New Partnership for Sustainable Fisheries between EU and Madagascar – Last 30 June, a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) was signed between the European Union and Madagascar, together with its implementing protocol. This agreement marks an important milestone in fisheries governance, re-establishing the fisheries partnership between the two parties, interrupted since 2018, and promoting good management of fisheries resources.
The signed agreement and protocol marks the beginning of practical implementation, allowing vessels from EU Member States to reapply for authorisation to fish in Madagascar’s waters.
The agreement will allow a total of 65 tuna vessels from EU Member States access to Madagascar’s waters for a period of four years. In return, the EU commits to provide Madagascar with annual funding of €700,000, based on a reference catch estimate of 14,000 tonnes of tuna. In addition, the EU will allocate €1.1 million for sectoral support, in order to foster the sustainable development of Madagascar’s fisheries sector and blue economy. Overall, the EU will contribute a total of EUR 1.8 million per year.
Commitment to ecosystem protection and cooperation
The new protocol also provides for an additional contribution for the protection of ecosystems, which will be borne by the owners of fishing vessels. In addition, new provisions have been included to promote cooperation between the EU and Madagascar within the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFAs) with third countries are negotiated and concluded by the European Commission on behalf of the EU. These agreements allow EU vessels to fish for excessive stocks in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of third countries, with a strong focus on resource conservation and environmental sustainability.
The partnership agreement with Madagascar demonstrates the EU’s commitment to responsible and sustainable management of fisheries resources globally, while promoting cooperation and support for the development of the fisheries sector in the African country.
New partnership for sustainable fisheries between the EU and Madagascar
