EU fight against IUU fishing: more transparency is needed

On this 5 June, the International Day against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is celebrated by the European Union. While the EU can boast of having an ambitious legislation for fighting against IUU fishing, transparency in the implementation of this legislation needs to be improved.

When the European Commission notifies a third country that it could be considered a non-cooperating country in the fight against IUU fishing, it provides that country with an action plan which it considers should be put in place to avoid a 'red card', - the final notification which entails significant sanctions, such as a ban of EU imports of fishery products from that country. The notification procedure is stopped when the EU considers that the third country has implemented the necessary measures. But on what basis does the EU stop the procedure? Hard to say since these elements remain confidential. Therefore, is it guaranteed that the third country has implemented all the necessary measures to effectively combat IUU fishing? In view of what happened in South Korea early 2019, it’s far from certain.

The case of South Korea
On 26 November 2013, the European Commission notified South Korea that it could potentially be considered a non-cooperating country in the fight against IUU fishing. This decision[1] exhaustively and thoroughly describes Korea's failure to comply with the IUU Regulation, including illegal fishing operations off the coast of Africa.

A year and a half later, on 29 April 2015, the Official Journal publishes a short notice of just one page stating that the European Commission is putting an end to the procedure because "The Republic of Korea has introduced the necessary measures for the cessation of IUU fishing activities in question and the prevention of any future such activities, rectifying any act or omission leading to the notification of the possibility of being identified as non-cooperating countries in fighting IUU fishing." (JO C 142).

But in February 2019, a group of NGOs announced that the Korean government had failed in its obligations to fight IUU fishing: "The South Korean government has failed to sanction two vessels found fishing illegally in Antarctic waters, instead allowing the owner to sell this valuable catch on the global seafood market."[2].

Is this a sign that Korea, contrary to what was announced by the EU in 2015, had not implemented all the necessary measures to combat IUU fishing?

Our request for access to documents

To find out for sure, on 20 February 2019, CFFA asked the Commission to communicate the action plan it had proposed Korea to implement in order to avoid being identified as a non-cooperating third country, as well as the report drawn up by DG Mare on the basis of which the Commission had put an end to the notification procedure regarding Korea.

DG MARE replied on 13 March 2019 that the requested documents contained very sensitive information which is at the heart of bilateral relations with Korea to combat IUU fishing and that the success of the formal dialogue with Korea depended on the confidentiality of their exchanges. As a result, these documents could not be disclosed. As for the report prepared by DG MARE which, in our opinion, had necessarily served as a basis for taking the decision to end the process, DG MARE simply replied that it did not exist!

This answer was not acceptable. Why should the publication of the action plan jeopardize bilateral relations with Korea, except to hide from the public elements that would be inconsistent with the decision to end the procedure vis-à-vis this country? And how to believe that this decision would have been adopted without any evaluation report having been drawn up, showing that the deficiencies had been fully addressed?

Therefore, in accordance with Regulation 1049/2001 on public access to EU institutions documents, we decided to confirm our request for information with the General Secretariat of the European Commission, on 25 March 2019.

The General Secretariat replied on 8 May 2019, sending us the following documents, - de facto acknowledging that the categorical rejection by DG MARE of our first request was unfounded.

1) the letter sent on 26 November 2013 to Korea with the action plan attached to this letter
2) three documents, corresponding, according to the General Secretariat, to our demand for the report which formed the basis for the decision to end the procedure regarding Korea:

(i) the "Note to file" established on 10 March 2015, at the end of a mission carried out by a team of DG MARE in Korea on 24 and 25 February 2015,

(ii) the DG Mare note of 17 March 2015 to the Commissioner responsible for fisheries

(iii) the letter of 21 April 2015 from the Commissioner responsible for fisheries to Korea Minister of Oceans and Fisheries

What do we learn from the documents provided?

Many essential passages of the documents sent are hidden. This prevents us from knowing the details of the reasons which led to the Commission decision to end the procedure regarding Korea.

The letter addressed to the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea only underlines that Korea has revised its legal framework for fisheries by adopting a law on the development of distant water fisheries, by updating the fisheries management system and by strengthening respect for the port State obligations, but it does not describe the evidence leading to that assessment.

One thing is clear though: the position of the Commission lacks coherence.

Indeed, the letter of 26 November 2013 was explicit: all measures proposed in the plan of action should be implemented, without exception[3]. The notice published in the Official Journal in 2015, announcing the end of the procedure, also indicated that Korea had taken “the necessary measures to stop IUU fishing activities and prevent new ones”, and that it had “rectified any act or omission leading to the notification of the possibility of being identified as non-cooperating countries in fighting IUU fishing”.

But then, why, in the response from the General Secretariat of the Commission that we received on 9 May 2019, is it mentioned that "… the evaluation under Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 is fully ongoing.”[4]?

Either the action plan has been fully implemented or it has not been. Since the evaluation is still ongoing, this means that the second hypothesis is the most probable.

It suggests that the procedure of notification of Korea as a non-cooperating country in the fight against IUU fishing was stopped although the plan of action proposed by the Commission was not fully implemented, contrary to what was required.

Beyond this, it is very unfortunate that the Commission refuses to provide us with the elements that would have allowed us to develop our own opinion of Korea's real - or not - willingness to fight IUU fishing.

This decision is unfounded in law. Since the decision to take action has been the subject of a reasoned decision published in the Official Journal, the decision to terminate the action must, in all legal logic, be the subject of a similar reasoned decision published in the Official Journal. The simple information note that has been published does not correspond to what was required.

The Commission justifies its attitude by the fact that the disclosure of the information contained in the hidden parts of the documents provided to us would undermine the protection of the public interest as regards international relations[5].

This position of the Commission is surprising.

Indeed, while the decision to initiate the procedure, published in the Official Journal, contains very harsh assessments of Korea, on the other hand, the publication of elements which are supposed to show the progress made by that country to fight IUU fishing would undermine the EU relations with this country? This is rather contradictory.

By not disclosing these elements, the Commission is actually acting as if the real progress made is actually much less significant than what was officially announced.

The case of South Korea shows the need for the European Commission to publish the action plans proposed to third countries that are in the process of being notified as non-cooperating parties, as well as the publication of actions taken by these third States, particular when those actions result in the termination of the procedure.

This is essential to guarantee the efficiency of the EU IUU regulation, and, when the notification procedure concerns illegal distant water fishing activities by third countries, to contribute to the protection of developing countries fishing communities who are often the first victims of these illegal activities.  

[1] Published in EU Official Journal OJ C 346 of 27 November 2013 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013D1127(02)&from=EN

[2] https://ejfoundation.org/news-media/2019/korean-government-allows-illegally-caught-fish-onto-global-seafood-market-1

[3] It reads: « As a consequence, the Commission invites the Republic of Korea : 1. to take all necessary measures to implement the actions contained in the action plan. … »

[4] Page 7

[5] « The EU main interest is to encourage the Republic of Korea (as well as other third countries) to comply with the relevant international obligations in a smooth and peaceful manner without recourse to more onerous international dispute settlement procedures and without any further interference that might aggravate the dispute.

In this context, an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality is a prerequisite for a successful completion of the dialogue with the country concerned in the perspective of inducing them to comply with their conservation and cooperation obligations. The breach of the trust would jeopardise the relations between the EU and the countries concerned. Disclosure of information included in the internal documents and concerning the assessment of the compliance of third countries with their international obligations would compromise the EU objective of resolving this matter with these countries in a cooperative manner and in a climate of mutual trust and in a long standing perspective.

Disclosure of the information relating to internal national reform processes could also be detrimental to legitimate trade flows between the parties and put at stake the credibility of the Republic of Korea as fish supplier at global level. » (cf. p. 6)

African artisanal fishers and NGOs jointly complain to the EU against Italy turning a blind eye to its trawlers’ illegal activities in West Africa

The Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), the African Confederation of Artisanal Fisheries Professional Organizations (CAOPA), The Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation (PRCM), Danish Living Seas and Bloom have jointly lodged a complaint to the EU, asking the European Commission to launch an infringement procedure against Italy. They argue that the Italian fisheries authorities have failed to comply with their obligations, under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), to sanction the illegal activities of Italian trawlers in the waters of Sierra Leone. These vessels have been making incursions in the inshore zone reserved for artisanal fisheries, catching species which they were not allowed to catch and transshipping without authorization.

These Italian vessels have a history of illegal operations, documented by Greenpeace, Oceana and CFFA[1]: catching sharks and infringing rules on finning, making illegal incursions in neighboring West African countries waters, fishing with the wrong fishing gear in The Gambia.

Gaoussou Gueye, President of the CAOPA states that ‘when they come to our countries, the EU people are always talking about how important it is to fight illegal fishing. They always argue that EU fleets fish legally and sustainably. Still, some EU vessels are involved in operations that are far from sustainable, some downright illegal, like the activities carried out by these Italian trawlers over many years in West Africa. If the EU wants to have credibility and be trusted by African countries, then it should not accept such behavior by one of its Member States’ fleet. These Italian trawlers have to be monitored and properly sanctioned when they don’t respect the laws of our countries or the Common Fisheries Policy’.

These Italian trawlers, owned by two Sicilian companies, have never been sanctioned by Italy for their unlawful activities. In December 2016, an infringement procedure was opened by the European Commission against Italy related to some of these illegal activities in the Gambia and Guinea Bissau but, to this day, more than two years later, this infringement procedure has not been followed up by the Commission.

At a time when the European Union is championing sustainable fisheries globally and claims to be leading the fight against IUU fishing, it is unacceptable that it lets some EU-flagged vessels conduct IUU activities in the waters of African countries with total impunity. The EU must take action now.

For more information, you can contact

CFFA Secretariat

cffa.cape@gmail.com

[1] Greenpeace, “Four illegal fishing cases found in Sierra Leone in four days”, April 20, 2017: http://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/Press-Centre-Hub/4-illegal-fishing-cases-found-Sierra-Leone/.

Oceana, “Fishing the Boundaries of Law: How the Exclusivity Clause in EU Fisheries Agreements was Undermined”, Sept. 2017 https://usa.oceana.org/publications/reports/fishing-boundaries-law-how-exclusivity-clause-eu-fisheries-agreements-was.

CFFA, “EU Common Fisheries Policy External Dimension: Improving sustainability through an ambitious revision of the Fishing Authorization Regulation”, Sept. 2016:

“Round sardinella, key for food security in West Africa, is further declining”

by Ad Corten, Coordinator of the Dutch/Mauritanian cooperation in fisheries research

Limited data already show further drop in abundance of round sardinella

Round sardinella is the most important species of small pelagics for the national fleets both in Mauritania and in Senegal. Given the importance of the stock for job creation and food security, and the serious threats to which it is exposed at the moment, it is surprising that the two main fishing nations (Mauritania and Senegal) have so far been negligent in collecting sufficient scientific data for stock assessment. Sampling of artisanal catches in Mauritania has been at a very low level in 2016 and 2017, despite strong recommendations from the FAO Working Group on Small Pelagic Fish in Northwest Africa to improve the situation. For Senegal, little information is available on the actual level of sampling.

Although only limited data on round sardinella are currently available, all these data point to a further decline of the stock. The catches of round sardinella in Mauritania decreased from 292,000 tons in 2016 to 172,000 tons in 2017; a drop of 41%. But these figures may have been affected to some extent by misreporting. As a result of new regulations concerning the maximum quantity of round sardinella that may be used for fishmeal (10,000 t/year/factory), some fishmeal plants have probably reported part of the landings of sardinella as bonga. Indeed, the reported catch of bonga increased by about 40,000 t in 2017, and it is likely that this increase in reality consisted of round sardinella. However, even if we make allowances for this misreporting, the catch of round sardinella in 2017 still dropped by 80,000 tons compared to 2016…

For Senegal, On the other hand, catches of round sardinella seemed to have remained stable in 2017 compared to 2016, around 190,000 tons. However, these figures do not include the catches used for fishmeal, therefore the actual landings of round sardinella in Senegal in 2017 may have been higher than in 2016. It should be noted, however, that according to fishermen’s organisations, round sardinella were very scarce in the waters north of Dakar during the 2017-2018 season. The high catches of round sardinella in 2017 were presumably taken south of Dakar, and must have consisted mainly of young fish.

In Mauritania, the catch per unit of effort (CPUE) in the canoe and coastal purse seine fishery substantially dropped between 2016 and 2017. The CPUE of the Russian-type trawlers in Mauritania also showed a strong drop in 2017. This sharp drop in CPUE is a strong indication that the decline of round sardinella catches in 2017 was due to a drop in fish abundance, and not to a reduction of the fishing effort.

An acoustic survey by the Norwegian R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen in May-July 2017 in the area from Morocco to Senegal produced the lowest stock estimate for round sardinella in NW Africa since the start of these surveys in 1995. In summary, it may be concluded that all available information points to a substantial drop in abundance of round sardinella in 2017.

The effect of the fishmeal industry

During a meeting with representatives of Senegalese fishermen’s organisations CONIPAS, FENAGIE and APRAPAM in January 2018, all the organisations expressed their concern about decreasing round sardinella catches, particular in the area north of Dakar (the “Grand Côte”). According to these fishers organisations, many fishermen were leaving the industry because of low catches. In fact, the fisheries in Mauritania and Senegal exploit different components of the round sardinella stock. It is known that the Senegalese fishery south of Dakar mainly exploits the younger fish, whereas the fishery in Mauritania and in the northern part of Senegal depends on the adult fish that perform the seasonal migration from Senegal to Mauritania and Morocco. A depletion of the adult stock component will therefore have a stronger impact on catches in Mauritania and northern Senegal than on catches in the south of Senegal.

Data collected in Mauritania over the past 19 years indicate that fishing mortality has been gradually increasing. In the period 1999 – 2013 this was due to the exploitation of sardinella by foreign trawlers in Mauritania, and probably also by a gradual increase in effort by the Senegalese artisanal fleet. After 2012, the place of the foreign trawlers in Mauritania was taken over by the fishmeal industry. The development of this industry in Mauritania has been well documented. More recently, a fishmeal industry also developed in Senegal and Gambia. For these countries, little or no information is available on the amounts of fish used for fishmeal nor on their species composition. Most likely, the bulk of the catches used for fishmeal consisted of sardinella (round and flat). This was echoed by a representative of the Seneglese women engaged in the sardinella smoking industry (“transformatrices”), who explained that their activity was threatened because of the competition from fishmeal factories that bought all the sardinella.

Whereas the effort by artisanal fleets in earlier years was restricted by the demand from the human consumption market, this restriction no longer exists at the moment. The fishmeal plants can absorb large quantities of fish, which stimulates artisanal fishermen to increase their effort. Mauritanian fishmeal plants have even brought in a completely new fleet of efficient Turkish purse seiners to supply them with fish. Senegalese fishermen from Casamance are now landing catches at fishmeal plants in Gambia. Sometimes these landings are so big that even the fishmeal plants cannot absorb them. As a result, considerable quantities of sardinella have to be dumped at sea or on the land.

To conclude, the limited data available show that the stock of round sardinella in NW Africa has been further reduced in the most recent years by an increase of fishing effort. The main cause of this increased effort is the development of a fishmeal industry in the region. This development has increased the outlet possibilities for the artisanal fleets, and even brought in an entire new fleet in Mauritania to catch the fish for the fishmeal factories.

The older age groups in the round sardinella population have been depleted and the fishery now depends largely on the youngest fish. Fleets that exploit the adult part of the population, such as the ones in northern Senegal and in Mauritania, are hardest hit by the absence of older fish. The overexploitation of the stock presents a serious threat for the employment of many thousands of fishermen and women fish smokers  in Senegal, and for the food security of millions of people in West Africa.

The assessment of the stock is seriously hampered by the lack of sampling in Mauritania and by the poor data provided by Senegal to the FAO working group. Considering the social and economic importance of sardinella to Mauritania and Senegal, it is absolutely vital that appropriate investment is made in research on small pelagics, round sardinella in particular, in both countries, and in cooperation between the countries, in order to get the best scientific data possible.

The AKWAABA spirit: the key role of women in Ivory Coast artisanal fisheries

Alexandre Rodriguez, Executive Secretary of the EU Long Distance Fishing Fleets Advisory Council (LDAC) shares with us his personal reflexions after a visit to the wompen fish processors in Abidjan.

Abidjan, 28 August 2018

This week, I had the occasion to travel to Cote d´Ivoire invited by one of our partner organisations in Africa, the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO-COMHAFAT). It was a fruitful and intensive 2.5 days where we were able to agree on the plan of action for African Atlantic States for sustainable fisheries in 2019 and 2020.

I spoke to Mr. Gaoussou Gueye, the President of the African Confederation on Artisanal Fisheries (CAOPA) who was also attending the proceedings, on the possibility of meeting our common friend Micheline Dion, responsible of CAOPA Women's Programme, at her workplace to see some “real action in the field”.

I could not be any luckier as the president of CAOPA, apart from being an excellent human being with a big heart, is as well respected professional and widely known for his work amongst West African fishing communities. So it was not very difficult for him to contact Micheline and arrange a short visit to the port to see the work of the  women´s fish processors cooperative she is running.

We took a local taxi and arrived at Locodjro Miami, a quiet suburb 12km off Plateau. We arrived at a little dock surrounded by a beautiful scenery with the tall skyscrapers and the foreign industrial tuna purse seiners moored in the Port of Abidjan, on the other side of the bay.

As soon as we stepped out of the taxi, we were received with a big smile and a warm welcome by Micheline and her fellow women who gave us the classical “bonne arrivée” greeting. I start suddenly feeling this subtle sensation of heartwarming hospitality which is embedded in the Akwaaba spirit, a word that comes from Twi, a language of the Ashanti people of the neighboring nation Ghana, and carries the same meaning in the Ivorian dialect.

Micheline was one of the founders and main architects behind the creation of the Women's Processors Cooperative in Locodjro with the aim to improve revenues and working conditions for the local community living from the processing of fish, particularly tropical tuna but also other species such as langoustine.

Gaoussou and Micheline seemed to know every single person and they both talked cheerfully to any worker with whom we crossed paths, listening carefully to each of their concerns and hopes. Through cleverly posed questions , they adeptly managed to introduce me into the dialogue so I felt part of the community and also could start asking my own questions regarding daily conditions at work.

The activity was quite small when we arrived as most of the pirogues that catch the tunas were out at sea. They all leave early in the morning and come back at sunset. I could see la pirogue du chef, who was moored on that day. I asked how much fish they usually got from the pirogues, and they say that it varies from day to day but ranges from 200 kg up to 1 tonne per day.

Micheline explained that the work is very much dependent on the supply of raw tuna. Overall, she estimated that they work in total about 2-3 months a year overall. In terms of employment, the Cooperative currently employs 902 pêcheurs (fishers), 305 transformatrices (women processors), 173 découpeurs/ses (fish cutters) and 283 chargeurs (loaders), mostly locals from the Abidjan area. In the words of Micheline, “chaque élément de la chaîne de valeur est important et joue un rôle clé du fonctionnement”. This includes also some volunteers which have offered their help for different tasks such as cleaning the premises or doing the basic accounting.

I had been really impressed so far by what I was seeing together with the clarity of thought and explanations from Micheline on how the Cooperative should work. This is why I asked her to draw me a sketch on the value chain so I could understand well the whole economic cycle. She patiently explained me that their work can be summarised in 5 basic steps:

1. Débarquement: The fresh daily catch from pirogues is landed or transported at the designated landing site (PDA in French), at the little embarcadère.

2. Triage: The catch is sorted, separated and labelled on a separate area, and allocated to each of the fishermen and their wives and families for sale at the auction. The women are also present at the market´s auction through a reserved space where they can oversee the whole process.

3. Conservation: The prime fish goes to a frigorific chamber for being sold to restaurants and local markets. The remaining tuna is conserved either in salt and ice and put into tanks made of wood and filled with ice and sealed with salt so it makes a crust and the fish can be conserved outside at least for 2-3 days.

4. Découpage: This is where the fresh tuna is cut normally in three pieces and separated in different buckets, with the head decoupled and given to the women. The tail and the trunk/loin are set in different cubes.

5. Transformation: I was amazed to see the old style ovens made of iron and ignited with charcoal for the poisson fumé.

There are also a number of ancillary services under development such as a medical room (salle de soins), changing rooms, a canteen for workers, a multipurpose training room, a kindergarten and a storeroom.

Micheline explained that they have also accountants recording all income and expenses and doing the bookkeeping work. They also coordinate the provision of all necessary supplies including 25k bags of salt, that the Cooperative is able to purchase at a more competitive price than for individual fishers as they have a concerted power of negotiation.

My personal reflection of this visit is that all the foundations for setting a professional organisation in place are there. However, their activity was hindered by two major factors: the lack of financial resources for both the maintenance of the premises and the improvements required for meeting the health and sanitary standards for conservation and selling of fish; and the shortage in regular fish supply for ensuring jobs and provide economic returns to the activities. This initiative is an example of how added value can be given to fishing activities by creating a collaborative economy that helps to improve living conditions and fix the local population through decent jobs.

To address these shortcomings, some actions could be considered:

• The hiring of teachers and caretakers for the kindergarten would allow women which have to carry all day their babies on their shoulders while working to better perform their tasks while having peace of mind that their kids are well looked after under a safe environment. This initiative would also serve to prepare children to enter  primary school and would also avoid exposing small kids to smokes and chemicals from the fumage de poisson or to infections and diseases related to poor evacuation systems for fish waste.

• Despite having managed to sign an agreement with Spanish private tuna operators from OPAGAC landing a share of their catches for a regular supply when landing or refueling/loading their vessels at Abidjan port, the Cooperative is encountering difficulties and restrictions due to internal problems with local administrations and private agents operating in the fish trade in the port of Abidjan. A system from Ivorian authorities to guarantee that direct supply is available to this women free of charge without administrative or de facto blockages is required with immediate action.

• The techniques and conditions used to preserve the fish are very precarious to say the least, with very old tanks placed outdoors and no doors. The fish is sunk in ice in tanks made of wood or old plastic materials which not fit for the purpose of ensuring the cold chain. The use of improved ovens (FTT) should be generalised.

• There is a lack of a proper sewage and water drainage system in the sheds to evacuate the dirty oil and water discarded when processing fish at the transformation space; The cutting area space has to be done outdoors due to the small space and lack of maintenance and small size of the room that has been kindly funded by the Government of Morocco. Proper investment should be further devoted to improve these infrastructures.

All the above shortcomings could be addressed with political and administrative goodwill as well as support from donors. Adequate resources and ongoing support must be provided by relevant local, national and international organisation using for example existing funds related to sectorial support under SFPAs or projects on development for cooperation by the EU or sponsored by international organisations such as the World Bank or the African Bank for Development.

I would like to end up this article with a quote from Pope Francis wrote in its Encyclical from 2015 Laudato Si, very linked with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and addressed not only to Christian people but to all religions and peoples from the world: An “ethical economy must serve all people without exclusion that endows any person with dignity, opportunity and basic resources”.

Improving sustainability through an ambitious revision of the Fishing Authorisation Regulation

Since the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) entered into force on January 1st 2014, there have been improvements registered in Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements. However, tide still needs to turn as regards vessels fishing outside the framework of SFPAs.

Indeed, the EU external fleet counts around 700 vessels, but only 245 vessels fished under SFPAs in 2014: Several hundreds of EU vessels operate outside SFPAs, negotiating private agreements with third countries (this is only allowed when there is no SFPA between the EU and the particular country in place), or setting up chartering arrangements for their vessels with local businesses. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to have information about these arrangements.

This may change in the next months with a review of the so-called ‘Fishing Authorisation Regulation’ (FAR). This regulation will stipulate ‘eligibility criteria’, - designed to ensure transparency and sustainability- , that any EU vessel wanting to operate in external waters will have to fulfill to obtain a fishing authorisation from the EU Member State in which it is registered.

The proposal for a future FAR Regulation is currently being examined by the European Parliament and the Council. However, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), has already given its opinion on the matter. The EESC considers it necessary for the European Commission to verify the validity of the authorisations given by the Member State, checking whether the eligibility criteria have been duly applied. 

In this article, CFFA explores why the European Commission should indeed verify what Member States do. Looking in particular at the case of Italy, we highlight that some EU countries tend to turn a blind eye to what their vessels are doing once they fish outside EU waters, thereby failing to fulfill their responsibilities as flag State under international law. Italy has consistently delivered fishing authorisations for all these vessels to fish in West Africa regardless of the fact that they shouldn’t be fishing there or that they were involved in illegal fishing.   

This shows that if the EU is to ensure, through its Fishing Authorisation Regulation, that all its fishing vessels fishing outside EU waters respect “the same principles and standards as those applicable under Union law in the area of the CFP” as required by the new CFP, the European Commission has to play a key role to verify that all EU member states apply sustainability criteria rigorously before allowing their vessels to fish in third countries waters.

Issues of the new EU-Mauritania fishing agreement protocol: small pelagics, bycatch and sectoral support

On March 22d, the European Parliament Fisheries Committee discussed the new EU-Mauritania fishing agreement protocol. Most parliamentarians, like the rapporteur, Mr Mato, see positively the protocol proposed. However, the issue of the absence of a regional framework for the sustainable management of small pelagics was raised by Mrs Rodust, who insisted the EU should promote such regional management.

CFFA fully shares this point of view. With regard to access to small pelagic through the Mauritania – EU SFPA, our greatest concern in terms of sustainability remains the fact that access is allocated to foreign fleets, including those of the EU and Russia, in the absence of a necessary regional management framework for these species, shared between, mainly, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. How is it possible to determine a surplus in the absence of such regional management?

The SRFC Convention on the Minimum Access Conditions (CMA), ratified by SRFC Member States, including Mauritania, call for a concerted management of small pelagic species in the region, and this call has been also made by local fishing communities, given the strategic importance of these resources for the food security of the entire region. This is a matter of urgency, given the state of full exploitation, or even over-exploitation of the round sardinella.

We therefore request the EU to make all possible efforts to promote such regional management, including through its SFPA dialogue with the concerned countries: Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal.

CFFA has additional comments about the EU-Mauritania new proposed protocol, concerning :

-          Mauritania commitment to Transparency

The Article 1 of the new Protocol stipulates that Mauritania undertakes to make public any public or private agreement allowing access to its EEZ by foreign vessels. This is an important positive step, which is rightly reflected by the rapporteur, Mr Mato. We hope that Mauritania will soon publish all these agreements, as it is for us a fundamental part of the implementation of the agreement, which will be examined at the occasion the first SFPA Joint Committee meeting, which will meet probably in May 2016.

-          Access to resources: by-catches of octopus and small pelagics

The state of the octopus resources in Mauritania remains a concern. The 2015-2019 Mauritania fisheries sector development strategy document insists on the fact that 'despite a recovery observed recently, the state of octopus stock is still a concern with overexploitation levels estimated to be at 17%’. In this context, it is to be welcome that there is no direct access for European fleets to this overexploited resource, which is key for the local artisanal sector.

However, if there is no access to the octopus as a target species through the SFPA, octopus remains one of species caught as bycatch: European shrimp trawlers may retain on board 8% of catches of cephalopods, composed mainly of octopus.

The rapporteur also underlines that Mauritania had undertaken to consider, during the first Joint Committee meeting, the possible allocation of new fishing opportunities for demersal freezer trawlers, which would then also include by-catches of octopus.

We feel that the impact of octopus by catches combined volumes on the state of the stock must be taken into account, and no further access should be given that would have a detrimental impact on the state of non-targeted resources, particularly the over exploited octopus.

The problem of bycatch is also present in the small pelagic fishery. For pelagic super trawlers,  the joint Scientific Committee in 2013 made the hypothesis that there was possible under-reporting of by-catches, 'taking into account the practice of pelagic trawling which in general has a high bycatch rate with an important diversity of species caught as by-catch (over 100 species)'. The recent Maritime Atlas of vulnerable sea areas in Mauritania, published by the Mauritanian Institute of oceanographic research and fisheries (IMROP)  states that, for the small pelagic fishery, 'while catches of the target species are well-regulated, the bycatch is a major problem’.

Efforts of selectivity are therefore needed to reduce by-catch of pelagic super trawlers, including by introducing, through the implementation of the 2015-2019 SFPA, the use of selectivity devices.

-          Sectoral support

During the last protocols, the sectoral support substantially decreased, from 16 million euros per year (2008-2012) to 3 million per year (2012-2014). It will be 4 million euros per year in the new protocol 2015-2019.  So far, the use of sectoral support is very unsatisfactory for both parties: the funds were mainly used to cover running costs, rather than infrastructure, essential for the development of the sector. The question of transparency regarding the use of this sectoral support was also raised many times in the past.

To address these deficiencies, it is expected in the new protocol that sectoral support will be handled by an ‘execution cell’ that will coordinate the implementation with the beneficiaries of the selected projects. A report at the end of project will be published, which will consider the impact on resources, employment, investments. An annual workshop with beneficiaries will be held to present progress.

The rapid implementation of this transparent and participative approach should be encouraged, to improve the use of sectoral support funds to the benefits of Mauritanian sustainable fisheries development.

Voices from African artisanal fisheries: giving the floor to those who live from fishing

From Senegal to Togo, from Guinea-Bissau to Mauritania, from Tunisia to Ghana, communities
living from maritime fisheries show the same attachment to the sea and face the same challenges.
Between September 2014 and November 2015, the West African Network of Journalists for Responsible Fisheries (rejoprao), in collaboration with the African Confederation of Fisheries Professional Organisations (CAOPA), went to meet artisanal fisheries stakeholders in these six countries.
In each country, we visited fishing sites, had exchanges with groups of men and women living
from fishing, made individual interviews and did documentary research. The goal was to better
understand and honestly describe the realities in which fishing communities have to live and work, and the challenges they face. And to show also that, beyond the often unreliable statistics, African artisanal fisheries are composed of men and women who want to be heard.
Built around a series of six field reports, this publication gives the floor to artisanal fisheries stakeholders, who share with us their fears and their hopes for the future of their activity. We wanted to shine some light on artisanal fisheries. In no case, we claim that this publication gives the full picture of the situation in the countries we visited.
Our gratitude goes to all those who contributed, in different ways, to the production of this report.

On behalf of the Rejoprao
Inoussa Maiga
President

This report was produced with the support of SSNC and CFFA

Download Voices from African Artisanal Fisheries

'People have the right to know how much is paid, how much is fished, how and by whom'

Isabella Lovin, Sweden International Cooperation Minister, is interviewed by Jedna Deida. It has been published on Mauriweb Info http://mauriweb.info/node/1549

You just ended a visit to Mauritania. You met Mauritanian high authorities. Can you tell us what has been discussed?

Yes, I visited Mauritania to attend the FiTI conference, where I was invited as a key note speaker, due to my long time engagement in sustainable fisheries. Of course I also met with members of the government and the President, discussing Swedish-Mauritanian relations. We have a common interest in sustainable fisheries, and we were also discussing more broadly on sustainable development, the importance of fight against corruption and the importance of transparency, as well as the freedom of the press.

What do think about the FiTI Conference and what can be expected from all fisheries partners to improve FiTi’s achievements?

I think it is excellent that Mauritania is taking the lead in this Fisheries Transparency initiative, that now important fishing countries such as Indonesia and Senegal have joined. What has now to be developed are the technical FiTI standards and I expect the transparency will be needed in at least three areas: on payments, on catches and on tenure arrangements. The public has the right to know how much is being paid, how much is being fished, how and by whom.

What would be the concrete benefits of transparency in African fisheries when it comes to the activities of industrial fishing in our waters?

It is greatly important for two reasons. First of all to fight corruption. By publishing all fisheries access agreements, the terms and the IMO numbers of boats involved, civil society and free media can hold their governments accountable. Secondly, it is essential to conserve the marine resources. Full transparency on catches is needed to make stock assessments, and it is important for local populations and local fishermen that should have priority access to the fish. It’s only if there is a surplus not needed by local fishermen, that any fishing should be allowed for foreign fleets.

Do you think an initiative like the FiTI will live up to our expectations?

It depends on all the stakeholders that are engaged. It's too early to tell.

What is needed to ensure it doesn't become just a 'whitewashing' exercise for African governments, to attract more foreign investments without changing their opaque behaviors?

What is needed is true commitment by governments and full engagement of civil society actors and organisations. It is also important to keep in mind that governments actually are gaining from committing to transparency and long term sustainability. For the EU, a condition for signing fisheries agreements is that EU only negotiates for a surplus of fish, not needed by local populations. Then countries need to publish all their agreements if they want a fisheries agreement with the EU. This is what we changed with the new EU Common Fisheries Policy.

As a European Parliamentarian, you have been one of the most involved fighter to defend responsible and sustainable fishing on the African coast. Now, as Sweden Minister of international cooperation, what can you promote to help fishermen in Africa?

Sweden is engaged in a number of ways, supporting fisheries research and capacity building in Africa. We see that fisheries is an important source of livelihood for millions of people and also that fish is an important source of proteins - it is all too important to be destroyed by overfishing. Therefore we now include sustainable management of fisheries in our regional cooperation strategy for Africa.