Fisheries agreements with third countries – is the EU moving towards sustainable development?

A new report released on 11 March 2003 by WWF shows that the new 'cash for access' deals signed by the European Union to allow European boats to fish in African waters, while better than the previous ones, are 'still highly questionable'.

The report reviewed recently signed fishing agreements with Senegal, Angola, Mauritania, and Sao Tomé and Principe, and compared the new agreements with previous agreements with those countries. It shows that, despite European Commission plans to move from access agreements to 'partnership agreements' in fisheries, current deals are far from being environmentally, socially, or economically sustainable.

http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/press_releases/news.cfm?uNewsID=6372 http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/press_releases/news.cfm?uNewsID=6372

---