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- Seychelles and Mauritius have rolled over an existing bilateral fisheries agreement for another 60 days primarily to increase in license fees and a new environmental and research fee
- This agreement was reached after a five-day meeting between Seychelles and Mauritius authorities between the two countries’ fisheries ministers, Jean-Francois Ferrari from Seychelles and Mauritius’ Sudheer Maudhoo recently
- The rollover of the agreement was needed to ensure fishing activities are carried out by either Seychelles or Mauritius in the other party’s waters, without any interruption.
Seychelles and Mauritius have rolled over an existing bilateral fisheries agreement for another 60 days primarily to increase in license fees and a new environmental and research fee. This agreement was reached after a five-day meeting between Seychelles and Mauritius authorities between the two countries’ fisheries ministers, Jean-Francois Ferrari from Seychelles and Mauritius’ Sudheer Maudhoo recently.
The rollover of the agreement was needed to ensure fishing activities are carried out by either Seychelles or Mauritius in the other party’s waters, without any interruption. The current agreement which has been in operation since 2005 will expire on February 19.
The bilateral sustainable fishing agreement was the first between the two island nations, which allow them to fish in each other’s territorial waters. It gives the two countries more time to discuss further points for a new agreement. The interim agreement allows a 30 percent increase in existing license fees for purse seiners, longliners and supply vessels of either country when operating in the other party’s waters.
A research fee of 2.25 euro per gross tonnage will be charged from purse seiners each year. The two countries also agreed to the embarking of national seamen on their vessels. After the signing of the interim agreement, discussions for a new agreement will commence focusing on the new license fees.
