As the proposal is being discussed at the European Parliament PECH committee, FBOA asks for more transparency and participation throughout the whole agreement negotiation process and expresses the necessity to reduce FADs and supply vessels in the EEZ
During the COVID-19 epidemic, the European institutions are also adapting to continue their activities. As such, the European Parliament is presenting a first report proposal online on the new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership agreement and protocol between the EU and The Seychelles. In this context, the Fishermen Boat Owners Association (FBOA) has expressed its demands and concerns with regards to the new SFPA. These focus on two issues: the lack of transparency and participation and the amount and use of FADs and supply vessels by the EU fleet.
Seychelles fishermen underscore the fact that there is a local tuna fishery in the island, and its stakeholders should have been consulted during the negotiations with the EU. If they had been allowed to participate, they would have been able to highlight several problems concerning the EU fleet. They overall insist on more participation by the local actors, especially also in the decision and allocation of sectoral support.
Here are their demands:
To the EU and The Seychelles, they should:
Intervention by Keith André, president of FBOA, at an event at the European Parliament on the impacts of SFPAs on coastal communities in November 2019. Photo: J.Philippe/CFFA
Work towards the reduction of purse seining;
Work towards the reduction of supply vessels; and
Ensure more participation of the fisheries stakeholders and local communities in the allocation of sectoral support: funds should be directed to the management of fisheries, MCS, the fight against IUU, and to the improvement of export capacities especially for Seychelles currently struggling semi-industrial fishery. There is a disproportionate amount allocated to aquaculture.
To their government, it should:
Guarantee more transparency and participation of local communities and fisheries stakeholders throughout the negotiation and implementation process
To the EU, it should:
Make sure they implement measures for EU fleets to stop overfishing and respecting the marine environment – to be taken in the framework of the SFPA and at IOTC level;
Research on the impact of FADs on the environment and on the stocks, that can allow to establish what is the minimum number of FADs for the viability of purse seining;
Cap and freeze the capacity of purse seining in Indian Ocean. A vessel can only be replaced by a vessel of the same or less capacity;
Apply the IOTC recommendations on supply vessels: 2 supply vessels in support of not less than 5 purse seiners, all flying the same flag (IOTC res. 19/01). NOTE: Supply vessels do not feature in the protocol, but support vessels do (article 2.1 of the protocol), which is confusing as IOTC refers to these as supply vessels.
Implement projects of capacity building of Seychellois employed on purse seiners via sectoral support
More information:
The text of the EU-Seychelles SFPA agreement and protocol
The intervention by Keith Andre, president of FBOA and FPAOI at the European Parliament in November 2019
Seychelles fishermen facing COVID-19 epidemic: a rescue plan for food security
Banner photo: Fishing boats at port in the Seychelles by Lawrence Hislop, 2010.