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The EU and Greenland have reached an agreement on a new protocol to implement the EU/Greenland Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA).
The protocol will enter into force on 1 January 2013 and will be valid for three years. The Member States involved are Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Germany, the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal.
The agreement foresees that Greenland will provide the EU with the following annual fishing opportunities:
· Cod - 2,200 tonnes
· Pelagic redfish - 3,000 tonnes
· Demersal redfish - 2,000 tonnes
· Greenland halibut - 6,815 tonnes
· Northern prawn - 10,900 tonnes
· Atlantic halibut - 400 tonnes
· Snowcrab - 250 tonnes
· Capelin - 60,000 tonnes
· Grenadier spp - 200 tonnes
This amounts to a total fishing opportunity of 85,765 tonnes – marginally lower than the 91,700 tonnes provided under the current protocol.
As a counterpart, the EU will annually provide financial compensation to Greenland, to a maximum amount of €17.8 million. This amount includes a financial reserve amounting to €1.5 million, to be used should the EU may receive the possibility of exploiting additional fishing opportunities that may be offered by Greenland, based on scientific advice. A provision within this financing has also been made for the payment of sectoral support to the Greenlandic fisheries sector.
In taking up the opportunities offered by Greenland, vessel owners will have to pay a license fee in order to be authorised to fish in Greenlandic waters, as is the current situation.
The new protocol was agreed on the basis of ensuring the sustainability of the stocks, scientific advice, and the interests of industry.
A clause relating to the respect of Human Rights has been introduced. Furthermore, an element of conditionality relating to the implementation of sectoral policy and the requirement of exclusivity in the EU fisheries, has also been introduced. Exclusivity requires that fishing activities undertaken by EU vessels can only take place in Greenlandic waters under the FPA.
Both parties expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations, which have taken almost a year to conclude. The result represents a balanced package that respects the interests of both parties and is soundly based on scientific advice. This underscores the continuing co-operation between the EU and Greenland in relation to fisheries.
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