Protocol to the EU-Mauritania FPA: CFFA requests that the Parliament supports the text

Together with Mauritanian partners from the civil society and fishing communities, CFFA is mainly concerned about the environmental sustainability, the support to local fishing communities and the governance aspects of the FPA protocol proposed.

Based on the analysis of the protocol by partners during a round table discussion held in Nouakchott last October, CFFA feels the protocol that has been negotiated should be supported by the Parliament, as it largely answers many of those concerns:

• The principle of access to surplus is respected, particularly for the octopus, which is a strategic resource for Mauritanian artisanal fishermen; 

• The new zoning, pushing the trawlers away from the coast, will better protect ecosystems and local fishing activities; 

• The obligation to land the catches locally will give a boost to onshore activities, and related job creation 

• The new basis for calculation of access will ensure there is a better idea about what is caught 

• The possibilities for opening up the attendance of the Joint committee to stakeholders representatives will help improve transparency and participation

Some EU vessels have started fishing under the new proposed protocol, but most European fleets involved in Mauritania do not agree with the technical conditions and/or the financial conditions provided by the protocol, and are proposing to reject the agreeement, a position that is followed by the EP rapporteur in its proposed report http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetd...

CFFA feels there is sufficient scope in the terms of the protocol, – in particular provisions for the Joint Committee and its mandate-, to accomodate EU sector’s concerns, provided those concerns are in line with sustainable fisheries, local development needs and good governance.

The representative of the Mauritanian artisanal fishermen, Mr Sid’ahmed Abeid, will give his views at the hearing next Monday. The debate can be followed live, between 3 PM and 5 PM, on http://www.europarl.europa.eu/commi... (click on ‘Today’s broadcasts’)

Senegal: results from the workshop on the national authorization for the export of fisheries products to the EU

The Association for the promotion of actors of small scale fisheries of Mbour (APRAPAM), in the framework of its mission, regularly organizes information, awareness and education sessions. On December the 18th 2012, in partnership with the Directorate of industries and processing of fisheries (DITP) and the network of journalists of Mbour for fisheries and environment (RJMPE), APRAPAM organized a workshop Senegal’s national authorization for the export of fisheries products in the EU.

Exports to EU market are subjected to an agreement. The agreement, obtained by Senegal in May 1996, 2nd West and Northern African country endowed with one after Morocco, is subjected to 3 years evaluations by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU (1999, 2004, 2007, 2010). The delivery of the export authorization to the EU is based on the principle of equivalence of inspection systems and of sanitary control of fisheries products. It relies on authority transfer in terms of certification and authorization delivered by the EU to the Senegalese competent authority (DITP), which allows local industrial units authorized by the Authority to export their certified production on European markets.

Senegal’s authorization is the result of an improvement process of hygiene and sanitary conditions of fisheries products aimed at human consumption, mainly in the small scale fisheries sub sector. Many elements helped to obtain this result (appropriate facilities, competent monitoring and control services, education of agents, regulation, etc.).

The goal of this meeting was to think over the conditions favoring the improvement of the conditions and means of sustainability of these laurels. Challenges relate to governance of the sector and sustainable management of the resource, fish trade globalization, traceability of products and IUU fishing.

Adopted recommendations highlight, for the Senegalese part, for example participatory surveillance, involvement of industrials in the whole control process and the automatic registration of pirogues and for the EU part, she should support more developing countries to invest in a proper manner in monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms and traceability. She should also insist on developing countries on the necessity to share data on vessels authorized to fish in their waters. At last, fisheries local sector should be more involved in order to have a smoother implementation of the IUU regulation.

This local event brought together about sixty participants, public and private actors and civil society from Mbour, one of the fisheries production centers of Senegal. Adopted conclusions are applicable for all Senegal. What is interesting is that they integrated in matters linked to authorization, not only sanitary aspects (conservation means on board, etc.), monitoring control and surveillance means of fisheries (traceability, control operations, etc.) but also questions linked to IUU fishing ((registration of pirogues, illegal licenses, etc.)

More information:

See the following link (in French):http://www.aprapam.org/2012/12/15/j... 

And the full report of the meeting (in French) : http://www.aprapam.org/wp-content/u...

CAOPA-FENACOPECI’s meeting on the role of women in the contribution of small scale fisheries to food security and World Fisheries Day : CFFA’s report

On the occasion of the World Fisheries Day, held on the 21st of November 2012 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the African Confederation of Small Scale Fisheries Professional organizations (CAOPA) and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives in Ivory Coast (FENACOPECI) organized a meeting with experts and women representatives of the small scale fishery sector of 16 African countries on the following topic: “Improving the contribution of artisanal fisheries to food security: The role of women”.

This workshop was organized from the 18th until the 21st of November 2012 in Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast, with the support and collaboration of CFFA, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), Pain pour le Monde, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ISCF) and Journalists network for sustainable fisheries in West Africa (REJOPRAO)

During these three days, participants made some field visits (aquaculture site and landing/processing site) and proceeded to debates and exchanges which allowed to elaborate recommendations to include in the Voluntary guidelines for sustainable small scale fisheries, in the framework of the consultation process, directed by FAO. The Abidjan Declaration, which was read on the World Fisheries Day was also written on the basis on the work from the working groups.

On November the 22nd, a meeting was organized by ICSF in order to improve the work on FAO voluntary guidelines.

See the full report and the Abidjan Declaration.

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.

Food security and small scale fisheries : the network of journalists for responsible and sustainable fisheries in West Africa promotes women’s voice

On the occasion of the meeting organized by CAOPA in Ivory Coast on the role of women in small scale fisheries and the contribution to food security, the network of journalists for responsible and sustainable fisheries in West Africa (Réseau des journalistes pour une pêche responsable et durable en Afrique de l’Ouest – REJOPRAO), published a news bulletin on CAOPA’s women, ‘La poissonnière d’Abidjan’, in two volumes.

Since few years, the Rejoprao joins CAOPA in its meetings in order to ensure a certain visibility of its major activities, thanks to the writing of articles by members of the network who are invited to take part to the events. In practical terms, CAOPA gets the members of the network to come to the meetings (World fisheries day, Mbour forum, sub-regional workshops, etc.). On the occasion of this workshop in Ivory Coast, CAOPA and its partners invited four members of Rejoprao in order to have a cover by the media of the event: two francophone journalists (Senegal and Mauritania), one Portuguese-speaking journalist (Cape-Verde) and one Anglophone journalist (Gambia). In return, Rejoprao had to propose to CAOPA an accurate work program. That is how Rejoprao came up with the idea of a bulletin, entitled ‘La poissonière d’Abidjan’ in reference to women fishworkers and the capital city of Ivory Coast where the meeting was held.

The journalists dealt with the major events and themes of the meeting, keeping in mind the necessity to provide an accurate debrief of the discussions. They therefore chose the subjects freely. They followed the field visits, the debates and could interact with the actors and actresses. A press conference was also held on the 18th of November, at the end of the two days of work. The edition work was done away. That was an innovation. The journalists on site wrote and send their articles to an occasional editor-in-chief, who was not attending the workshop, who was in charge of editing the texts and carrying out the set-up of the bulletin.

The bulletin is spread out through a mailing list and also put online on the website of Rejoprao. During the COFI in July 2012, a bulletin was edited both in French and English but unfortunately, they only did a French version this time.

For Rejoprao, this process should lead to the production of a periodical magazine on fisheries.

More information:

Information gathered thanks to the contribution of Maïga Inoussa and on the website of Rejoprao : http://rejoprao.blog4ever.com/blog/...

Download the two publications (in French) here and here. 

Joint NGO response to the Commission consultation on future role and composition of Advisory Councils (ACs)

A number of environmental and developmental NGOs, active in one or more of the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs/ACs), elaborated a joint document providing some propositions to be included in the debate about regionalisation and the future ACs in the context of CFP reform. The document highlights the key role of RACs in terms of sharing information, seeking stakeholder advice in fisheries management and providing a great opportunity for resolving conflicts, enhancing dialogue and understanding between different stakeholders. It should however remain an advisory body. The main concern about regionalisation is that it would extend the role of RACs and increase its workload. Few issues are raised regarding the rules and tasks of ACs. On financial aspects, first, considering the funding, there should be no changes but the Commission should consider increasing ACs funding if the workload due to regionalisation increases. Secondly, some suggestions regarding how to have fair membership fees according to the size and financial capacity of the member organisations are suggested.

On the matter of participation/representation, the current stakeholder mix in the RACs needs to be reviewed, both in terms of overall structure (1/3 and 2/3) and in terms of in which members belong to which group Representation and participation rules should be enhanced, redressing the balance of different interests groups. Indeed, large-scale sector interests in the RACs should be balanced with small-scale fisheries interests. Plus, trade unions should clearly be classed as sector representatives and women’s networks were already defined as part of the ‘fisheries sector’ in the Council Decision of 2004. The document proposes therefore 3 new participation/representation schemes, with the advantages and setbacks of each proposition. The second proposition suggests that, in regions where the small-scale fishing interests (including catching, processing and marketing operations) represent an important part of the sector, the current division of seats is revised to instead consist of 1) 1/3 for representatives of fisheries sector 2) 1/3 for representatives of small-scale and coastal fishing interests, anglers and women’s networks, and 3) 1/3 for representatives of other interest groups. This will require an agreement on a definition of small-scale fisheries. The advantage is that the representation would be better balanced, as no stakeholder group would be overly dominating. Such a division would also help secure better representation of small-scale fishing interests (the majority of the EU fishing sector in number of people). However, it could be difficult to determine which group stakeholders belong in.

Regarding the international dimension, in order to get better prepared for international meetings, it is suggested that RACs receive well in advance all the relevant and necessary information. Regarding the LDRAC (LDAC), a delegation of stakeholders should participate to international fora meetings and EU bilateral negociations of fisheries agreements. The LDRAC should play an active role in facilitating a dialogue between EU and third countries, including third country stakeholders, on issues arising from SFAs, RFMOs, private arrangements/chartering and, when appropriate, international fora discussions. The lack of a formal process for consultation of developing third country stakeholders (sector and NGOs) is also a challenge to be addressed. Moreover, in order to improve participation by these countries’ stakeholders, the impacts of EU operations on the concerns and interests of third countries should be better reflected in key documents such as the FPAs (SFAs) evaluations. The EU should certainly also promote third country (and EU) stakeholder consultation by RFMOs.

See the report send to DG MARE in joint document

Future common fisheries policy in Africa: outlook from CAOPA

CAOPA answered a questionnaire on an assessment of the fishery sector in the ECOWAS region, proposed by AU regarding the process of a definition of a common fisheries policy, the subject of which being “Contribution of the African confederation of artisanal fishing organizations”, on the 24th of August 2012.

The questionnaire identifies the main strategic issues for capture fisheries and aquaculture in the region and the main challenges and opportunities for these sectors, such as maintaining coastal communities livelihoods, food security and concerted management of the coastal area/fisheries co-management.

The lack of transparency in policies is a key issue, since it threatens the exploitation of resources. Indeed, “transparency in this regard must become the rule and must be the basis for an informed participation of the stakeholders, in particular artisanal fishing communities. Greater transparency is also an important tool in the fight against IUU fishing, which is thriving when the opacity and corruption reign”.

Besides, an analysis on the current human and institutional capacities in the region is proposed. The strengths and weaknesses, challenges and opportunities for the sectors, namely marine fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture in the region are highlighted: “Strategies and policies should also be developed to enable artisanal fisheries, which currently target mainly coastal resources, often overfished, to develop offshore artisanal fisheries, for example for tuna species, so that our countries can derive more benefits from offshore fisheries”.

An examination of the level of the existing cooperation between the regional economic communities and regional fisheries organizations in the region is provided and some propositions to strengthen cooperation and collaboration are made.

Moreover, “Artisanal fisheries professionals must be recognized as primary stakeholder by decision makers”. The role of civil society and media is also stressed to be important in the management process.

The fact that there are weaknesses in the implementation of the Code of conduct of the FAO for responsible fishing and other relevant documents in the region or the country is also emphasized.

And finally, some cross border issues in the management of fisheries and the environment in the region are indicated.

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

Small pelagics exploitation in West Africa: Side event at COFI

CAOPA (African Confederation of Artisanal Fishing organisations) and CFFA (Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements) participated at the FAO Committee on Fisheries in July 2012. Together, they organised a side event on the exploitation of small pelagics in West Africa, and the sustainability and food security issues arising.

The meeting started with a statement by Gaoussou Gueye (General secretary CAOPA), highlighting the importance of small pelagics for West African fishing communities and their demands to FAO and its members, which included:

•  To document better the impacts of the various types of exploitation of small pelagics on food security;

•  To recommend to states and regional fisheries organizations to consider the role of small pelagics in the ecosystems and in food security of developing countries populations when they are to make decisions for managing these resources and allocating access to these resources;

•  To support initiatives and efforts that will contribute to establish a concerted management of small pelagic resources in West Africa;

•  To support efforts by fishing communities to actively contribute to the management of these resources in a concerted and sustainable way;

•  To support an aquaculture based on species that do not require feed made from wild fish, that answers the demands of local and regional markets, and that is not contributing to the unsustainable exploitation of small pelagics stocks.

This statement was followed by an analysis of the main developments affecting small pelagics exploitation in West Africa and policy issues arising, by Dr Andre Standing, from (TransparentSea / CFFA). Some recent developments (2010-2012) which can have a negative impact on food security in West Africa, were examined:

•  The return of former Soviet Union ‘super trawlers’ to Senegal;

•   The new fisheries agreement between Chinese Poly Hondone Company and Mauritania;

•   The expansion of fishing and fish trade by Pacific Andes group in West Africa.

Various factors influencing expanding investments and industrial fishing in West Africa’s small-pelagics were presented:

•  Links with industrial aquaculture (production of fish oil and fish meal);

•  Overcapitalization and decreasing profitability of global Distant water fishing fleets targeting small pelagic;

•  The growth of China’s overseas fishing sector.

A final presentation was made by Brian O’Riordan (ICSF), on the main factors that have affected the small pelagic exploitation by super trawlers in South Pacific, based on a case study of the over-exploited jack mackerel, and the implications it may have for West Africa, with the arrival of these fleets in the region.

More information

• Read the full report of CFFA’s participation to the COFI

• Read the full report of the side event on small pelagics

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

Securing transparency in African Marine Fisheries

Contribution by Brian O’Riordan, ICSF Belgium Office Secretary

Over 60 participants from 16 African countries and from 4 countries in the European Union gathered in Mbour, Senegal’s second most important fishing town, to attend a 3 day Conference on Transparency in the Maritime Fisheries Sector in Africa. The event was hosted and organized by the African Confederation of Professional Artisanal Fisheries Organizations (CAOPA) in collaboration with TransparentSea, the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA) and the West Africa Rural Foundation (WARF). This Conference followed the celebration of the World Fisheries Day, also organised by CAOPA, where the FAO Voluntary guidelines for sustainable small scale fisheries were discussed.

Participants to the Conference included fishermen leaders, leaders from the post-harvest sector including women fish processors and traders, civil society organizations, and local authorities. Also present were members of the West African Journalists’ Network for Responsible Fisheries (REJOPRAO), Seafood Choices Alliance Seafood Champion award winners in 2010.

Participants shared and learned about how massive investments being made in aid projects for the development of artisanal fisheries are not benefitting fishing communities, and where transparency is lacking on where the aid monies end up. So too massive flows of speculative transnational capital are being invested in industrial fishing operations in African waters.

The conference underlined how transparency is an emerging issue in fisheries, an issue highlighted by the FAO in its State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report for 2010, and being taken account of by the World Bank and other major donors which are beginning to adopt transparency programmes.

Amongst other issues, Conference participants called for Standards and Principles for transparency in fisheries to be developed and adopted. These would include making information available in local languages using simplified terminology; setting time limits for processing and responding to requests for information; making information readily accessible in the form that best suits the country where it is disseminated; and ensuring proper participation and prior informed consent in policy making and implementation.

More information:

• Read the Conference report

• Historic day for Small scale fisheries, VG SSF Guidelines and Civil Society news article.

• Read the full text of the VGSSF.

• The Benefits and Limits of Transparency, by Andre Standing.

CFP Reform: Good Governance issues

On October 5th 2011, CFFA organised, with some of its partners, a workshop in the European Parliament, on good governance issues in the reform of the CFP external dimension. The workshop was attended by about 60 participants, including representatives from the European Commission, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and staff, members of the African parliamentary network APPEL, representatives from EU and ACP Member States, from EU and African fishing organisations platforms , trade unions, fish traders, and NGOs.

The summary report highlights the main points of agreement emerging from the debate, which included:

• The EU’s objectives must be to ensure all its fleets fishing outside EU waters, whether under access agreements, private licensing schemes or joint ventures, operate sustainably, from an environmental, social and economic point of view.

• The EU should also promote the establishment of a level playing field for all fishing operators from distant water fishing nations and coastal countries, whilst recognising the rights of developing countries and their coastal fishing communities to have priority access to their resources.

• The EU needs to develop stronger measures to promote transparency in the CFP, and should also take a leading role in mainstreaming transparency in fisheries, which requires supporting other governments and fisheries organisations to implement transparency measures.

• EU fisheries agreements should be reformed so that they provide a framework to control all EU fisheries-related activities in developing countries fisheries, whilst providing the necessary support to ensure all private investments made in these fisheries are transparent, and environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. The reform of the CFP external dimension must ensure that the means and mechanisms to achieve those objectives are developed and implemented.

Following the meeting, CFFA drafted a list of proposed amendments to the CFP basic regulation, related to good governance issues.

CFFA position on Pacific IEPA global sourcing derogation

Four years ago, when signing the IEPA with Papua New Guinea and Fiji, the EU agreed to a derogation to the rule of origin, in the form of ‘global sourcing’. This means that, regardless of where the fish (tuna) is caught, or the status of a vessel’s flag, registration or ownership, the fish is deemed originating, and can therefore benefit from duty free access to EU market, as long as it is transformed from being fresh or frozen into being a pre-cooked, packaged or canned product. This was a demand of the Pacific ACP group in their EPA negotiations with the European Union. This derogation raised concerns and criticisms from the EU tuna industry. Following a request based on access to information regulation, CFFA received in August a copy of a recent 2010 study commissioned by DG mare on preferential rules of origin for fisheries and aquaculture products. The study shows the importance of the global sourcing derogation for PNG local development, in particular in terms of job creation. It also demonstrates that, if the PNG processing industry was to expand its production thanks to the global sourcing derogation, this will have few direct impacts on the EU tuna industry. Moreover, the study concludes that ‘the perspective of having the EU market flooded by imports from PNG does not appear to be realistic.

CFFA’s position  that, in line with their international commitments, particularly the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the European Union and Papua New Guinea should put at the heart of their trade relations the support of environmentally, socially and economically sustainable fisheries development in Papua New Guinea.

CFFA feels therefore that the global sourcing derogation is important to maintain in the future. Moreover, an extension of global sourcing to other fish products should be considered in the negotiation of the full EPA- so that all ACP Pacific islands can increase their benefits from offshore fisheries. However, CFFA also wants to suggest concrete improvements, in particular regarding (1) the sustainable exploitation of tuna resources and (2) the benefits of foreign investments for local populations, coastal communities in particular.

To improve the sustainable exploitation of tuna resources, CFFA requests the EU to deepen the collaboration with Pacific islands in the context of the WCPFC, and support efforts made by the Pacific Islands in the context of the Parties of Nauru Agreement (PNA), to improve the management of the regional tuna fishery through restoring stocks and implementing appropriate reference points and harvest strategies . The EU should also pay particular attention at supporting Pacific islands efforts to combat IUU fishing, and ensure full traceability of their products.

To improve benefits of foreign investments for local populations, coastal communities in particular, CFFA proposes that:

• Central mechanisms should be set up for demonstrating local benefits include full compliance with national minimum wage legislation;

• National labour law and rights, including on occupational health and freedom of association, should be included into PMIZ and other processing development projects, like the developments going on in Lae and Wewak, legislation ;

• any tuna processing facility should employ a minimum of 60% local labour;

• The partnership of local players (e.g. service providing firms) with foreign processing investments should be favored.

Such issues could be discussed in the context of the current review process, informed by the review report to be published, and appropriate mechanisms to address them in the future should be designed to improve the impacts of global sourcing. PNG civil society and coastal communities should be adequately informed and involved in the process.

OCEAN2012 initial reaction to the Commission’s package on reform of the CFP

The first package on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), published on July 13 2011, sets out the Commission’s ambitions for the reform, including a proposal for a new Basic Regulation, a proposal for a new organisation of the market and a communication on the external dimension. The package includes some significant improvements, but is not the radical reform proposal that we expected.

This reform offers a unique opportunity to recover the well-being of our seas and fishing-dependent communities. The CFP should end overfishing, reduce damage to ecosystems, and rebuild a European Union fishing sector that is environmentally sustainable and socially, as well as economically, viable. Only such a fisheries policy will guarantee Europe’s consumers a rich variety of responsibly and locally caught fish in the future.

Now that some of the reform proposals have been published, it will be up to the European Parliament and the Fisheries Council to ensure that the CFP achieves healthy fish stocks and contributes towards achieving good environmental status for EU waters according to the 2008 Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Only through stock recovery can the CFP deliver a secure future for fish, fishing communities, and consumers alike.

More information:

OCEAN2012 Briefing

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.

No Increase in Blind Spending: NGOs and OCEAN2012 oppose an increase in de minimis aid

Selected Members of the EU Parliament are calling for an increase of possible de minimis aid to the fisheries sector, mainly to provide fuel subsidies to the fishing sector at a time of rising fuel prices. This is in strong contradiction with the EU’s commitment to eliminate environmentally harmful subsidies but, more importantly, granting more public money to the fisheries sector without a clear link to delivering public goods would send a perverse signal during the discussion on the new CFP.

NGOs and the OCEAN2012 coalition oppose an increase of the de minimis ceiling for the following reasons:

1. Increased Fishing Pressure: More than 70% of assessed European fish stocks are over-fished. While aid to operational costs could initially augment profits, it would also allow for a more intensive use of the vessels. This increase in fishing effort causes further depletion of fish stocks, decreasing catches and reduced profitability in the medium and long term. The aid is therefore not helping the fishing industry, but threatening the economic basis of fishermen and coastal communities.

2. Distortion of Competition and Delay of Restructuring: a further increase to € 20.000 of de minimis per vessel and per year can make up as much as 48 % of a vessel’s annual operating costs. For most EU vessels, all fuel costs could already be paid under the existing rules. As a result, fleets from Member States that refuse to subsidise operating costs can find themselves unable to compete with fleets from Member States that do. In addition, providing aid to operating costs will not help the fisheries sector to become more sustainable. On the contrary, such subsidies will delay the much needed restructuring and prevent the European fishing sector from adapting to the new biological and economic realities they face: over-fished resources and higher oil prices.

3. Under utilisation of existing aid: The EU fishing sector receives substantial amounts of aid, among others through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). So far, most Member States have not fully taken advantage of the EFF. Overall, only 15 per cent of the available aid was used in more than half of the financial programming time. It is unclear why there is a need for an increase in de minimis aid if the existing instruments are not fully used.

4. Lack of disclosure and evaluation of de minimis: No information about recipients of de minimis aid and the financed measures has been disclosed by DG MARE, preventing public scrutiny of this instrument. In 2007, the European Commission already increased the level of de minimis aid to the fishing sector by ten times, from € 3.000 to € 30.000. Before suggesting another increase, proper review of the use and the impact of de-minimis should be undertaken.

5. Incoherence with Fisheries Policies: The CFP suggests the need for substantial reductions in fishing effort for stocks outside safe biological limits. Article 6(5) of the EFF specifically excludes financial support to operations which increase fishing effort. Also, guidelines for state aid require that aid must “serve to promote the rationalisation and efficiency of the production” while “improving the recipient’s income is, as operating aid, incompatible with the common market”.

6. Other Policy Incoherencies: Increasing fisheries subsidies, including for fuel, when the EU itself highlights the need to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies is counterproductive. It will also not help meeting the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy, the Kyoto Protocol, or the 2002 WSSD objective to phase out fisheries subsidies contributing to overcapacity. Last but not least, increasing fisheries subsidies at the time of general cutbacks in government spending, and following pledges by the G-20 leaders to phase out fuel subsidies and agreement by WTO members to bring fisheries subsidies within WTO disciplines is counter to current international thinking and likely to undermine EU’s leadership in ongoing negotiation processes.

We strongly urge the European Parliament not to support any calls for increase of the level of de minimis aid to the European fisheries sector. Taxpayers’ money should not be spent in a way that undermines the objectives of the CFP, further increases the pressure on already over-fished stocks, delays the necessary restructuring of the EU fisheries sector, distorts competition among Member States and undermines fundamental EU positions in international reform processes.

More information:

Joint position on de minimis aid

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