Subject: Plight of Basque tuna-fishing vessels in Senegal
Ever since the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Senegal expired in in November 2024, the European fleet, which includes four Basque tuna vessels, has remained docked in Senegalese ports awaiting solutions.
The recently concluded protocol has had to address many problems in our agreement with Senegal owing, firstly, to that country’s government's flat-out refusal to issue fishing licences to European ship operators and, secondly, to the ban on baitboats fishing in the Bay of Hann. This has led to a 22-month shutdown without any compensation being forthcoming from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFF).
The Commission has issued a yellow card to Senegal for illegal fishing and currently has no intention of negotiating a new protocol, leaving the European fleet defenceless.
With this in mind:
1. What solution does the Commission intend to provide for the baitboat fleet, given that it is unable to access other fishing grounds?
2. Is the Commission going to earmark any appropriations from the EMFF to help our fleet covered by this dormant agreement?
Submitted: 13.1.2025
Answer given by Mr Kadis on behalf of the European Commission
(21 February 2025)
Senegal is a long-standing partner of the EU in the fisheries sector. A Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) (1) was concluded between Senegal and the EU in 2014. The last protocol (2019-2024) expired in November 2024.
In line with the EU’s zero tolerance policy towards illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishin g (2), the Commission decided not to renew the Protocol, given its decision of the pre-identification of Senegal as a non-cooperating country in the fight against IUU fishing.
The formal IUU dialogue has just begun, and so long as the yellow card is in place, the renewal of the protocol cannot be considered.
The Commission recognises the challenges faced by the Basque tuna vessels and other European fleets due to the expiration and the non-renewal of the protocol.
However, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) (3) for 2021-2027, as agreed and adopted by the co-legislators, does not envisage the possibility to compensate losses in cases of non-renewal of SFPAs or their implementing protocols.
The Commission is available to further engage with any stakeholders concerned to discuss possible alternative options for fishing grounds offered by the network of fisheries agreements covering several countries in the region and other regions, the regional fisheries management organisations and EU waters.
1 ∙ ⸱ https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/international-agreements/sustainable-fisheries-partnership-agreements-sfpas_en
2 ∙ ⸱ https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/rules/illegal-fishing_en
3 ∙ ⸱ https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/funding/emfaf_en