The African Confederation of Professional Artisanal Fisheries Organizations (CAOPA) expressed its concerns at the General Assembly of the European Union’s (EU) Advisory Council on Long Distance Fishing (LDAC) held in Stockholm last month. CAOPA President Gaoussou Gueye highlighted the perspective of artisanal fishermen on the effects of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in the coastal areas of third countries.
In his speech, Gaoussou Gueye emphasised the importance of transparency in fishing agreements between the EU and third countries. He acknowledged the progress made since his request to the European Parliament in 2011 but also identified persistent gaps. Comparing the EU’s agreements with those concluded with other partners such as Russia and Japan, he noted that the EU’s agreements were ahead in terms of transparency.
However, he commented on the need to improve the assessments of fishing agreements by highlighting the impacts on women in the sector and carefully examining the implementation of the social clause.
The CAOPA President underscored the importance of informed participation by stakeholders in the management of fishing activities in Africa. He noted that artisanal fishing organizations and civil society were increasingly consulted in the assessments and negotiations of fishing agreements since the CFP reform.
However, he urged for more systematic consultation of stakeholders and their participation in the meetings of joint commissions responsible for reviewing the implementation of fishing agreements.
Gaoussou Gueye also raised concerns regarding the use of sectoral support in fishing agreements. He regretted the lack of transparency in the use of funds and the absence of participation by representatives of artisanal fishing and civil society in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of these activities. He stated that the African public opinion sometimes had a negative perception of the EU as a partner in the fishing sector due to the opacity surrounding sectoral support.
CAOPA advocates for greater transparency and increased involvement of stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness of these actions and the benefits for local populations.
Another point raised was the access of European vessels to African fishing resources. Gaoussou Gueye called for a reform of the resource allocation system based on decisions made at the Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) to promote artisanal fishing and ensure equitable and sustainable access to resources.
He also emphasised the importance of effective conservation measures, such as the cessation of juvenile capture, to allow for the recovery of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean and preserve marine ecosystems.
Finally, Gaoussou Gueye highlighted the need to comply with the conditions stipulated in fishing agreements, particularly regarding fishing zones and joint ventures. He called for stricter regulation and the inclusion of joint ventures under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to prevent illegal fishing practices and ensure transparent and fair resource exploitation.
He encouraged the consideration of EU policies as a whole, emphasising the importance of the blue economy, development aid, trade, and environmental conservation in fishing agreements.
