Madagascar and the European Union agree on a new tuna fishing agreement. On Friday, the two sides finally managed to find common ground after four years of tough negotiations. Compared to the old agreement dating from 2014, two main changes should be noted: a reduction in the fishing effort, i.e. fewer European boats authorized to fish in Malagasy territorial waters and an increase in price per ton. Compromises found, well below, however, the high expectations of the Malagasy side, which displays its dissatisfaction.
with our correspondent in Antananarivo, Sarah Tetaud
On the European side, we welcome the “win-win agreement” reached after so manyyears of misunderstanding. For Emmanuel Berck, negotiator for the European Union, this text constitutes a double advance.
” This new protocol, I would say that we have adjusted it to the state of resources. We are very concerned about the conservation of tunas in the region. We have adapted the planned catch quantities (14,000 tonnes per year, editor’s note), we have reduced the number of fishing vessels (thus going from 94 to 65). We were very careful from that point of view; and at the same time, we increased the financial contributions of the European Union and the royalties of the shipowners for the benefit of Madagascar. »
A specific contribution for the protection of the environment and species has also been introduced into the protocol; it is up to the shipowners to pay it. These sums collected should be used by the Malagasy State to set up projects intended to protect marine ecosystems.
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” The European Union has made concessions and Madagascar too, essential concessions to find an agreement, which is a point of balance that satisfies both parties. », concludes the representative of the Europe of Twenty-Seven.
On the Malagasy side, we are less enthusiastic, like Paubert Tsimanaoraty, the Minister of Fisheries and the Blue Economy. ” We are not really 100% satisfied with what we, part of Madagascar, wanted. We were able to negotiate for a 44% increase, compared to the old agreement. But this is not satisfactory. With Japan Tuna, for example, we have managed to have a tonnage price of around €396 per tonne, whereas here, with the European Union, we are only at €230 per tonne. »
The Minister also regrets that certain points of the reform implemented in the Malagasy fishing sector have not been taken into account by the European Union. ” In 2021, we revised the fees for shipowners, with a single pricing for everyone. However, that, the European Union did not accept, on the grounds that it also has its own criteria which it applies with all the countries with which it contracts. »
Unless changed, the agreement should nevertheless enter into force next July and allow the Malagasy State to collect nearly 13 million euros over four years.
Other fisheries agreements are also being negotiated, ” with Asian nations as well as private operators on the European continent “, indicates the minister.