The first stage of negotiations involving a Sustainable Fishing
Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the Cook Islands and the European Union
has been held on the Island of Raratonga. The EU hopes to obtain tuna fishing
rights for 4 tuna purse seiners. Currently within the WCPO EU seiners are only
allowed to fish tuna in the waters of Kiribati and on the high seas.
An agreement with the Cook Islands, according to the
European Commission will allow the EU to expand its network of tuna agreements
in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) with four purse seiners, in an
area where 50 percent of the global tuna catch is taken. Since the Cook Islands have recently become
an associated member of the PNA, a deal with the Cooks could have EU seiners
obtain access to all the EEZ’s of all 8 PNA member countries. The Cook Islands will receive a financial
contribution for opening this back door for the European fleet into PNA waters.
The European Commission outlined that the discussions were
held in a positive, open and constructive atmosphere, and progress was achieved
in the production of a draft text for both SFPA and a Fisheries Protocol. The
Commission stated that the draft text from the negotiations will now be tabled
to the Cook Islands Cabinet of Ministers for its final consideration. A Cook
Islands Delegation will travel to Brussels during the second week of September
2013 to continue the discussions, and if mutually agreed to initial the
Agreement and its Protocol.
The 8 PNA member countries are critically following the
negotiations, and already critical remarks have been heard about the Cook
Islands conduct. The general feeling is that the EU is trying to increase its
industry presence and influence within the PNA and the WCPO. Any fishing of EU seiners within the PNA or
Cook waters would require these seiners to commit to the VDS (Vessel Day
Scheme).
In addition to the final contribution for the access to the
waters, the EU Commission stated that an additional specific amount will be
granted to support the implementation of Cook Islands sectoral fisheries policy
and maritime policy.
The EU says it wants to initiate a dialogue on fisheries
governance, encourage sustainable and responsible fishing, and to
cooperate in the fight against illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing.
The Agreement gives special consideration to the control of
fishing activities and catch reporting within the Cook Island fishery waters,
which could be further improved with the future use of Electronic Reporting
System (ERS), in addition to the Vessels Monitoring System (VMS). The PNA
countries however already however already have these systems in place and
operational.
