Subject: Eight vessels operating under the fisheries agreement with Senegal forced to cease fishing activity
Eight Basque vessels, operating in Senegalese waters under the agreement concluded with that country in 2019, remain moored after they were banned from entering Haan Bay, where they had been collecting live bait as permitted under Article 3(4) of the agreement. These vessels are covered by the agreement, have the necessary fishing licences and provide work to 140 people, who now feel that their jobs are under threat. As the fisheries agreement is in force, the vessels are not entitled to any aid for temporary suspension of activity provided for in the EMFF. The now banned fishing zone has traditionally been used to collect live bait, and is now used by both the local fleet and vessels flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China.
1. Can the Commission say what steps are being taken to resolve this issue?
2. In view of the circumstances, could it not grant these vessels aid for suspension of activity provided for in the EMFF?
3. Are alternative fishing grounds being sought?
Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (19 July 2021)
Since July 2020, when the Senegalese Control Authorities decided to enforce the Presidential Decree preventing the entry of bait boat vessels into the Bay of Hann to catch live bait, there have been continuous contacts with the Senegalese administration to find a solution to ensure the continuation of activities of EU pole-and-line vessels, both from the Commission's services and locally at the level of the European Union Delegation to Senegal. The Commission is nevertheless facing difficulties from the Senegalese side to find a suitable solution and is considering all possible mechanisms provided for by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) for those kind of situations.
On the possibility to grant these vessels aid for suspension of activity, under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, financial compensation is only possible for temporary cessation stemming from the non-renewal of Sustainable fisheries partnership agreements. Equally, under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, financial compensation is only possible for temporary cessation stemming from the interruption, due to reasons of force majeure, of the application of a SFPA.
On finding alternative fishing grounds, different alternative areas have been considered and tested by the fleet, but unfortunately, only the Bay of Hann has proven to have the right conditions for this segment of the bait boat fleet to operate.