The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Peter Van DALEN (ECR, NL) containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Protocol between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and this country.
Members recalled that the general aim of the Protocol is to enhance cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde, thereby creating a partnership framework within which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fishery resources in the fishing zone of this country.
Noting that both parties are committed to fully respecting all recommendations made by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Members stressed that the new monitoring mechanism, linked with thresholds of 30 % and 40 % of shark catches which trigger additional measures, is, in particular, a step in the right direction.
Members also noted that some shark species (particularly blue shark and shortfin mako, which represent 99% of total catches) listed in Annex 1 to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea are main species targeted by the EU surface long-line fleet and that the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) of ICCAT considers that they are exploited within safe biological limits.
The Commission is called upon to report to Parliament on the actions taken by the Joint Committee in response to the science-based study to be carried out as described in Article 4, paragraph 6 of the Annex to the Protocol, in order to have guarantees that this fishery is exploited in a sustainable and responsible way.
Members welcomed this new fisheries protocol between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde, adopted in accordance with the sustainability measures of the new common fisheries policy (CFP).
Member called for the application of transparent measures as regards the implementation of the Protocol. They called on the Commission to:
- forward to Parliament the minutes and conclusions of the meetings of the Joint Committee provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement;
- submit to Parliament and the Council, within the last year of application of the protocol and before the opening of negotiations for its renewal, a full report on its implementation;
- keep Parliament immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedures related to the protocol and its renewal;
- communicate annually with Parliament on the additional international agreements of Cape Verde so that Parliament may monitor all fishing activities in the region, including those that may be contrary to European fisheries policy, for example, shark finning.