EU fishers secure 5-year access to Cabo Verde waters under new agreement

CABO VERDE – EU fishers have regained access to the abundant waters around Cabo Verde for the next five years, thanks to a recently signed Fisheries Partnership Agreement. 

This deal not only allows fishing vessels from EU member states to operate in Cabo Verde’s waters but also emphasizes improved fisheries governance, marine environment protection, and job creation in the sector.

Upon ratification, the agreement will permit EU vessels to catch up to 7,000 tonnes of tuna and associated species annually. 

Cabo Verde, known for its vast maritime resources, encompasses a land area of 4,033 km² and has approximately 2,000 km² of shoreline. 

Despite this, the nation’s fishing resources remain largely under-exploited, with current catches only representing 25% of the estimated sustainable yield.

Fisheries contribute around 5% to Cabo Verde’s Gross National Product (GNP) and are crucial to the economy, employing about 11,000 people. 

The commercial species in Cabo Verde’s waters are categorized into large pelagics, small pelagics, demersals, and lobsters based on their habitat and economic value.

Tuna species, the most prominent among the large pelagics, include yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), bigeye (Thunnus obesus), little tuna (Euthynnus alleteratus), Judeu or frigate tuna (Auxis thazard), and Serra-Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri). 

These fast-growing fish can live up to 7-8 years and reach weights of up to 100 kg. 

Their spawning season runs from May to November, with main spawning grounds in the Bay of Guinea and the Caribbean Sea.

Yellowfin tuna in Cabo Verde’s waters range from 35 to 180 cm in length, equating to weights between 0.8 to 110 kg. 

This new agreement, therefore, represents a significant opportunity for EU fishers and a potential boost to Cabo Verde’s economy.

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