The European Parliament adopted by 513 votes to 43, with 38 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and the Implementing Protocol thereto.
Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.
The European Commission carried out negotiations with Madagascar authorities on concluding a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), including a new Implementing Protocol, which was signed on 28 October 2022. The new SFPA repeals and replaces the 2007 agreement and covers a period of four years from the date of provisional application.
The objective of the Agreement is to restore and strengthen the partnership between the two parties as well as to contribute to better governance of the fishing sector. It’s enables EU vessels to access Madagascar’s fishing zone and to fish for tuna and associated species there, under the management mandate of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
The Agreement and the protocol will also provide sectoral support for monitoring and combating illegal fishing, the small-scale fisheries sector, scientific and technical cooperation - with a view to ensuring that fisheries resources are exploited in a sustainable manner, proper training for seafarers, management and conservation of fisheries resources, and scientific cooperation.
Furthermore, the Agreement and the protocol will advance Madagascar’s fishing economy by fostering growth and decent working conditions in fisheries-related economic activities.
The new SFPA and its Implementing Protocol establish an updated framework allowing 65 Union vessels to access Madagascar's waters and to fish for tuna and associated species. In exchange for fishing rights, the EU provides a financial contribution to Madagascar which represents EUR 1 800 000 per year, broken down into an annual amount of EUR 700 000 for access to Madagascar’s fishing zone and an amount of EUR 1 100 000 for sectoral support aiming at supporting Madagascar’s fisheries policy.