AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. Brussels, 28 February 2011 ACP-UE 2106/11

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1 A C P - E U C O T O N O U A G R E E M E N T AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 28 February 2011 ACP-UE 2106/11 COVER NOTE from: Secretariat of the ACP States to: General Secretariat of the Council date of receipt: 21 February 2011 Subject: Resolution of the 2nd meeting of the ACP Ministers in charge of Fisheries held in Mahe (Seychelles) from 22nd to 25th November 2010 Delegations will find attached resolution of the 2nd meeting of the ACP Ministers in charge of Fisheries held in Mahe (Seychelles) from 22nd to 25th November ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 1

2 Groupe des Etats d Afrique des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (Groupe ACP) Avenue Georges Henri, Bruxelles, Belgique African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) Tel: Fax: info@acp.int FINAL Mahé, 24 November 2010 RESOLUTION OF THE 2 nd MEETING OF THE ACP MINISTERS IN CHARGE OF FISHERIES HELD IN MAHE (SEYCHELLES) FROM 22 nd TO 25 th November 2010 ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 2

3 The ACP Meeting of Ministers in charge of Fisheries, Meeting in Mahe (Seychelles), from 22 nd to 25 th November 2010, A. Reiterating the Resolution of the 1 st meeting of the ACP Ministers in charge of Fisheries held in Brussels ( Belgium) from 2 nd to 5 th June 2009; B. Recalling the adoption by the Eastern and Southern African and Indian Ocean Region (ESA/IO) of a Regional Strategy and Plan of Action against piracy and for maritime security; C. Reaffirming the commitment of ACP States to the provisions of the Georgetown Agreement, in particular the objectives of coordinating the activities of the ACP Group, and promoting and strengthening unity and solidarity among ACP States; D. Considering the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, specifically Articles 23 (as amended on 14 May 2010), 48, 51 and 53 thereof; E. Guided, inter alia, by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS), the 1993 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, the 1995 United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries(CCRF), its subsequently adopted International Plans of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity (IPOA 1999), and to Prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (2001), and the national laws of ACP States; F. Reaffirming the commitment agreed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg from 26 th August to 4 th September 2002 with regard to restoring depleted fish stocks by 2015; G. Supporting the concerted effort by regional organizations and the African Union (AU) for a collective strategy to improve maritime security including the fight against piracy. H. Recalling the resolution on tuna made at the 84 th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers held on 6 th December 2006 in Khartoum; I. Recognizing the key role that fisheries and aquaculture play in the social and economic development of ACP States, through their positive potential contribution to employment creation, revenue generation, and food security all of which are crucial for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals; ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 3

4 J. Cognizant of the growing importance of aquaculture in meeting the increased world demand for fish protein in an environment of depleted fisheries resources resulting from overfishing, climate change, pollution and habitat destruction; K. Considering that more than 60 ACP States are engaged in the export of fish, fishery and aquaculture products to regional and international markets, and that this constitutes an important source of foreign exchange earnings for many ACP States; L. Cognizant that IUU fishing is causing an overexploitation of fish stocks and loss of revenue, thus hindering the sustainable development of the fisheries sector and the economic development of ACP States, there is need to take appropriate measures to combat this phenomenon; M. Considering the EC Council Regulation 1005/2008 of 29 th September 2008, establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which entered into force on 1st January 2010; N. Recognizing that piracy is posing a serious threat to the fishing industry, and the maritime security of ACP States, thereby affecting pillars of economic growth; O. Noting that international trade in fisheries products has grown tenfold in value since the mid-seventies, and that ACP States provide a 3% share (in value) of the global trade. P. Noting that fish product and aquaculture exports fetched in excess of 150 billion USD annually, and have become the most valuable renewable natural resource commodity traded worldwide; Q. Recognizing that the EU is the main or principal market for the exports of fisheries and aquaculture products by some ACP States, whilst other ACP states are relentlessly seeking markets to the European Union, that fisheries relations between ACP States and the European Union take place within a multiplying set of frameworks, including the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, bilateral Fisheries Partnership Agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements; R. Concerned by the threat and current impacts of climate change on the fisheries and aquaculture sector which plays a key role in employment, livelihood and food security; and recognizing that the identification and implementation of appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures will represent a high cost for the vulnerable States; ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 4

5 S.Given the fact that the principle of cumulation facilitates implementation of rules of origins and allows ACP States to take advantage of preferences available in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement. Has agreed as follows: GOVERNANCE AND TRADE 1. Emphasizes that the ACP is fully committed to discipline Fisheries subsidies that may lead to overcapacity and overfishing. 2. Reiterates that the share of global marine wild capture of ACP States is minimal and the magnitude of subsidies provided by its Member States is very small and ACP States therefore have a negligible impact on overcapacity and overfishing. In this regard, the ACP Group calls for appropriate and effective special and differential treatment in the WTO Development Agenda Fisheries Subsidies negotiations that will provide ACP States the policy space required to pursue their development goals in the fisheries sector to safeguard livelihood security and promote sustainable development in their respective countries. 3. Requests specifically that, in view of their special circumstances, ACP States benefit from a special and preferential treatment in respect of the overall prohibition of fisheries subsidies. 4. Undertakes to adopt an effective management system that reflects the realities and level of development of the ACP countries. 5. Supports ACP States in the promotion of eco-labelling schemes and integration according to international norms. 6. Requests ACP Secretariat to seek financial and technical support from the EU and other development partners in order to strengthen value chain frameworks including National Health and Food Safety Agencies in order to meet increasing international sanitary requirements. 7. Calls on the EU to increase the automatic derogation for canned tuna and tuna loins in view of the increasing threat of piracy. ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 5

6 8. Calls on the EU to do everything possible to ensure that the cumulation of origin mechanism is extended as wide as possible and that it is not subject to any conditionalities to restrict its use. 9. Urges the EU to take into account the request of the ACP in its review of the Common Fisheries Policy in order to provide an improved financial compensation in respect of the agreed reference tonnage in the bilateral ACP-EU fisheries partnership agreements. IUU FISHING 10. Highly commends the concerted effort of the regional organizations, the European Union and the African Union for their collective strategy to fight against IUU fishing. 11. Urges the ACP States to pool their technical and financial resources together in order to better combat IUU fishing. 12. Urges the international community to support financially and technically through specific programmes the efforts made at the national and regional levels to prevent, counteract and eradicate IUU fishing. 13. Supports international measures for combating IUU fishing such as the listing of IUU vessels by the EU and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) as well as the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels proposed by the FAO. PIRACY 14. Urges the international community to provide full support including financial and technical assistance for implementation of the ESA/IO Regional Strategy and Plan of Action against piracy and for maritime security. 15. Appeals to the international community to tackle piracy and the root causes of piracy as a matter of priority and provide improved support to ACP States that are affected by piracy. ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 6

7 CLIMATE CHANGE 16. Appeals to the ACP States to take steps to further integrate fisheries and oceans into the national and international climate change agendas so as to secure space for fisheries and oceans in financial instruments that support both adaptation and mitigation including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-Global Environmental Facility funds (Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and Adaptation Funds). 17. Urgently requests the international community to agree during COP16 of the UNFCCC to an urgent package of immediate and concrete action to assist ACP States in particular those most vulnerable to climate change crises. AQUACULTURE 18. Promote research into aquaculture, and in particular the sustainable supply of good quality seed stock and good quality fish. 19. Request the ACP Secretariat to seek ways and means to establish fish breeding centres in areas of high aquaculture potential to facilitate a reliable supply of seed stock to farmers. 20. Seeks technical and financial assistance to promote development of inland and marine aquaculture from specialized international agencies, including the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE). STRGTHING OF REGIONAL COOPERATION 21. Establish mechanisms for support and collaboration between regional economic integration organizations and regional fisheries organizations. 22. Reinforce coordination between regional fisheries organizations and ACP Countries and the ACP Secretariat. This would allow a more coherent approach at the sub-regional and international level. ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 7

8 23. Urgently seek to establish sustainable financial mechanisms for regional fisheries organizations to strengthen these institutions. 24. Mandate the ACP Fishery Mechanism to put in place a 5-year strategic plan of action which will include collaboration with new and established partners and explore the ways and means to guarantee regular and sustainable financing for the five-year strategic plan of action. 25. Urge the President of the ACP Fisheries Ministerial meeting to forward this Resolution to the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission, all ACP Specialized Regional Organizations, Regional Economic Integration Organizations, the African Union, international financial institutions and other relevant international organizations for appropriate consideration. ACP-UE 2106/11 AC/av 8