“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