EU/Gambia Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Implementation Protocol

PROTOCOL on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of The Gambia.

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

The new Protocol on the implementation covers a period of six years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. the date of its signature by the Parties.

Objective

The objective of the Protocol is to provide fishing opportunities for European Union vessels in Gambian waters taking into account available scientific assessments, in particular those of the Committee on Fisheries for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) and respecting the best scientific advice and recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), within the limits of the available surplus.

Fishing opportunities and financial contribution

The fishing opportunities granted to Union vessels shall be as follows:

- 28 freezer tuna seiners;

- 10 pole-and-lines;

- 3 trawlers (targeting deep-water hake, deep-water fishing).

The annual financial contribution amounts to EUR 550 000, allocated as follows:

- an annual amount for access to the fisheries resources in the Gambian fishing zone of EUR 275 000 equivalent to a reference tonnage, for highly migratory species, of 3 300 tonnes per year, and;

- specific annual amount for the support of the implementation of The Gambia's sectoral fisheries policy of EUR 275 000 per year. This support meets the objectives of The Gambia’s national policy on the sustainable management of continental and maritime fishery resources.

The Joint Committee may reassess and decide to review the fishing opportunities insofar as the recommendations and resolutions adopted within ICCAT and other regional scientific bodies indicate that such a review is compatible with the sustainable management of the fisheries resources covered by this Protocol.

Both the Union and The Gambia shall ensure that catches made by Union vessels are monitored on regular basis. In the case of demersal species, as soon as the catch level reaches 80 % of the total allowable catch, The Gambia shall notify the Union authorities. On receipt of this notification, the Union shall likewise inform the Member States thereof. Member States shall then act appropriately to ensure that catch levels of demersal species do not surpass the total allowable catch.

Sectoral support

The Joint Committee shall adopt a multiannual sectoral programme and its implementing rules, covering in particular the objectives to be achieved over time, both on an annual and multiannual basis, with a view to developing responsible and sustainable fishing activities taking into account the priorities expressed by The Gambia in its national policies relating to or having an impact on the following areas:

- support and management measures for fisheries, aquaculture and artisanal fisheries;

- sanitary and quality management with a view to developing export capacities;

- fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance and fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing;

- the development and strengthening of scientific capacity in the field of fisheries.

Any proposed amendments to the multiannual sectoral programme must be approved by the Joint Committee.