EU/Gambia Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Implementation Protocol

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of The Gambia

The new Agreement repeals and replaces the existing Agreement, which entered into force on 2 June 1987; it covers a period of six years from the date of its provisional application and is tacitly renewable.

Principles and objectives

The objectives of the agreement are as follows:

- provide an updated framework, taking into account the priorities of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and its external dimension, with a view to establishing a strategic partnership between the European Union and the Republic of Gambia in the fisheries sector;

- to renew cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of The Gambia to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in the Gambia's fishing zone, in the interest of both parties.

The Parties undertake to promote sustainable fisheries in the Gambian fishing zone on the basis of the principle of non-discrimination between the different vessels present in that zone.

Scope

This Agreement establishes the principles, rules and procedures governing:

- the conditions under which Union vessels may engage in fishing activities in the Gambian fishing zone;

- economic, financial, technical and scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector with a view to promoting sustainable fishing in the Gambian fishing zone and the development of the Gambian fisheries and maritime sectors;

- cooperation on management, control and surveillance measures in the Gambian fishing zone with a view to ensuring that the above rules and conditions are complied with and that the measures for the conservation of fish stocks and management of fishing activities, in particular those concerning the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, are effective;

- partnerships between operators aimed at developing economic activities in the fisheries sector and related activities, in the common interest.

Financial contribution

The Union shall grant The Gambia a financial contribution under this Agreement in order to: (i) support part of the access costs of Union vessels to the Gambian fishing zone and fisheries resources, without prejudice to the access costs borne by the vessel owners; (ii) reinforce The Gambia's capacity to develop a sustainable fisheries policy through sectoral support.

The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee, composed of representatives of the Union and the Gambian authorities, to monitor the implementation of the Agreement. The Joint Committee may adopt amendments to the Protocol.