The European Union has long championed sustainable and equitable practices in its fishing partnerships worldwide, particularly through Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs). These agreements allow EU vessels to fish in the waters of non-EU countries in exchange for financial and technical support, aiming to ensure sustainable fishing practices while promoting economic development in partner nations. However, despite their potential, SFPAs have faced criticism over issues such as insufficient transparency, uneven enforcement of sustainability provisions, and inadequate benefits for local communities.
With the recent appointment of Costas Kadis as the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, there is a timely opportunity to transform SFPAs into tools that promote fairness, sustainability, and accountability. In a mission letter from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Kadis was tasked with developing “a new generation” of SFPAs – agreements that align with the EU’s broader regional strategies and priorities. Consequently, the European Ocean Pact proposes to develop a strategic approach to EU fisheries external action, including a new generation of sustainable fisheries partnership agreements. At this pivotal moment, the EU IUU Fishing Coalition’s report offers a clear roadmap for how to improve these agreements and maximise their benefits for all stakeholders.
The report identifies several key areas where SFPAs can be strengthened to promote greater transparency and equity:
- Strengthened transparency clauses: Ensuring public access to all fishing agreements, catch data, and information on beneficial ownership of fishing vessels.
- Non-discrimination: Ensuring that foreign vessels operating in the partner country’s waters are held to the same standards as the EU fleet.
- Inclusivity at every stage: Involving local communities, industry representatives, and other stakeholders at every stage of SFPA negotiation and implementation.
- Enhanced accountability in sectoral support: Ensuring financial and technical aid is effectively implemented and aligned with the priorities of partner nations.
- Human rights protections: Strengthening clauses to prevent labor abuses and promote safe working conditions for fishers.
- Improved data sharing: Real-time sharing of vessel tracking and electronic logbook data to help partner countries monitor fishing activities effectively.
These recommendations reflect the urgent need to address ongoing challenges in SFPAs. By making transparency and stakeholder inclusion central to the process, the EU can help ensure that SFPAs work for everyone – protecting marine ecosystems, supporting food security, and fostering fair economic opportunities.
Better SFPAs would address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Fisheries are a vital source of food and income for millions of people, particularly in developing countries. Sustainable fishing practices are critical for maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, which play a key role in combating climate change by sequestering carbon. At the same time, more equitable agreements can help bridge global inequalities by ensuring that coastal communities receive a fair share of the benefits from their natural resources.
As the EU prepares to renegotiate existing SFPAs and forge new ones under Commissioner Kadis’s leadership, it has a chance to implement the reforms outlined in the Coalition’s report. Strengthening transparency clauses, improving data sharing, and ensuring inclusivity in decision-making are not just technical adjustments – they are essential steps to building trust and achieving the long-term sustainability of global fisheries.
This is a critical moment for the EU to redefine its role in the global fisheries sector. By aligning SFPAs with principles of transparency, equity, and sustainability, the EU can set a new standard for ethical and effective fisheries governance.
Let’s seize this opportunity to make fishing partnerships work for people, the planet, and the future of our ocean.
For a detailed analysis of the EU IUU Fishing Coalition’s recommendations, you can access the full report here and the executive summary here.