On 5 June 2015, the European Union and the Republic of Liberia initialled a new, 5-year Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) and associated Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities for EU vessels, the financial compensation to be paid by the Union and the modalities of sectoral support to the fishing sector of Liberia.
The Agreement and Protocol mark the beginning of a new partnership given that there has never been a SFPA between the Union and Liberia. The new SFPA also further expands the Union’s network of tuna fisheries agreements in West Africa.
The new Protocol offers opportunities to 28 purse seiners and 6 surface long-line vessels to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the waters under the jurisdiction of Liberia, based on a reference tonnage of 6 500 tonnes. In return, the EU will pay Liberia an average annual compensation of € 650 000, out of which 50% is earmarked to support the fisheries policy of Liberia including to reinforce its fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance capacity.
The Member States with an interest in the new Agreement and Protocol are mainly Spain and France.
The Agreement and Protocol will enter into provisional application when the procedures for their signature has been completed and will enter into force when the necessary procedures for their conclusion have been completed, including the consent of the European Parliament. Continue reading ……
