On 6 June 2025, the European Union (EU) and Côte d’Ivoire signed a protocol to resume their cooperation under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement after nearly a year of inactivity.
Established on 1 July 2007, this agreement is tacitly renewed every six years and requires an implementing protocol to specify catch limits and financial contributions.
The new protocol grants EU vessels access to Côte d’Ivoire’s waters for four years, allowing them to catch approximately 6,100 tonnes of tuna and other migratory species annually. This arrangement supports the EU’s goals of improving food security and promoting sustainable fisheries development in Côte d’Ivoire.
Key areas of EU support include enhancing scientific research and management capacity for fisheries resources, fostering job creation and professional development and increasing its attractiveness as a fishing hub.
The EU’s total financial contribution under this protocol amounts to €2.967 million, approximately €740,000 per year, with €435,000 explicitly allocated for the sustainable fisheries sector. EU shipowners will pay a license and capture fee, starting at €80 per tonne, increasing to €85 in the protocol’s third and fourth years.
The protocol also aims to improve labour conditions on fishing vessels, adhering to standards set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It encourages compliance with international obligations, referencing recommendations from Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and other relevant agreements.
It will take effect provisionally on 6 June 2025, and will be formalised following the completion of the ratification process by both parties, including consent from the European Parliament.
