EU and Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement
- Common Fisheries Policy
- Trade
Summary
The European Commission has approved an amendment to the landing and transhipment obligations in Mauritanian ports. EU vessels are now allowed to carry out transhipment or landing of their catches from Mauritanian waters in alternative ports if there are delays longer than 24 hours due to port congestion and lack of services.
EU and Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement – amendment to Implementing Protocol
Commission Decision (EU) 2024/3135 of 17 December 2024 approving on behalf of the European Union, an amendment to the Protocol implementing the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Update
The European Commission has approved an amendment to the landing and transhipment obligations in Mauritanian ports. EU vessels are now allowed to carry out transhipment or landing of their catches from Mauritanian waters in alternative ports if there are delays longer than 24 hours due to port congestion and lack of services.
Impacted Products
Wild fish
What is changing?
A derogation (exception) from the landing and transhipment obligations in Mauritanian ports is now provided to European Union (EU) fishing vessels if the Mauritanian Coastal Guard delays more than 24 hours in providing consent for landing and transhipment.
Why?
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mauritania includes an obligation for EU fishing vessels to land or tranship their catches under that Agreement in Mauritian ports. However, due to port congestion and lack of technical and operational services, the Mauritanian Coastal Guard frequently delays more than 24 hours in providing consent for landing and transhipment, which puts the quality of EU fish catches at risk. This legislation aims to mitigate risks to the quality of EU fish catches.
Timeline
The Decision applies from 19 December 2024.
Background
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (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.
The current SFPA between the EU and Mauritania and its Implementing Protocol were signed on 15 November 2021 for a duration of 6 years. Under the Protocol, the EU fleet is allowed to fish in Mauritanian waters for shrimp, demersal fish, tuna, and small pelagic fish, up to a total of 287,050 tonnes per year (European Commission 2021). The allocation of these fishing opportunities is specified in Regulation 2021/2061. Under the Implementing Protocol (Annex I, Chapter V), the EU fleet is obliged to land or tranship these catches in Mauritanian ports.
Resources
European Commission (2021) Sustainable fisheries partnership agreement with Mauritania
European Union (2021) Partnership Agreement on sustainable fisheries between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Council Decision (EU) 2022/1448 on the conclusion of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2061 on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (2021–2026)
Sources
Commission Decision (EU) 2024/3135 approving on behalf of the European Union, an amendment to the Protocol implementing the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
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EU and Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement – amendment to Implementing Protocol
Commission Decision (EU) 2024/3135 approving on behalf of the European Union, an amendment to the Protocol implementing the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
What is changing and why?
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mauritania includes an obligation for EU fishing vessels to land or tranship their catches under that Agreement in Mauritian ports. Due to port congestion and lack of technical and operational services, the Mauritanian Coastal Guard frequently delays more than 24 hours in providing consent for landing and transhipment, which puts the quality of EU fish catches at risk.
The European Commission has now authorised EU vessels to tranship or land their catches in alternative ports if such delays are longer than 24 hours.
Timeline
The Decision applies from 19 December 2024.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.