The European Union and São Tomé and Príncipe have signed a new fisheries protocol that will allow EU vessels to continue harvesting fish from the latter’s territorial waters.
“Today marks a significant milestone as we have a new implementing protocol to our Fishery Partnership Agreement with São Tomé and Príncipe,” E.U. Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said in a release.
Under the new protocol, commercial fishing vessels from the EU will be allowed to harvest roughly 6,500 tons of tuna and other species annually for the next four years. In return, the E.U. will provide financial support to the tune of EUR 825,000 (USD 965,720) annually to help sustainably develop São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing sector. E.U. vessel owners will also be required to pay a licensing and catch fee of EUR 86 (USD 101) for each ton of fish they harvest.
According to the E.U., the protocol incorporates provisions to reinforce “good ocean governance and job creation and ensure better working conditions for fishers employed on EU vessels.” The protocol also recognizes the importance of regulations set by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and commits to the working conditions established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
“This protocol reinforces our shared commitment to responsible, sustainable fisheries and shows the power of cooperation in preserving the ocean,” Kadis said. “Together we secure the future of our shared resources, supporting local communities and ecosystems. Our collaboration sets a model for sustainable fishing that benefits all and fosters long-term ecological and economic resilience.”
The E.U. and São Tomé and Príncipe have held a partnership on fisheries for 40 years; the first agreement between the two when into effect in 1985. The current fisheries partnership was concluded in 2007 and has been tacity renewed every four years since. The previous protocol expired in December 2024.
Source - https://www.seafoodsource.com
