Fisheries MEPs back the extension of EU-Mauritius fisheries protocol
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protocol extended for six months until new agreement is reached
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EU fleet to continue to fish for tuna and tuna like species
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Mauritius will receive financial contribution of EUR 287 500
EP’s fisheries committee temporarily extended the protocol implementing the EU-Mauritius fisheries agreement on Tuesday.
Parliament’s fisheries committee gave a green light (24 votes to one and one abstention) to the six-month long prolongation of the current EU-Mauritius fishing protocol providing tuna fishing opportunities to four EU countries - France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The extension provides the necessary time for the new agreement to be negotiated.
According to MEPs, the fisheries agreement between the EU and Mauritius is important for the EU tuna fleet in the Indian Ocean and allows to strengthen the relationship between the countries. It promotes sound exploitation of fishery resources in Mauritius waters and support Mauritius in developing its fisheries sector in the area of monitoring, surveillance, scientific research and fisheries management. The extension will allow the EU fleet to fish for tuna and tuna like species in the amount of 2000 tonnes, while Mauritius will receive financial contribution of EUR 287 500 of which EUR 177 500 for the development of Mauritius’ sectoral fisheries policy.
Quote
“The fisheries agreement with Mauritius has worked well for both parties during its term. The local industry has progressed and our vessels have taken advantage of their fishing opportunities in a harmonious, constructive and sustainable symbiosis. The aim of this initiative is to grant us a six-month extension to guarantee the validity of the 2017-2021 agreement while we close the next one. This is a further demonstration of the usefulness of the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy as a tool for cooperation and as a support programme for the local and European fishing industry. Also as a procedure for extending our standards of environmental and social sustainability in waters around the world, guaranteeing control over the exploitation of marine resources,” said EP rapporteur Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (Renew, ES) following the committee vote.
Next step
The Parliament is expected to endorse the extension of the protocol in a final vote in one of the next plenary sessions in autumn.
Background
The last fisheries protocol covered the period until December 2021. In September 2021 the European Commission started negotiations of a new protocol. Due to the restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, EU and Mauritius agreed to extend the protocol 2017-2021 for a maximum period of six months to avoid interruption of the fishing activities.