Following the Joint Committee meeting held under Article 9 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles, the Seychelles delegation, led by Mrs Veronique Herminie (Chairperson of Seychelles Fishing Authority or SFA), and the European Union delegation, led by Mr. Constantin Alexandrou (Head of the Unit Bilateral Agreements of the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission), carried out negotiations for the renewal of the Agreement’s Protocol and Annex, in the presence of the Member States and the Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.
The two parties initialled a new Protocol and Annex which should entry into force after the current Protocol expires on 17th January 2011. The new Protocol covers a period of three years (as against the current six), and envisages an annual financial contribution of € 5 600 000.
The yearly reference tonnage is set at 52 000 tonnes, as against the current 63 000 tonnes, and fishing opportunities for the European tuna fleet will be available for 48 purse seiners and 12 long liners, i.e. a total of 60 vessels instead of the current 52.
In exchange for the right to access the Seychelles EEZ, the European Union will pay € 3 380 000 per year, corresponding to the 52 000 annual reference tonnage. Moreover, an additional envelope of € 2 220 000 will be allocated by the EU to support the Seychelles’ fisheries and maritime policy, including marine protected areas.
