Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius (2022-2026).

This Protocol specifies the conditions for the pursuit of fishing activities by Union vessels in Mauritius waters and sets out the provisions for implementing the sustainable fisheries partnership. This Protocol and its Annex shall apply for a period of four years from the date of provisional application. Union vessels in possession of a fishing authorization issued under this Protocol in accordance with Chapter II of the Annex shall be engage in fishing activities in Mauritius waters. The Parties shall cooperate against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to secure the continued development of responsible and sustainable fishing. Article 5 of this Protocol sets out the fishing opportunities granted under Article 5 of the Agreement for highly migratory species as listed in Annex 1 to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Union shall provide financial contribution for access to the Mauritius waters and sectoral support to contribute to the development of sustainable and responsible fisheries, including small-scale fisheries and aquaculture. The Parties shall cooperate in monitoring the state of fishery resources in Mauritius waters during the period covered by this Protocol. Furthermore, the Parties shall cooperate in economic, commercial, scientific and technical matters in the fisheries sector and related sectors. The Parties recognize the importance of regular supplies to Mauritius’s fish processing industry and agree that catches and by-catches by Union vessels should contribute to supplying the processing industry of Mauritius on a sustainable and regular basis. Each Union vessel landing fish in Mauritius shall undertake to land 100 % of the by-catch caught in Mauritius waters and kept on board at the time of landing, in line with applicable sanitary and other relevant legislation. The Joint Committee may reassess and decide to review the fishing opportunities to secure the sustainable management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. The implementation of this Protocol may be suspended at the initiative of one of the Parties under the conditions referred to in Article 13 of this Protocol. Each Party may terminate this Protocol in accordance with Article 12 of the Agreement.