On Wednesday, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) granted their approval for a new protocol that specifies the catch limits for tuna and other migratory species by EU vessels operating in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone. This protocol also outlines the financial compensation due to Côte d’Ivoire, a West African nation with a population of 29 million, which has experienced significant economic growth driven primarily by agricultural exports, notably within the fisheries sector based in Abidjan.
However, Côte d’Ivoire faces notable challenges, including unsustainable fishing practices and illegal fishing activities conducted by foreign vessels. The EU-Côte d’Ivoire fisheries partnership, initially established in 1990 and updated in 2007, has faced challenges, including underutilisation of licenses, inadequate oversight, and substandard working conditions for local crews.
Under this new agreement, the European Union will provide an annual payment of €740,000. This funding includes €305,000 designated for access rights to twenty-five tuna purse seiners and seven surface longliners from Spain, France, and Portugal. The remaining €435,000 will support the development of sustainable fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire, with a focus on enhancing small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, improving scientific expertise and administrative capacity, and upgrading infrastructure, particularly at the Port of Abidjan.
The protocol stipulates that EU shipowners will pay €80 per tonne of catch during the initial two years, with an increase to €85 per tonne in the final two years. Tuna seiners will be required to pay Côte d’Ivoire authorities an advance fee of €12,000 per fishing license annually for the first two years, increasing to €12,750 thereafter. Surface longliners will incur a fee of €4,000 per year until 2027, followed by €4,250 afterwards. A Joint Committee will be established to oversee the allocation of funds for sustainable fisheries, ensuring transparency and alignment with strategic objectives.
Both parties have committed to strengthening mechanisms for control, inspection, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Côte d’Ivoire. The allocated funds will also serve to stimulate job creation and enhance economic opportunities for local communities through improved fisheries management. This protocol aims to ensure the responsible exploitation of tuna stocks in accordance with the regulations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and regional fisheries management obligations.
The fisheries protocol was adopted with a significant majority, receiving 520 votes in favour, 97 against, and 12 abstentions. It has been provisionally applied since June 6, 2025, and will remain valid for a duration of four years, expiring on June 5, 2029.
