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afrol News, 27 June - The controversial renewal of the "European Union/Senegal fisheries protocol" was finally agreed upon yesterday, after Senegal had barred EU vessels from its waters for half a year over financial and environmental disagreements. Most of Senegal's demands were given into, but environmentalists are still concerned. The EU gave into Senegalese demands of higher payments and environmentally harmful fishing practices. The Europeans will pay €4 million annually more than under the previous protocol, raising annual payments to 12 to 16 million euros. The four-year deal therefore has a total value of €64 million. Senegal had demanded annual royalties of €20 million. Other economic incentives for Senegal include increased EU landing of tuna in Dakar and an increase of the number of Senegalese fishermen to be employed on EU vessels from 33 to 50 percent. Environmental issues, which also protect the interests of Senegal's local artisanal fleet, have been broadly addressed in the new protocol, although the conclusions barely can be called radical. Of the annual financial compensation, "a share of 18 percent, that is [almost] €3 million, dedicated to partnership measures designed to support conservation of fish stocks and strengthen the Senegalese fishing sector," EU's Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler informed yesterday. The measures planned under this "partnership" include scientific research and evaluation of the state of fish stocks, development of the Senegalese control and monitoring system, increasing the security of the artisanal fishing vessels, the development of the Senegalese institutional structures for fisheries management and provision of training for fishermen. The Senegalese fishing industry employs an estimated 600,000 people. Of more importance, overall EU fishing quotas on demersal fisheries (species living near the seabed) have been decreased from 10,000 Gross Tonnes (GT) to 8,000 GT. Thus, "in the interests of the local artisanal fleet," an EU statement says, "fishing possibilities for coastal demersal species have been reduced from 2,131 GT to 1,500 GT."
The main Senegalese demand of banning pelagic fishing was also agreed upon. Pelagic fishing is seen as one of the most environmentally harmful fishing practices, as it consists of dragging a net by two trawlers, resulting in many non-wanted fish being caught and then thrown overboard. The EU said it had "withdrawn its request" for pelagic fishing to assist the "preserve of the artisanal sector." The fishing possibilities for deep demersal fisheries have also been slightly reduced (6,500 GT, down from 7,869 GT) but remain the same for tuna vessels (54) and surface long liners (23). One of the innovations in this protocol is the establishment of a 2-month biological rest "to help fish stocks" replenish, the EU states. The fishing zones where EU vessels can operate have been reduced to afford greater protection to the artisanal fleet. There will further be observers onboard EU vessels to increase Senegal's possibility of monitoring the deal. The EU Commission yesterday welcomed the new EU/Senegal deal, claiming it would "benefit the various parties involved" and "clearly demonstrates the EU commitment to achieving sustainable fisheries." Although the catches are reduced in size, the deal will help maintaining the struggling Spanish, Portuguese and Greek fishing fleets, which will return to fish off Senegal. Also the Senegalese party was fairly satisfied with the agreement. Senegalese Fisheries Minister Sheik Saadibou Fall felt he had achieved his aim of "not selling out Senegal's marine resources." Fall said his delegation had made "concessions over the technical aspects" of the cooperation and deplored the EU's poor will to "compensate correctly" for his country's key resources. Conservationists however criticise the agreement, maintaining environmental aspects are not sufficiently addressed. The limited reduction of quotas still would damage Senegalese fish stocks and does not go far enough in protecting the country's artisanal sector.
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