The European Commission and Cape Verde concluded last December a new 5-year fisheries partnership that will provide fishing opportunities exclusively for tuna to 84 EU vessels.
Twenty five senners, 11 pole-and-line vessels and 48 surface long-liner will benefit from this agreement that will start on September, 2006 and will last until the 31st of August, 2011.
It replaces the previous agreement that concluded last June.
The EU financial contribution will amount to € 385,000 per year. Most of this amount -€ 325,000 - relates to catches of 5,000 tonnes per year and an additional annual allocation of € 60,000 to help promote sustainable fisheries through support to the implementation of Cape Verde's fisheries policy. In total, 80% of the financial contribution will be dedicated to the promotion of the sustainability of this policy. This includes support to strengthen scientific research and the development of the small-scale fishing fleet. The two parties agree on the need for Cape Verde to put in place the necessary means to control fisheries activities and to combat illegal fishing activities. Before the agreement enters into force, it has to be signed by the two Parties. In the case of the Union, this will be done by the Council and the European Parliament.
