On 22 April 2021, the EU and Greenland have signed a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) and protocol that will strengthen their cooperation in the fisheries field for the next four years with the possibility of a two year extension.
The agreement was reached in January and formally signed today. It marks a new step in the long-standing relation between the EU and Greenland in fisheries. It reiterates and emphasises our joint commitment to sustainable use of marine resources. This agreement will allow the EU fleet to continue fishing in Greenland waters for a duration of four to six years while continuing to contribute to the development of the fisheries sector in Greenland.
The fishing opportunities of the agreement are for the same species as in the current protocol (cod, redfish, Greenland halibut, northern prawn, capelin and grenadier). Fishing opportunities for mackerel have also been included in the agreement at a 0 TAC level. Any quota of mackerel transferred by Greenland in the future will be dependent on the participation of Greenland as a signatory, with the EU, to the Coastal States Sharing Arrangement on the management of mackerel. The reference prices have been updated taking into account current market prices. The total annual financial contribution to Greenland will be €21,600,000. A significant part of this contribution, €2,900,000 per year, is earmarked to promote the development of the fisheries sector in Greenland. For the whole duration of the protocol, the total estimated value amounts to €130,000,000.
The new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement signed today substantially reinforces cooperation on monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities. The agreement is based on the principles of the common fisheries policy such as transparency, governance of fishing activities, non-discrimination, respect of the scientific advice and scientific cooperation on data collection and analysis. It also complies with Greenland’s legislation and the management and scientific measures taken in the context of international organisations.
Source: EU Commission: ec.europa.eu/oceans-and-fisheries/news/eu-and-greenland-sign-new-sustainable-fisheries-partnership-agreement-2021-04-22_en