EU Tuna Deal With Tanzania Fails To Take Effectff

An agreement reached between European Union and the Tanzanian government to allow maximum of 39 European tuna seiners the right to fish in exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Tanzania waters of the Indian Ocean in exchange for financial support has failed to take effect.

A statement issued by the EU said the Tanzania government had failed to ratify it.

Under the agreement reached in 2004, EU was to support the development of sustainable and responsible fishing practices in Tanzanian waters.

The first fisheries agreement was signed in 1990, but was never ratified by the government.

In 2003, both parties expressed the desire to restore relations in the industry, which resulted in a new fisheries agreement of mutual benefit.

The new agreement was entered in June 2004, but ever since the government has never revisited the issue.

In the agreement, Tanzania was to grant a maximum of 39 European tuna seiners the right to fish in exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Tanzania waters of the Indian Ocean, which is the zone beyond 12 miles off the coast of the Mainland and the Isles respectively, together with maximum 31 surface long-liners.

The statement said that there will, first, be a fixed tranche of 600,000 euros per year from the EC and 130,000 euros per year from ship owners for the right to harvest 8,000 tons of tuna and other migratory species per year (species that are not targeted by Tanzanian vessels).

Secondly, for each eventual additional ton caught, the EC will pay a rate of 75 euros per ton up to a maximum of 24,000 tons.

’The financial contribution was in line with other similar bilateral fishery agreements with the EC. Within the region, the EC has longstanding relations in fisheries with the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique and the Seychelles,’ the statement said.

It was also revealed in the statement that 65 per cent of the financial contribution, which amounts to 3,900,000 euros per year was earmarked for the financing of ’targeted actions’ to develop sustainable and responsible fishing in Tanzanian waters in line with the international common fisheries policy as well as supporting the development of Tanzania’s fisheries management capabilities.

These actions include the control and surveillance, institutional support and the development of local small-scale fisheries.