The European Union has granted the Africa a total of US$126 million to protect the continent’s fisheries industry and namely its freshwater and marine fishing stocks. Among other things, the funds will seek to boost the dwindling fish stocks which are being depleted by indiscriminate fishing. The www.ukambians.com.uk news website also reported that “in countries like Zambia, indiscriminate fishing methods include the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets to catch fish in the country’s rivers and lakes.” According to Roberto Ridolfi, EU Director for Sustainable Development, the money will also give an opportunity for African countries to build up their marine infrastructure to protect its fisheries. When a journalist questioned why the money has been given to the African Union and not individual African states, Mr Ridolfi explained that the continental body was better placed to administer it.
Agreements dealing with sustainable fisheries concluded by the EU with non-EU countries are negotiated and concluded by the Commission on behalf of the EU. They are designed to allow EU vessels to fish for surplus stocks in that country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), in a legally regulated environment. These deals are generally divided into the so-called “tuna agreements”, which aim to allow EU vessels to pursue migrating tuna stocks as they move along the shores of Africa and through the Indian Ocean; and “mixed agreements”, which provide access to a wide range of fish stocks in the partner country’s exclusive economic zone. These agreements also aim to improve resource conservation and environmental sustainability while ensuring that all EU vessels are subject to the same rules of control and transparency. In return, the EU pays the partner countries a financial contribution that is composed of two parts, namely access rights to the EEZ and “sectoral” financial support.
