million euros to the fishing sector, as a counterpart of the acces to Mauritanian fishing grounds. This FPA is the most important agreement between the EU and an ACP state, authorizing EU vessels from 12 member states to fish in the Mauritanian waters. […] Today, the CAF (Coastal Artisanal Fisheries) is the only national fishing fleet to remain viable."

More information:

Pêchecops-CFFA: Challenges for future EU-Mauritania FPA

Tuna Fisheries Management discussed at LDRAC meeting

The issue of RFMO management of tuna fisheries was raised at a LDRAC meeting attended by CFFA, last wednesday in Madrid. It provided an opportunity to present the points raised by Greenpeace and CFFA in June in Brisbane, Australia.

More information:

• Position paper by CFFA and Greenpeace

• Greenpeace Briefing on Overcapacity in Tuna Fisheries

• Greenpeace briefing annex: Regional Examples

First Conference of African Ministers of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Banjul

NEPAD and African Union Fisheries Summit: Livelihoods should come first urge small-scale fishers and NGOs

Banjul, Gambia, 22 September 2010. Artisanal and small scale fishers and associated civil society representatives from seventeen African countries met in Banjul, Gambia on 21 September, 2010, in advance of the first NEPAD Conference of African Ministers on Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA) to be held on 23 September 2010. The meeting was organized by the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements, the African Confederation of Artisanal Fishery Professional Organizations and the Commonwealth Foundation, under the banner of "Our Fish, Our Future".

Following the meeting, participants issued the Banjul Civil Society Declaration on Sustainable Livelihoods in African Fisheries (http://www.camfa-cso.org). The declaration highlights key issues in African fisheries and provides recommendations on how the 2005 NEPAD Action Plan for Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture should be taken forward.

The declaration warns that a purely economic approach represents a threat to the sustainable development of fisheries resources and livelihoods of poor marginalized artisanal and small scale fishing communities. It emphasizes the importance and value of small-scale and artisanal fisheries in the African context towards providing food security for 200 million Africans and jobs for more than 10 million people engaged in fish production, processing and trade. It further highlights the negative impacts of climate change, industrial fishing and illegal unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), including dwindling catches, displacement of communities and the destruction of fishing grounds. In turn this affects the social stability of entire regions, the Declaration states.

The significance of IUU fishing in African waters was echoed by Tim Bostock, Fisheries advisor to United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) in the opening session of the CAMFA on Monday 20th September, who noted that illegal fishing alone accounts for removing fish valued at some $1billion from the waters of Sub-Saharan Africa every year.

The CAMFA is a follow-up to the 2005 Abuja "Fish for All" summit, and African fisheries ministers are expected to assess and validate a fisheries plan of action for the region.

The meeting of small scale and artisanal fishers and civil society organizations is also part of an ongoing process, which since 2006 has included a growing network of West African journalists for responsible fisheries (REJOPRAO). From 15-23 September, the REJOPRAO organized training workshop for journalists, with the objective of focusing on responsible fisheries and related topics and issues in West Africa. Following the training, the journalists from sub region will carry out the media coverage, as observers, of CAMFA.

Since 2005, organizations representing the professionals (fishers, traders, processors and fishmongers) from the artisanal fishing sector have worked to establish a regional body to represent their interests. Earlier this year, this initiative led to the founding of CAOPA - the African Confederation of Professional Artisanal Fishery Sector Organizations.

More information:

• Banjul Civil Society Declaration

• OCEAN2012 Press Release

WWF/CFFA/Greenpeace Joint Statement on Solomon Islands FPA

Letter adressed to the PECH Committee on Fisheries, European Parliament:

Dear Member of the PECH Committee,

The Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), WWF and Greenpeace would like to express their support for the Committee’s Draft Recommendation regarding a Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Union and Solomon Islands that will be voted in Committee in September.

However, we urge the Committee to press the EC for higher standards in future FPAs. Improvements should focus on:

 Greater transparency; 
 Sustainability and equity of resource exploitation; 
 Coherence with development policy; 
 Integrating the regional dimension and 
 Phasing out subsidies.

It is essential that the EU show leadership in ensuring that its fishery agreements result in improved fishery management capacity for its partners. Therefore, we strongly recommend you to flag these crucial principles for coming FPA negotiations. (Our recommendations are spelled out in more detail in the attached document).

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these recommendations with you.

Thank you very much in advance.

Sincerely,

Béatrice Gorez (CFFA) cffa.cape@gmail.com,

Jessica Landman (WWF) jlandman@wwfepo.org and

Saskia Ritchartz (Greenpeace) saskia.richartz@greenpeace.org

Read the recommendations:

EU-Solomon FPA Recommendations

Hearing: CFP reform, the external dimension

CFFA was in the European Parliament on June 22, for the public hearing held by the Fisheries Committee on the external dimension of the CFP reform, where it presented a paper “The Future of Fisheries Partnership Agreements in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy reform”. Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud Cherif, from the Mauritanian organisation PECHECOPS also gave a presentation on how the SFPAs can be improved.

More information:

• CFFA presentation by Beatrice Gorez

• PECHECOPS presentation by Mahmoud Cherif

SSNC - Report on EU fisheries agreements in West Africa

Along the West African coasts, EU fishing is contributing to reduced fish stocks and increased difficulties for local fish workers to earn a living.

To Draw the Line, a new report from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) blames the Swedish government for playing a notably passive role in the development of, and during negotiations within the Fisheries Partnership Agreements.

The European Commission claims but cannot ensure that the payments for these agreements contribute to sustainable development and the implementation of domestic fisheries policy to the benefit of coastal communities. To Draw the Line report demonstrates that they do not.

The future of Fisheries Partnership Agreements in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy reform

Presentation to the European Parliament Development Committee, September 2d 2009 - Béatrice Gorez, Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), Coordinator

Almost since their inception, at the end of the 70‟s, fisheries “cash for access”1 agreements, and later on, fisheries partnership agreements (FPAs), have attracted criticism. If some attempts have been made to address such criticisms through the Fisheries Partnership Agreements (FPAs), the basis for the agreements have remained the same for the EU: the need to secure long term access to third countries fish resources and to maintain its fleet presence in third countries and international waters, paving the way to the failure of this policy to contribute to sustainable fisheries.

However, it needs to be recognised that FPAs have been a unique experience at the global level, to try and reconcile often conflicting interests. In our view, there is however a need for a fundamental change of the guiding principles and framework for EU fisheries relations with developing countries, which would give priority to good governance, environmental sustainability whilst providing an enabling environment for developing countries‟ fishing sectors, particularly the small scale fishing communities. In doing so, there needs to be a careful assessment of the past experience to see how to organise concretely, and for the benefit of developing countries fisheries, the transition towards this new, more sustainable model.

Read the position paper:

The future of FPAs in the context of the CFP reform

Denouncing the EU-Mauritania Fisheries Agreement protocol: Putting the “Fisheries Partnership” to the test

The European Commission proposes to denounce the EU - fisheries agreement protocol before end of January 2008. The method is brutal; true partnerships are built up through dialogue, not ultimatums. Nevertheless, this could provide an opportunity to review particular aspects of the agreement that may have contributed to the over exploitation of Mauritanian resources and undermined the sustainable development of the Mauritanian fisheries sector.

The European Commission proposes to denounce the EU - fisheries agreement protocol before end of January 2008. The method is brutal; true partnerships are built up through dialogue, not ultimatums. Nevertheless, this could provide an opportunity to review particular aspects of the agreement that may have contributed to the over exploitation of Mauritanian resources and undermined the sustainable development of the Mauritanian fisheries sector.

Read this policy paper written jointly with Pêchecops NGO:

Denouncing the EU-Mauritania Fisheries Agreement protocol: Putting the “Fisheries Partnership” to the test

The European Union races to catch the last West African fish

“There will be no more fish around 2050”. A few weeks ago, the world was shocked by a scientists report telling us our oceans are getting empty. Decreasing fish resources plays an important role in how fisheries relations between the European Union (EU) and developing countries are evolving. This is particularly the case in West Africa, where the EU is signing bilateral deals. The most important of these agreements, both in terms of EU’s access to developing countries resources and in terms of financial compensation, is the fisheries partnership agreement between EU and Mauritania.

“There will be no more fish around 2050”. A few weeks ago, the world was shocked by a scientists report telling us our oceans are getting empty. Decreasing fish resources plays an important role in how fisheries relations between the European Union (EU) and developing countries are evolving. This is particularly the case in West Africa, where the EU is signing bilateral deals. The most important of these agreements, both in terms of EU’s access to developing countries resources and in terms of financial compensation, is the fisheries partnership agreement between EU and Mauritania.

In November 2006, there were two important news for Mauritanian people: the first democratic elections were held and the first fisheries “partnership” agreement with the EU was finally adopted by the European parliament. If the fairness of the elections was a cause for joy, some Mauritanians, the artisanal fishermen in particular, were less convinced about the fairness of the fisheries partnership agreement signed with the EU.

Article for Ecologia Politica: The European Union races to catch the last West African fish