EC/Cabo Verde Fisheries Partnership Agreement. Implementing Protocol (2024-2029)
PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2025/643 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde.
CONTENT: the Council decided to approve, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde.
The Protocol aims to allow EU vessels to carry out fishing activities in Cabo Verde's fishing zone and to enable the EU and Cabo Verde to work closely together to continue to promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in Cabo Verde's fishing zone. This cooperation also contributes to the establishment of decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.
The protocol applies for a period of five years from the first day of provisional application.
Fishing opportunities
Cabo Verde issues fishing authorisations to Union vessels within the following limits:
(a) freezer tuna seiners: 24 vessels;
(b) pole-and-line tuna vessels: 10 vessels;
(c) surface longliners: 22 vessels.
These fishing opportunities concern fishing for highly migratory species listed in Annex I of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, within the limits set by this Protocol and excluding species protected or prohibited under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) or other international conventions.
Financial contribution
The total financial compensation amounts to EUR 3 900 000. In addition, a financial contribution is paid by the vessel owners. This total financial contribution includes:
(a) an annual amount of EUR 350 000 corresponding to a reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes per year for access to Cabo Verdean waters and fishery resources;
(b) a specific amount of EUR 430 000 per year, intended to support and implement Cabo Verde's sectoral fisheries policy.
If the overall quantity of catches by Union vessels in the fishing zone exceeds the reference tonnage, the amount of the financial contribution will be increased by EUR 50 for each additional tonne caught.
Joint committee
The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and the Protocol. This Joint Committee has the power to approve certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of these amendments, the Commission is empowered, subject to substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.
The Union’s position on proposed amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments should be approved unless a blocking minority of Member States objects to them.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24.3.2025.