Thank you very much, hon. Member. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, currently, there are only two bilateral fisheries partnership agreements in force. These are related to tuna fisheries, namely a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the European Union.

81 The agreement was signed between the European Union and Mauritius on 21 December 2013 and entered into force on 28 January 2014 for a period of six years. It is tacitly renewable for an additional period of three years. Now, the countries concerned with this agreement are European Member States. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as regard part (a) (ii) of the question, in respect of the conditions attached thereto, I have been informed that the agreement provides for condition to ensure sustainable exploitation of tuna resources in the waters of Mauritius. They are, namely – (a) obligations of EU vessels to comply with laws of Mauritius and to be included in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s record of authorised vessels, and not on the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated List of IOTC or any other regional fisheries management organisation; (b) reporting of catch through submission of paper and electronic log books; (c) notifying the ministry on landing and transshipment activities of the vessels; (d) notification on entry and exit of EU vessels from Mauritius waters; (e) inspection and control of EU vessels by Mauritian inspectors; (f) regular reporting of fishing position through satellite-based vessel monitoring system; (g) embarkation of observers to collect data on the fishing activities of EU vessels, and (h) embarkation of local qualified seamen onboard EU vessels. Now, the second agreement is a Fishing Agreement with the Federation of Japan Fisheries Corporative Association. This agreement was signed in 2007 and provides for the licensing of 50 Japanese longliners annually for longline tuna fishing in Mauritian waters. The agreement was first reviewed in 2009 and is automatically renewed for a further period of two years. However, the last licenses issued in respect of Japanese vessel were in 2019 and no new licenses have been issued. The catch data from the Japanese vessel is also nil since the signature in 2007. In this respect, I intend to impress upon the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to re-boost the agreement so that more Japanese vessels can fish in our waters. The conditions under the agreement are the same in relation to the agreement which we have with the European Union.

82 Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as regards part (b) of the question, I wish to inform the House that tunas are migratory fish and exhibit significant migratory patterns driven by factors like feeding, spawning and seasonal current, and travel extensively among EEZ found in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission is the regional fisheries management organisation responsible for sustainable management of the tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean. It is also responsible for the stock assessment of the tuna species which are carried out on a regular basis. Mauritius is party to the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and adheres to all the conservation and management measures put forth by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. Other than tuna, Mauritius also has the bank fisheries in which demersal species are caught by semi-industrial fishing vessels that bring chilled and frozen fish to the Mauritian population. It is a well-established fishery stock, and it is monitored regularly by the Albion Fisheries Research Centre.

Yes, hon. Etwareea!

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, can we have some details on the financial aspect of the agreements to the EU and Japan?

No, I do not have the information. But I can retrieve the information and submit it accordingly.

The hon. Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière! MTA – PLEASURE CRAFT LICENCES (2015-2024)