EU and Cook Islands Fisheries Partnership Agreement
Published by AGRINFO on
EU and Cook Islands fisheries agreement – call for evidence
Fisheries – negotiation mandate for a new protocol for the Cook Islands
Update
This call for evidence relates to an evaluation of the protocol implementing the EU’s Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with the Cook Islands. The current protocol expires in December 2024.
Impacted Products
tuna
What is changing?
A new protocol needs to be negotiated for the EU fleet to fish in Cook Islands’ waters as soon as possible after the current protocol expires on 16 December 2024.
Why?
The EU fleet cannot fish in waters of the Cook Islands if there is no protocol implementing the SFPA between the Cook Islands and the EU (Common Fisheries Policy Regulation 1380/2013, Art. 31(5)). This call for evidence aims to ensure that the evaluation and future negotiations on a renewal of the protocol with Cook Islands consider the views of stakeholders.
Timeline
Feedback on this call for evidence can be provided until 20 June 2024 via the European Commission’s Have your say webpage: Fisheries – negotiation mandate for a new protocol for the Cook Islands.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
A new protocol would benefit the Cook Islands’ population by providing economic revenue and employment opportunities. Implementing the Agreement promotes good governance and supports the local fishing sector.
Recommended Actions
Fisheries authorities, the fishing industry (fishing and processing), and civil society in the Cook Islands are encouraged to respond to this call for evidence.
Background
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the EU and the Cook Islands was concluded in October 2015. The current protocol allows four EU purse seiners to fish for tuna and other highly migratory species in the Cook Islands' fishing zone for at least 100 days per year (25 days per purse seiner). If available, EU shipowners may purchase up to 110 additional fishing days per year in total. The Cook Islands is receiving an estimated total of EUR 6.5 million for the duration of the protocol.
Regulation 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy sets out mandatory evaluation requirements for SFPAs. SFPAs ensure consistency between the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy and other European policies, including sustainable use of partner country resources; combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; integration of partner countries into the global economy; and better political and financial governance of fisheries.
Resources
Council Decision 2016/776 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands and the Implementation protocol thereto
Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands
Regulation 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy
Sources