In view of the global evaluation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) that will be carried out by the Commission in 2021, the author highlights the key points which will need to be assessed from the perspective of the impacts on African coastal communities. The author also suggests essential improvements to be made for the future of SFPAs so that they better respond to the needs of these communities.
This article examines the contrasting positions of sector stakeholders, who favour targeted reforms of the CFP and the simplification of existing rules, and NGOs, which call for the strict enforcement of the current framework. It further assesses the potential implications of these debates for African waters.
