Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Solomon Islands on fishing off Solomon Islands
Date: 2005-09-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Community, Solomon Islands, cooperation agreement, economic development, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing controls, fishing regulations

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 2.9.2005 
COM(2005) 404 final 

2005/0168 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

concerning the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement between 
the European Community and Solomon Islands on fishing off Solomon Islands 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  access  of  EC  tuna  vessels  to  the  fisheries  of  Central  West  Pacific  is  considered  as  an 
essential  opportunity  for  the  long  term  development  of  the  EC  industrial  tuna  fishery.  West 
Pacific is in fact the richest tuna fishery in the world (it accounts for 50% of total tuna catches 
world-wide)  and  scientific  studies  have  demonstrated  that  the  current  state  of  the  stocks  is 
good  and  that,  for  certain  species,  the  maximum  safe  level  of  exploitation  has  not  been 
reached yet.  

In June 2001  the Council of Ministers mandated the Commission to negotiate  bilateral tuna 
fishery agreements with ACP states of Central West Pacific, with a view to set up a network 
of tuna Agreements for the EC tuna fleet in the Pacific region. 

In July 2002 the Commission negotiated and concluded a first Agreement in the region with 
the  Republic  of  Kiribati.  This  first  Agreement  came  into  force  in  September  2003. 
Subsequently,  exploratory  talks  with  other  coastal  states  were  held  in  2003  with  Solomon 
Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands. 

Negotiations with Solomon Islands took place between the end of 2003 and the beginning of 
2004.  The  text  of  the  EC/Solomon  Islands  Partnership  Agreement  on  fishing  off  Solomon 
Islands  was  initialled  in  Brussels  on  28  January  2004.  The  Agreement  will  enter  into  force 
when the Parties exchange the notification concerning the accomplishment of the respective 
appropriate adoption procedures. A Protocol and a technical Annex are an integral part of the 
Agreement. 

This  EC/Solomon  Islands  Agreement  is  the  first  to  adopt  a  “partnership”  approach,  as 
proposed  by  the  Commission  in  its  Communication  to  the  European  Parliament  and  to  the 
Council and approved by the Council in its conclusions of July 2004. 

The  Protocol  to  the  Agreement,  which  establishes  the  fishing  possibilities  and  the  financial 
contribution,  has  been  concluded  for  an  initial  period  of  three  years.  The  Protocol  also 
establishes that the concession of fishing possibilities by Solomon Islands for EC vessels must 
be compatible with the management decisions to be taken, on a regional basis, by the Central 
West  Pacific  nations  in  the  context  of  the  Palau  Arrangement  for  the  Management  of  the 
Western Pacific Purse Seine Fishery. It is established that the EC fishing effort in Solomon 
Islands EEZ will have to be in line with appropriate tuna stock assessments based on scientific 
criteria, including the scientific overviews conducted yearly by the Secretariat of the Pacific 
Community (SPC). 

As  regards  EC  fishing  possibilities,  for  the  first  year  of  application  of  the  Protocol,  4  purse 
seine vessels and 10 surface long-liners are allowed to fish. Starting from the second year, the 
fishing possibilities may be increased at the request of the Community and depending on the 
management  decisions  of  the  Parties  to  the  Palau  Arrangement  and/or  other  competent 
regional fishery bodies. 

The  global  financial  contribution  was  fixed  at  EUR  400.000  per  year.  Starting  from  the 
second year, for each additional purse seine vessel licence obtained the financial contribution 
may  be  increased  by  EUR  65.000/year.  Solomon  Islands  decided  to  allocate  30%  of  the 
annual financial contribution towards the definition and implementation of a sectoral fisheries 
policy with a view to enhancing responsible fishing in its waters. This contribution shall be 

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managed  in  light  of  the  objectives  identified  by  mutual  agreement  between  the  EC  and 
Solomon Islands. 

As regards monitoring and control of fishing activities, the Annex to the Protocol establishes 
that  EC  vessels  will  have  to  comply  fully  with  all  regional  provisions  (including  VMS) 
established in accordance with and under the supervision of the Forum Fishery agency (FFA). 

EC ship-owners shall pay fishing fees of EUR 13.000 per purse seine vessel and EUR 3.000 
for each long-liner vessel. Furthermore, EC ship-owners are required to embark at least one 
seaman per vessel and contribute towards the Observers’ programme. 

In view of the above, this new Agreement is considered to be good value for money and of 
strategic  importance  for  the  development  of  EC  industrial  tuna  fishery  in  the  Central  West 
Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, it will encourage the responsible and sustainable exploitation of 
the resources to the mutual benefit of the Community and Solomon Islands. 

The  Commission  proposes  on  this  basis  that  the  Council  adopt  the  conclusion  of  this  new 
Fisheries Agreement between the EC and Solomon Islands by Regulation. 

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2005/0168 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

concerning the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement between 
the European Community and Solomon Islands on fishing off Solomon Islands 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 
37, in conjunction with Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

The Community and the Solomon Islands have negotiated and initialled a Partnership 
Fisheries Agreement providing Community fishermen with fishing opportunities in the 
waters  over  which  Solomon  Islands  has  sovereignty  or  jurisdiction  in  respect  of 
fisheries. 

That Agreement provides for economic, financial, technical and scientific cooperation 
in  the  fisheries  sector  with  a  view  to  guaranteeing  the  conservation  and  sustainable 
exploitation  of  resources,  as  well  as  partnerships  between  undertakings  aimed  at 
developing  in  the  common  interest  economic  activities  in  the  fisheries  sector  and 
related activities. 

(3) 

That Agreement should be approved. 

(4) 

(5) 

The  allocation  of  the  fishing  opportunities  among  the  Member  States  should  be 
defined, 

The  Member  States  whose  vessels  fish  under  this  Agreement  shall  notify  the 
Commission of the quantities of each stock caught within the Solomon Islands’ fishing 
zone in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/20013. 

1 
2 
3 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 73, 15.3.2001, p. 8. 

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HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

The  Partnership  Agreement  between  the  European  Community  and  Solomon  Islands  on 
fishing off Solomon Islands (hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement") is hereby approved 
on behalf of the Community. 

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Regulation. 

Article 2 

The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol to the Agreement shall be allocated among the 
Member States as follows: 

-  Freezer tuna seiners: 

Spain: 

75% of fishing possibilities available 

France: 

25% of fishing possibilities available 

-  Surface longliners: 

Spain: 

6 vessels 

Portugal: 

4 vessels 

If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed 
by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other 
Member State. 

Article 3 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union. 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

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PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT 
BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND SOLOMON ISLANDS 
ON FISHING OFF SOLOMON ISLANDS 

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as "the Community", and 

The Government of Solomon Islands, hereinafter referred to as “Solomon Islands”; 

Both collectively referred to as “the Parties"; 

CONSIDERING  the  close  co-operation  and  cordial  relations  between  the  Community  and 
Solomon Islands, particularly in the context of the Lomé and Cotonou Agreements, and their 
common desire to further maintain and develop these relations; 

CONSIDERING  THE  wish  of  Solomon  Islands  to  promote  the  rational  exploitation  of  its 
fishery resources by means of intensified co-operation; 

RACALLING  THAT,  in  respect  in  particular  of  sea  fishing,  Solomon  Islands  exercises  its 
sovereignty or jurisdiction over a zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baselines 
of its coasts; 

HAVING  REGARD  TO  the  United  Nations  Convention  on  the  Law  of  the  Sea  and  to  the 
United Nations Fish Stock Agreement; 

AWARE  OF  the  importance  of  the  principles  established  by  the  Code  of  conduct  for 
responsible fisheries adopted at the FAO Conference in 1995; 

AFFIRMING  THAT  the  exercise  of  sovereign  rights  by  coastal  states  in  waters  under  their 
jurisdiction for the purpose of exploiting, conserving and managing living resources must be 
conducted  in  accordance  with  the  principles  and  practices  of  international  law  and  in  due 
consideration to practices established at regional level;  

DETERMINED  TO  cooperate,  in  their  mutual  interest,  in  promoting  the  enhancement  of 
responsible  fisheries  to  ensure  the  long-term  conservation  and  sustainable  exploitation  of 
living marine resources; 

CONVINCED THAT such cooperation must take the form of initiatives and measures which, 
whether  taken  jointly  or  separately,  are  complementary,  consistent  with  policy  and  ensure 
synergy of effort; 

DECIDED, to these ends, to establish a dialogue with a view to defining a sectoral fisheries 
policy in Solomon Islands and identifying the appropriate means of ensuring that this policy is 
effectively  implemented  and  that  economic  operators  and  civil  society  are  involved  in  the 
process; 

DESIDEROUS  OF  establishing  terms  and  conditions  governing  the  fishing  activities  of 
Community  vessels  in  the  Solomon  Islands  fishing  zone  and  Community  support  for  the 
enhancement of responsible fishing in that fishing zone; 

RESOLVED  to  pursue  closer  economic  cooperation  in  the  fishing  industry  and  related 
activities  through  the  setting  up  and  development  of  joint  enterprises  involving  companies 
from both Parties; 

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HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

Scope 

This Agreement establishes the principles, rules and procedures governing: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

economic, financial, technical and scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector with a 
view  to  enhancing  responsible  fishing  in  the  Solomon  Islands  fishing  zone  to 
guarantee  the  conservation  and  sustainable  exploitation  of  fisheries  resources,  and 
developing the Solomon Islands fisheries sector 

the  conditions  governing  access  by  Community  fishing  vessels  to  Solomon  Islands 
fishing zone; 

the arrangements for policing fisheries in Solomon Islands fishing zone with a view 
to ensuring that the above rules and conditions are complied with;  

the measures for an effective conservation and management of fish stocks; 

the prevention of illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing; 

partnerships  between  companies  aimed  at  developing  economic  activities  in  the 
fisheries sector and related activities, in the common interest. 

Article 2 

Definitions 

For the purposes of this Agreement: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

e) 

f) 

“Solomon  Islands  authorities”  means  the  Department  of  Fisheries  and  Marine 
Resources  of  Solomon  Islands  or  the  Permanent  Secretary  of  Fisheries  of  the 
Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Solomon Islands;  

"Community authorities" means the European Commission;  

“Solomon  Islands  fishing  zone”  means  the  waters  over  which  Solomon  Islands  has 
sovereignty  or  jurisdiction  in  respect  of  fisheries,  identified  by  Solomon’s  national 
legislation as “Solomon Islands fishery limits”. 

“Community  vessel”  means  a  fishing  vessel  flying  the  flag  of  a  Member  State  and 
registered in the Community; 

“Joint enterprise" means a commercial company set up in Solomon Islands by vessel 
owners  or  national  enterprises  from  the  Parties  in  order  to  engage  in  fishing  or 
related activities; 

“Joint Committee” means a committee made up of representatives of the Community 
and Solomon Islands whose functions are described in Article 9 of this Agreement. 

g) 

“Fishing” means: 

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i. 

searching for, catching, taking or harvesting fish; 

ii. 

attempting to search for, catch, take or harvest fish; 

iii. 

iv. 

v. 

vi. 

engaging  in  any  other  activity  which  can  reasonable  be  expected  to  result  in 
locating, catching, taking or harvesting fish; 

placing,  searching  for  or  recovering  fish  aggregating  devices  or  associated 
electronic equipment such as radio beacons; 

any  operation  at  sea  directly  in  support  of  or  in  preparation  for  any  activity 
described in sub-paragraphs i) to iv); 

use  of  any  other  vehicle,  air  or  sea  borned,  for  any  activity  described  in  sub-
paragraphs  i)  to  v)  except  for  emergencies  involving  health  and  safety  of  the 
crew or the safety of a vessel. 

“fishing trip” means any vessel used or intended for use for the purpose of fishing, 
including  support  ships,  carrier  vessels,  and  any  other  vessels  directly  involved  in 
such fishing operations;  

“operator” means any person who is in charge of, or is responsible for the operation 
of, or directs or controls a fishing vessel, including the owner, charterer or master; 

“transhipment” means the unloading of any or all of the fish on board a fishing vessel 
onto another fishing vessel either at sea or in port;  

Article 3 

Principles and objectives 
referred to the implementation of this Agreement 

The Parties hereby undertake to promote responsible fishing in the Solomon Islands 
fishing zone based on the principle of non-discrimination between the different fleets 
fishing in the zone, without prejudice to agreements concluded between developing 
countries within a geographical region, including reciprocal fisheries agreements. 

The  Parties  shall  cooperate  with  a  view  to  defining  and  implementing  a  sectoral 
fisheries policy in Solomon Islands fishing zone and shall to that end initiate a policy 
dialogue on the necessary reforms. They hereby undertake not to adopt measures in 
this area without first consulting each other. 

The  Parties  shall  also  cooperate  on  carrying  out  ex-ante,  ongoing  and  ex-post 
evaluations,  both  jointly  and  unilaterally,  of  measures,  programmes  and  actions 
implemented on the basis of this Agreement. 

The  Parties  hereby  undertake  to  ensure  that  this  Agreement  is  implemented  in 
accordance with the principles of good economic and social governance. 

The employment of Solomon Islands seamen on board Community vessels shall be 
the  International  Labour  Organisation  (ILO)  Declaration  on 
governed  by 
Fundamental  Principles  and  Rights  at  Work,  which  shall  apply  as  of  right  to  the 

h) 

i) 

j) 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

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corresponding  contracts  and  general  terms  of  employment.  This  concerns  in 
particular  the  freedom  of  association  and  the  effective  recognition  of  the  right  to 
collective bargaining, and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment 
and occupation. 

Article 4 

Scientific cooperation 

During the period covered by this Agreement, the Community and Solomon Islands 
shall monitor the state of resources in Solomon Islands' fishing zone; a joint scientific 
meeting shall be held when necessary to that end, alternately in the Community and 
in Solomon Islands.  

Based  on  the  conclusions  of  the  scientific  meeting  and  the  best  available  scientific 
advice, the Parties shall consult each other within the Joint Committee provided for 
in Article 9 and, where necessary and by mutual agreement, take measures to ensure 
the sustainable management of fisheries resources. 

The  Parties  shall  consult  each  other,  either  directly  or  within  the  international 
organisations  concerned,  to  ensure  the  management  and  conservation  of  living 
resources in the West and Central Pacific, and to cooperate in the relevant scientific 
research. 

Article 5  

Access by Community vessels 
to fisheries in Solomon Islands fishing zone 

Solomon  Islands  hereby  undertakes  to  authorise  Community  vessels  to  engage  in 
fishing activities in its fishing zone in accordance with this Agreement, including the 
Protocol and Annex thereto. 

The  fishing  activities  governed  by  this  Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  the  laws  and 
regulations in Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands shall notify the Commission of any 
amendments to the said laws and regulations within six and one month respectively 
before they are applied. 

Solomon Islands shall assume responsibility for the effective implementation of the 
fisheries  monitoring  provisions  in  the  Protocol.  Community  vessels  shall  cooperate 
with  the  Solomon  Islands  authorities  responsible  for  carrying  out  such  monitoring. 
The  steps  taken  by  Solomon  Islands  to  regulate  fishing  in  the  interest  of  the 
conservation of fishery resources shall be based on objective and scientific criteria. 
They shall apply without discrimination both to Community, Solomon Islands’ and 
foreign  vessels,  without  prejudice  to  agreements  concluded  between  developing 
countries  within  a  single  geographical  region,  including  reciprocal  fisheries 
agreements. 

The Community shall take all the appropriate steps required to ensure that its vessels 
comply with this Agreement and the legislation and regulations governing fisheries 
in the Solomon Islands fishing zone. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

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Article 6 

Licences 

1. 

1. 

The procedure for obtaining a fishing licence for a vessel, the fees applicable and the 
method of payment to be used by ship-owners shall be as set out in the Annex to the 
Protocol. 

Article 7 

Financial contribution 

The  Community  shall  grant  Solomon  Islands  a  single  financial  contribution  in 
accordance  with  the  terms  and  conditions  laid  down  in  the  Protocol  and  Annexes. 
This  single  contribution  shall  be  calculated  on  the  basis  of  two  related  elements, 
namely: 

a)  Access by Community vessels to the Solomon Islands fishing zone, and 

b) 

The Community’s financial support for enhancing responsible fishing and the 
sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources in Solomon Islands fishing zone. 

The part of the financial contribution referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall be 
determined  and  managed  in  the  light  of  objectives  identified  by  common  accord 
between the Parties in accordance with the Protocol, to be achieved in the context of 
the sectoral fisheries policy in Solomon Islands and in accordance with an annual and 
multiannual programme for its implementation. 

2. 

The  financial  contribution  granted  by  the  Community  shall  be  paid  each  year  in 
accordance  with  the  Protocol  and  without  prejudice  to  the  provisions  of  this 
Agreement  and  its  Protocol  on  any  change  of  the  amount  of  the  contribution  as  a 
result of: 

a) 

b) 

c) 

d) 

serious  circumstances,  other  than  natural  phenomena,  preventing  fishing 
activities in Solomon Islands fishing zone (in accordance with Article 14 of the 
Agreement); 

a reduction in the fishing opportunities granted to Community vessels, made by 
mutual agreement between the Parties for the purposes of managing the stocks 
concerned,  where  this  is  considered  necessary  for  the  conservation  and 
sustainable exploitation of resources on the basis of the best available scientific 
advice (in accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol); 

an increase in the fishing opportunities granted to Community vessels, made by 
mutual agreement between the Parties where the best available scientific advice 
concurs  that  the  state  of  resources  so  permits  (in  accordance  with  Articles  1 
and 4 of the Protocol); 

a reassessment of the terms of Community financial support for implementing 
a sectoral fisheries policy in Solomon Islands (in accordance with Article 5 of 
the  Protocol),  where  this  is  warranted  by  the  results  of  the  annual  and 
multiannual programming observed by both Parties; 

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e) 

f) 

termination of this Agreement under Article 12. 

suspension of the implementation of this Agreement under Article 13. 

Article 8  

Promoting cooperation  
among economic operators and in civil society 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The  Parties  shall  encourage  economic,  commercial,  scientific  and  technical 
cooperation in the fisheries sector and related sectors. They shall consult one another 
with a view to coordinating the different measures that might be taken to this end. 

The Parties shall encourage exchanges of information on fishing techniques and gear, 
preservation methods and the industrial processing of fisheries products. 

The  Parties  shall  endeavour  to  create  conditions  favourable  to  the  promotion  of 
relations  between  enterprises  from  the  Parties  in  the  technical,  economic  and 
commercial spheres, by encouraging the establishment of an environment favourable 
to the development of business and investment. 

The Parties shall encourage, in particular, the setting-up of joint enterprises in their 
mutual interest. The creation of joint enterprises in Solomon Islands and the transfer 
of Community vessels to joint enterprises shall systematically comply with Solomon 
Islands and Community legislation. 

Article 9 

Joint Committee 

1. 

A Joint Committee shall be set up to monitor the implementation of this Agreement. 
The Joint Committee shall perform the following functions: 

a)  monitoring 

the  performance, 

the 
Agreement  and,  in  particular,  the  definition  of  the  annual  and  multiannual 
programming  referred  to  in  Article  5(2)  of  the  Protocol  and  evaluation  of  its 
implementation;  

implementation  of 

interpretation  and 

b) 

c) 

d) 

providing  the  necessary  liaison  for  matters  of  mutual  interest  relating  to 
fisheries;  

acting  as  a  forum  for  the  amicable  settlement  of  any  disputes  regarding  the 
interpretation or implementation of the Agreement;  

reassessing,  where  necessary, 
level  of  fishing  opportunities  and, 
consequently, of the financial contribution. Consultations shall be based on the 
principles set out under Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Protocol; 

the 

e) 

any other function which the Parties decide on by mutual agreement. 

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2. 

1. 

The  Joint  Committee  shall  meet  at  least  once  a  year,  alternately  in  the  Community 
and  in  Solomon  Islands,  and  shall  be  chaired  by  the  Party  hosting  the  meeting.  It 
shall hold a special meeting at the request of either of the Parties. 

Article 10 

Geographical area to which the Agreement applies 

This  Agreement shall  apply, on  the  one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty 
establishing the European Community applies, under the conditions laid down in that 
Treaty and, on the other, to the territory of Solomon Islands. 

Article 11 

Duration 

This  Agreement  shall  apply  for  three  years  from  the  date  of  its  entry  into  force;  it  shall  be 
automatically renewable for additional periods of three years, unless notice of termination is 
given in accordance with Article 12. 

Article 12 

Termination 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

1. 

This  Agreement  may  be  terminated  by  either  Party  in  the  event  of  serious 
circumstances  such  as  the  degradation  of  the  stocks  concerned,  the  discovery  of  a 
reduced  level  of  exploitation  of  the  fishing  opportunities  granted  to  Community 
vessels,  or  failure  to  comply  with  undertakings  made  by  the  Parties  with  regard  to 
combating illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing. 

The Party concerned shall notify the other Party of its intention to withdraw from the 
Agreement  in  writing  at  least  six  months  before  the  date  of  expiry  of  the  initial 
period or each additional period.  

Dispatch  of  the  notification  referred  to  in  the  previous  paragraph  shall  open 
consultations by the Parties. 

Payment of the financial contribution referred to in Article 7 for the year in which the 
termination takes effect shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata temporis. 

Before the end of the period of validity of any Protocol to this Agreement, the parties 
shall  hold  negotiations  to  establish  by  agreement  what  amendments  or  additions  to 
the Protocol and the Annex are required. 

Article 13 

Suspension and review of the payment of the financial contribution 

Implementation of this Agreement may be suspended at the initiative of one of the 
Parties in the event of a serious disagreement as to the implementation of provisions 
laid down in the Agreement or its Protocol and Annex. Such suspension shall require 
the Party concerned to notify its intention in writing at least three months before the 

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date  on  which  suspension  is  due  to  take  effect.  On  receipt  of  this  notification,  the 
Parties  shall  enter  into  consultations  with  a  view  to  resolving  their  differences 
amicably. 

Payment  of  the  financial  contribution  referred  to  in  Article  7  shall  be  reduced 
proportionately and pro rata temporis, according to the duration of the suspension. 

Article 14 

Suspension on grounds of force majeur 

Where  serious  circumstances,  other  than  natural  phenomena,  prevent  fishing 
activities  in  Solomon  Islands’  exclusive  economic  zone  (EEZ),  the  European 
Community  may  suspend  payment  of  the  financial  contribution  provided  for  in 
Article  2  of  the  Protocol,  following  consultations  between  the  two  parties  where 
possible, and provided that the Community has paid in full any amounts due at the 
time of suspension.  

Payment  of  the  financial  contribution  shall  resume  as  soon  as  the  parties  find,  by 
mutual agreement following consultations, that the circumstances preventing fishing 
activities are no longer present and that the situation allows a resumption of fishing 
activities.  This  payment  should  be  done  within  a  time  limit  of  two  months  upon 
confirmation from both parties. 

The  validity  of  the  licences  granted  to  Community  vessels  under  Article  6  of  the 
Agreement  and  1  of  the  Protocol  shall  be extended by a period equal to the period 
during which fishing activities were suspended. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

The Protocol and the Annex shall form an integral part of this Agreement. 

Article 15 

Article 16 

1. 

This  Agreement,  drawn  up  in  duplicate  in  the  Danish,  Dutch,  English,  Finnish, 
French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, each of 
these  texts  being  equally  authentic,  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  date  on  which  the 
Parties notify each other that their adoption procedures have been completed. 

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PROTOCOL 

SETTING OUT THE FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND PAYMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN 
THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND 
SOLOMON ISLANDS ON FISHING OFF SOLOMON ISLANDS 

Article 1 
Period of application and fishing possibilities 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Solomon  Islands  shall  grant  annual  fishing  licences  to  Community  tuna  fishing 
vessels pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement, in conformity with its National Tuna 
Management Plan and within the limits established by the Palau Arrangement for the 
Management  of  the  Western  Pacific  Purse  Seine  Fishery,  hereinafter  referred  to  as 
“the Palau Arrangement”. 

For  a  period  of  three  years  from  the  date  of  entry  into  force  of  this  Protocol  the 
fishing opportunities foreseen under Article 5 of the Agreement shall be as follows: 

Annual licences to fish simultaneously within Solomon Islands fishing zone shall be 
granted to 4 purse seine vessels and 10 long-liners. 

Starting from the second year of application of the Protocol and without prejudice to 
Articles  9(d)  of  the  Agreement  and  4  of  the  Protocol,  at  the  request  of  the 
Community, the number of fishing licences for purse seine vessels granted in Article 
1(2) of the Protocol may be increased, if resources permit and in accordance with the 
Palau Arrangement yearly limitations and with an appropriate tuna stock assessment 
based on objective and scientific criteria, including the “Western and Central Pacific 
Tuna Fishery Overview and Status of Stocks” published yearly by the Secretariat of 
the Pacific Community.  

4. 

Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall apply subject to Articles 4, 6 and 7 of this Protocol. 

Article 2 
Financial contribution - Methods of payment 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

The  single  financial  contribution  referred  to  in  Article  7  of  the  Agreement  shall  be 
EUR 400.000 per year. 

Paragraph 1 shall apply subject to Articles 4 of this Protocol and to articles 13 and 14 
of the Agreement.  

If the total quantity of tuna catches per year by Community vessels in the Solomon 
Islands fishing zone exceeds 6.000 tons, the total annual financial contribution shall 
be increased by EUR 65 per additional ton of tuna caught. However, the total annual 
amount to be paid by the Community cannot exceed the triple of the amount of the 
financial contribution referred to in paragraph 1. 

For  each  additional  purse  seine  licence  granted  by  Solomon  Islands  pursuant  to 
Article  1.3.,  the  Community  shall  increase  the  financial  contribution  referred  to  in 
Article 2(1) of this Protocol by EUR 65.000 per year. 

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14 

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5. 

6. 

7. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Payment shall be made no later than May 1st for the first year and no later than the 
anniversary date of the Protocol for the following years. 

Subject to Article 5, Solomon Islands shall have full discretion regarding the use to 
which this financial contribution is put. 

The  financial  contribution  shall  be  paid  into  the  Government  Revenue  Account 
opened with a financial institution specified by Solomon Islands. This account is the 
Solomon Islands Government Revenue Account No. 0260-002 with the Central Bank 
of  Solomon  Islands,  Honiara.  The  annual  financial  contribution  to  be  paid  by  the 
Community  in  exchange  for  the  granting  of  additional  annual  licences  pursuant  to 
Articles 1(3) and 2(4) shall be paid into the account. 

Article 3 

Cooperation on responsible fishing 

Both  parties  hereby  undertake  to  promote  responsible  fishing  in  the  Solomon  Islands 
fishing  zone  based  on  the  principle  of  non  discrimination  between  the  different  fleets 
fishing in those waters.  

During  the  period  covered  by  this  Protocol,  the  Community  and  Solomon  Islands 
shall monitor the state and sustainability of resources in the Solomon Islands fishing 
zone. 

Based  on  the  conclusions  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the  members  to  the  “Palau 
Arrangement” and on the yearly assessment of stocks done by the Secretariat of the 
Pacific  Community,  the  two  parties  shall  consult  each  other  within  the  Joint 
Committee provided for in Article 9 of the Agreement and, where necessary and by 
mutual agreement, take measures to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries 
resources. 

Article 4 
Review of fishing opportunities 

The  fishing  opportunities  referred  to  in  Article  1  may  be  increased  by  mutual 
agreement  insofar  as  the  conclusions  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the  “Palau 
Arrangement”  members  and  the  annual  review  of  the  status  of  stocks  made  by  the 
Secretariat of the Pacific Community confirm that such an increase will not endanger 
the sustainable management of Solomon Islands’ resources. In this case the financial 
contribution  referred  to  in  Article  2(1)  shall  be  increased  proportionately  and  pro 
rata temporis.  

Conversely,  if  the  parties  agree  to  adopt  measures  resulting  in  a  reduction  in  the 
fishing  opportunities  provided  for  in  Article  1,  the  financial  contribution  shall  be 
reduced proportionally and pro rata temporis. 

The allocation of the fishing opportunities among different categories of vessels may 
also  be  reviewed  by  mutual  agreement  between  the  parties,  provided  that  any 
changes comply with any recommendations made by the scientific meeting regarding 
the  management  of  stocks  liable  to  be  affected  by  such  redistribution.  The  parties 

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15 

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shall agree on the corresponding adjustment of the financial contribution where the 
redistribution of fishing opportunities so warrants. 

Article 5 
Support for enhancing responsible fishing in Solomon Islands waters 

Solomon  Islands  shall  define  and  implement  a  sectoral  fisheries  policy  in  Solomon 
Islands with a view to enhancing responsible fishing in its waters. A share of 30 % of 
the  single  financial  contribution  referred  to  in  Article  2(1)  of  this  Protocol  shall  be 
put  towards  these  objectives.  This  contribution  shall  be  managed  in  the  light  of 
objectives  identified  by  mutual  agreement  between  the  two  parties,  and  the  annual 
and multiannual programming to attain them. 

For  the  purposes  of  paragraph  1,  as  soon  as  this  Protocol  enters  into  force  and  no 
later  than  three  months  after  that  date,  the  Community  and  Solomon  Islands  shall 
agree, within the Joint Committee provided for in Article 9 of the Agreement, on a 
multiannual  sectoral  programme  and  detailed  implementing  rules  covering,  in 
particular: 

(a) 

(b) 

annual  and  multiannual  guidelines  for  using  the  percentage  of  the  financial 
contribution referred to in paragraph 1;  

the  objectives,  both  annual  and  multiannual,  to  be  achieved  with  a  view  to 
introducing,  over  time,  responsible  fishing  and  sustainable  fisheries,  taking 
account of the priorities expressed by Solomon Islands in its national fisheries 
policy and other policies relating to or having an impact on the enhancement of 
responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries; 

(c) 

criteria and procedures for evaluating the results obtained each year. 

Any proposed amendments to the multiannual sectoral programme must be approved 
by both parties within the Joint Committee. 

Each  year,  Solomon  Islands  shall  allocate  the  percentage  of  the  single  financial 
contribution referred to in paragraph 1 with a view to implementing the multiannual 
programme. For the first year of application of the Protocol, that allocation must be 
notified to the Community at the time when the multiannual sectoral programme is 
approved within the Joint Committee. For each year thereafter, Solomon Islands shall 
notify the Community of the allocation no later than 45 days before the anniversary 
date of this Protocol. 

The  share  of  the  single  financial  contribution  (30%)  provided  for  in  paragraph  (1) 
shall be jointly controlled by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources and 
the Department of Finance and Treasury. 

Where the annual evaluation of the progress made in implementing the multiannual 
sectoral programme so warrants, the European Community may ask for the share of 
the  single  financial  contribution  referred  to  in  Article  5(1)  of  this  Protocol  to  be 
reduced with a view to bringing the actual amount of financial resources allocated to 
implementation of the programme into line with its results. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

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16 

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1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

1. 

Article 6 
Disputes - Suspension of implementation of the Protocol  

Any  dispute  between  the  parties  over  the  interpretation  of  this  Protocol  or  its 
application shall be the subject of consultations between the parties within the Joint 
Committee  provided  for  in  Article  9  of  the  Agreement,  in  a  special  meeting  if 
necessary. 

Without prejudice to Article 7, implementation of the Protocol may be suspended at 
the initiative of one party if the dispute between the parties is deemed to be serious 
and if the consultations held within the Joint Committee under paragraph 1 have not 
resulted in an amicable settlement. 

Suspension  of  implementation  of  the  Protocol  shall  require  the  interested  party  to 
notify  its  intention  in  writing  at  least  three  months  before  the  date  on  which 
suspension is due to take effect. 

In the event of suspension, the parties shall continue to consult with a view to finding 
an  amicable  settlement  to  their  dispute.  Where  such  settlement  is  reached, 
implementation  of  the  Protocol  shall  resume  and  the  amount  of  the  financial 
contribution shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata temporis according to the 
period during which application of the Protocol was suspended. 

Article 7 
Suspension of implementation of the Protocol on grounds of non-payment 

Subject to Article 9 of the Agreement, if the Community fails to make the payments 
provided for in Article 2 of the Protocol, the implementation of this Protocol may be 
suspended on the following terms: 

(a)  The  competent  authorities  of  Solomon  Islands  shall  notify  the  European 
Commission  of  the  non-payment.  The  latter  shall  make  the  necessary 
verifications and, where necessary, transmit the payment within no more than 
45 working days of the date of receipt of the notification. 

(b) 

If no payment is made and non-payment is not adequately justified within the 
period  provided  for  in  point  (a)  above,  Solomon  Islands  shall  be  entitled  to 
suspend  the  implementation  of  the  Protocol.  They  shall  inform  the  European 
Commission of such action forthwith. 

(c) 

Implementation of the Protocol shall resume as soon as the payment concerned 
has been made. 

Article 8 
National law and Regulations 

1. 

The  activities  of  vessels  operating  under  this  Protocol  and  the  Annexes  thereto,  in 
particular transhipment, the use of port services and the purchase of supplies shall be 
governed by the applicable national laws and regulations in Solomon Islands. 

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17 

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Article 9 
Entry into force 

1. 

2. 

This Protocol with its Annex shall enter into force on the date on which the parties 
notify each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for that purpose.  

It shall apply with effect not before 01 January 2005. 

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EUROPEAN COMMUNITY/SOLOMON ISLANDS 

FISHERIES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT 

ANNEX 

CONDITIONS GOVERNING FISHING ACTIVITIES BY COMMUNITY VESSELS IN 
SOLOMON ISLAND’S FISHING ZONE 

CHAPTER I 

APPLICATION FORMALITIES AND ISSUE OF LICENCES 

Section 1 
Issue of licences 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Only  eligible  vessels  may  obtain  a  licence  to  fish  in  the  Solomon  Islands  fishing 
zone. 

For a vessel to be eligible, neither the owner, nor the master nor the vessel itself must 
be  prohibited  from  fishing  in  Solomon  Islands.  They  must  be  in  order  with  the 
Government  insofar  as  they  must  have  fulfilled  all  prior  obligations  arising  from 
their  fishing  activities  in  Solomon  Islands  under  the  fisheries  agreement  concluded 
with the Community. 

All  Community  vessels  applying  for  a  fishing  licence  must  be  represented  by  an 
agent resident in Solomon Islands. The name and address of that agent shall be stated 
in the licence application. 

The relevant Community authorities shall present to the Permanent Secretary of the 
Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Solomon Islands (hereinafter “the 
Permanent Secretary”), via the Delegation of the European Commission responsible 
for  Solomon  Islands  (hereinafter  “the  Delegation  of  the  Commission”  or  “the 
Delegation”), an application for each vessel wishing to fish under the Agreement at 
least 15 days before the beginning of the requested term of validity.  

Applications  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Permanent  Secretary  on  a  form  drawn  up  in 
accordance with the specimen in Appendix I. 

All licence applications shall be accompanied by the following documents: 

–  proof of payment of the fee for the period of validity of the licence; 

–  a  copy  of  the  tonnage  certificate,  certified  by  the  flag  Member  State,  giving  the 

tonnage of the vessel expressed in GRT; 

–  a recent, certified colour photograph, of at least 15 cm x 10 cm, showing a side 

view of the vessel in its current state; 

–  any other documents or certificates required under the specific rules applicable to 

the type of vessel concerned pursuant to this Protocol. 

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19 

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7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

The  fee  shall  be  paid  into  the  account  specified  by  the  Permanent  Secretary 
(Government  Revenue  Account  No.  0260-002  with  the  Central  Bank  of  Solomon 
Islands, Honiara).  

The  fees  shall  include  all  national  and  local  charges  except  for  port  taxes,  service 
charges and transhipment fees. 

Licences  for  all  vessels  shall  be  issued  to  shipowners  or  their  agents  via  the 
Delegation  of  the  Commission  within  15  working  days  of  receipt  of  all  the 
documents referred to in point 6 by the Permanent Secretary. 

If  a  licence  is  signed  at  a  time  when  the  European  Commission  Delegation  offices 
are closed, it shall be sent direct to the vessel's agent -and a copy shall be sent to the 
Delegation. 

Licences shall be issued for a specific vessel and shall not be transferable.  

At  the  request  of  the  European  Community  and  where  force  majeure  is  proven,  a 
vessel's licence shall be replaced by a new licence for another vessel whose features 
are similar to those of the first vessel, with no further fee due. If the gross registered 
tonnage (GRT) of the replacement vessel is above that of the vessel to be replaced, 
the difference in fee shall be paid pro rata temporis. The total catch by both vessels 
concerned  will  be  taken  into  account  when  the  level  of  catches  by  Community 
vessels is taken into consideration to determine if any additional payments are to be 
made by the Community according to Article 2(3) of the Protocol. 

The  owner  of the first vessel, or the agent, shall return the  cancelled licence to the 
Permanent Secretary, via the European Commission Delegation. 

The  new  licence  shall  take  effect  on  the  day  that  the  vessel's  owner  returns  the 
cancelled licence to the Permanent Secretary. The European Commission Delegation 
in Solomon Islands shall be informed of the licence transfer. 

The  licence  must  be  kept  on  board  at  all  times,  without  prejudice  to  point  2  of 
Chapter VII of this Annex. 

Section 2 
Licence conditions – fees and advance payments 

Licences shall be valid for one year. They may be renewable. Renewal of Licences 
shall  be  subject  to  the  number  of  available  fishing  possibilities  established  by  the 
Protocol. 

The fee shall be EUR 35 per tonne caught within the Solomon Islands fishing zone. 

Licences shall be issued once the following standard amounts have been paid to the 
Government  Revenue  Account  No.  0260-002  with  the  Central  Bank  of  Solomon 
Islands, Honiara: 

–  EUR 13.000 per tuna seiner vessel, equivalent to the fees due  for  371 tonnes of 

tuna and tuna-like species caught per year; 

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–  EUR 3000 per surface long-liner, equivalent to the fees due for 80 tonnes of tuna 

and tuna-like species caught per year; 

4. 

The  final  statement  of  the  fees  due  for  the  fishing  year  shall  be  drawn  up  by  the 
Commission  of  the  European  Communities  by  June  30th  each  year  for  the  amounts 
caught during the year before and on the basis of the catch declarations made by each 
ship-owner. The data should be confirmed by the scientific institutes responsible for 
verifying catch data of the Community (Institut de Recherche pour le Development 
(IRD),  the  Instituto  Español  de  Oceanografía  (IEO)  or  the  Instituto  Portugues  de 
Investigaçao  Maritima  (IPIMAR)  and  by  the  Secretariat  of  the  Pacific  Community 
(SPC). On the basis of those confirmed statement of catches figures the Commission 
shall establish a statement of the fees due in respect of each licence period, calculated 
on the basis of EUR 35 per ton caught.  

5. 

The fee statement drawn up by the Commission shall be transmitted to the Permanent 
Secretary for verification and approval.  

6. 

7. 

8. 

1. 

The Solomon Islands authorities may question the fee statement within 30 days from 
the invoice of the statement and, in case of disagreement, request the call of the Joint 
Committee. 

If no objections are raised within 30 days from the invoice of the statement, the fee 
statement is considered to be accepted by Solomon Islands.  

The  final  fee  statement  shall  simultaneously  be  notified  without  delay  to  the 
Permanent  Secretary,  to  the  Delegation  of  the  European  Commission,  to  the 
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and to the ship-owners via their national 
administrations.  

Any additional payments shall be made by the shipowners to the competent Solomon 
Islands authorities within forty-five (45) days from notification of the confirmed final 
statement  into  Solomon  Islands  Government  Revenue  Account  No.  0260-002  with 
the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, Honiara. 

However, if the amount of the final statement is lower than the advance referred to in 
point  3  of  this  Section,  the  resulting  balance  shall  not  be  reimbursable  to  the 
shipowner. 

CHAPTER II 

FISHING ZONES 

The vessels referred to in Article 1 of the Protocol shall be authorized to engage in 
fishing activities within Solomon Islands fishing zone except for thirty (30) nautical 
miles  around  the  Main  Group  Archipelago  (MGA)  and  the  archipelagic  and 
territorial waters of the other archipelagos. Co-ordinates of waters A of the MGA and 
the rest of the Archipelagos (i.e. Waters B, Waters C, Waters D and Waters E) shall 
be provided by the Permanent Secretary before the entry into force of the Agreement. 
The  Permanent  Secretary  shall  communicate  to  the  European  Commission  any 
modification  to  the  said  closed  fishing  zones  at  least  two  months  before  their 
application. 

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2. 

In any case, all fishing shall not be permitted within 3 nautical miles of any anchored 
fish-aggregating  device  for  which  notification  of  its  location  shall  be  given  by 
geographical co-ordinates. 

CHAPTER III 

CATCH REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS 

1. 

For  the  purposes  of  this  Annex,  the  duration  of  a  voyage  by  a  Community  vessel 
shall be defined as follows: 

–  either the period elapsing between entering  and leaving Solomon Islands fishing 

zone; 

–  or  the  period  elapsing  between  entering  Solomon  Islands  fishing  zone  and  a 

transhipment; 

–  or  the  period  elapsing  between  entering  Solomon  Islands  fishing  zone  and  a 

landing in Solomon Islands. 

All vessels authorised to fish in Solomon Islands’ waters under the Agreement shall 
be obliged to communicate their catches to the Permanent Secretary in the following 
manner: 

Declarations shall include the catches made by the vessel during each trip. They shall 
be  transmitted  to  the  Permanent  Secretary  by  electronic  means,  with  a  copy  to  the 
European  Commission,  at  the  end  of  each  trip  and,  in  all  cases,  before  the  vessel 
leaves Solomon Islands fishing zone. Electronic receipts shall be sent at once to the 
vessel by both addressees, with a copy to the other.  

The  original  of  the  declarations  sent  electronically  during  the  annual  period  of 
validity of the licence within the meaning of point 2.1 above shall be transmitted on a 
physical  medium  to  the  Permanent  Secretary  within  forty-five  (45)  days  following 
the end of the last trip made during the said period. Hard copies shall be sent to the 
European Community at the same time. 

Vessels  shall  declare  their  catches  on  the  corresponding  form  in  the  log-book,  in 
accordance with the specimen in Appendix 2. The words “Outside Solomon Islands’ 
EEZ” shall be entered in the abovementioned log-book in respect of periods during 
which the vessel is not in Solomon Islands’ waters. 

2. 

2.1 

2.2 

2.3 

2.4 

The forms shall be filled in legibly and signed by the master of the ship. 

3. 

Where the provisions set out in this Chapter are not complied with, Solomon Islands 
reserves the right to suspend the licence of the offending vessel until formalities have 
been  completed  and  to  apply  the  penalty  laid  down  in  applicable  Solomon  Islands 
legislation. The European Commission shall be informed thereof. 

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1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

CHAPTER IV 

EMBARKING SEAMEN 

Each  European  Community  vessel  fishing  under  the  Agreement  shall  undertake  to 
employ  at least one (1) Solomon Islands’ national  as  a  crew-member.  Condition  of 
service  for  Solomon  Islands  nationals  should  be  as  standard  for  the  industry  in 
Solomon Islands. 

In  case  a  European  Community  vessel  is  not  in  the  condition  to  employ  one  (1) 
Solomon Islands national as a crew-member, ship-owners shall be obliged to pay a 
lump  sum  equivalent  to  the  wages  of  two  crew-members  for  the  duration  of  the 
fishing season in Solomon Islands’ fishing zone. 

The  sum  referred  to  above  shall  be  paid  into  Government  Revenue  Account  No. 
0260-002 with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, Honiara. 

Ship-owners shall be free to select the seamen they take on board their vessels from 
the names on a list submitted by the Permanent Secretary. 

The  ship-owner  or  agent  shall  inform  the  Permanent  Secretary  of  the  names  of 
Solomon  Islands  seamen  taken  on  board  the  vessel  concerned,  mentioning  their 
position in the crew. 

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles 
and  Rights  at  Work  shall  apply  as  of  right  to  seamen  signed  on  by  European 
Community  vessels.  This  concerns  in  particular  the  freedom  of  association  and  the 
effective  recognition  of  the  right  to  collective  bargaining,  and  the  elimination  of 
discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. 

Solomon Islands seamen's employment contracts, a copy of which shall be given to 
the signatories, shall be drawn up between the shipowners' agent(s) and the seamen 
and/or  their  trade  unions  or  representatives  in  consultation  with  the  Permanent 
Secretary.  These  contracts  shall  guarantee  the  seamen  the  social  security  cover 
applicable to them, including life assurance and sickness and accident insurance.  

Solomon  Islands  seamen's  wages  shall  be  paid  by  the  shipowners.  They  shall  be 
fixed,  before  licences  are  issued,  by  mutual  agreement  between  the  shipowners  or 
their agents and the Permanent Secretary. However, the wage conditions granted to 
Solomon  Islands  seamen  shall  not  be  lower  than  those  applied  to  Solomon  Islands 
crews and shall under no circumstances be below ILO standards. 

All  seamen  employed  aboard  Community  vessels  shall  report  to  the  master  of  the 
vessel  designated  on  the  day  before  their  proposed  embarkation  date.  Where  a 
seaman fails to report at the date and time agreed for embarkation, shipowners shall 
be automatically absolved of their obligation to take the seaman on board. 

10. 

Where  no  Solomon  Islands  seamen  are  taken  on  board  for  reasons  other  than  that 
referred  to  in  the  previous  point,  shipowners  shall  be  obliged  to  pay  as  soon  as 
possible  a  flat-rate  amount  (for  the  fishing  year)  equivalent  to  the  wages  of  the 
seamen not taken on board. 

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11. 

That sum shall be used for the training of seamen/fishermen in Solomon Islands and 
shall  be  paid  into  Government  Revenue  Account  No.  0260-002  with  the  Central 
Bank of Solomon Islands, Honiara. 

CHAPTER V 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Vessels  shall  comply  with  the  measures  and  recommendations  adopted  by  the 
Secretariat  of  the  Pacific  Community  and  by  the  members  to  the  “Palau 
Arrangement” regarding fishing gear and the technical specifications thereof and all 
other technical measures applicable to their fishing activities. 

CHAPTER VI 

OBSERVERS 

At the time of lodging a license application, each Community vessel concerned shall 
contribute  EUR  400  into  Government  Revenue  Account  No.  0260-002  with  the 
National  Bank  of  Solomon  Islands,  Honiara,  specifically  for  the  observer’s 
programme. 

Vessels authorised to fish in Solomon Islands waters under the Agreement shall take 
on board observers appointed by Solomon Islands on the terms set out below: 

The Permanent Secretary shall determine each year the scope of the programme for 
observation on board on the basis of the number of vessels authorised to fish in the 
waters under its jurisdiction and the state of the resources targeted by those vessels. It 
shall  determine  accordingly  the  number  or  percentage  of  vessels  by  category  of 
fishery which shall be required to take an observer on board. 

The  Permanent  Secretary  shall  draw  up  a  list  of  vessels  designated  to  take  an 
observer on board and a list of appointed observers. These lists shall be kept up to 
date.  They  shall  be  forwarded  to  the  European  Commission  as  soon  as  they  have 
been drawn up and every three months thereafter where they have been updated. 

The Permanent Secretary shall inform the shipowners concerned, or their agents, of 
his intentions to take on board an appointed observer on their vessels at the time the 
licence  is  issued,  or  no  later  than  fifteen  (15)  days  before  the  observer’s  planned 
embarkation date and whose name shall be notified as soon as possible. 

The time spent on board by observers shall be fixed by the Permanent Secretary but, 
as a general rule, it should not exceed the time required to carry out their duties. The 
Permanent  Secretary  shall  inform  the  ship-owners  or  their  agents  thereof  when 
notifying them of the name of the observer appointed to be taken on board the vessel 
concerned. 

The  conditions  under  which  observers  are  taken  on  board  shall  be  agreed  between 
shipowners or their agents and the Permanent Secretary.  

1. 

1. 

2. 

2.1 

2.2 

2.3 

3. 

4. 

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5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

8.1 

8.2 

8.3 

8.4 

8.5 

8.6 

8.7 

9. 

10. 

Within two weeks and giving ten days' notice, the shipowners concerned shall make 
known  at  which  Solomon  Islands  ports  and  on  what  dates  they  intend  to  take 
observers on board. 

Where observers are taken on board in a foreign port, their travel costs shall be borne 
by the shipowner. Should a vessel with an observer from Solomon Islands on board 
leave  the  Solomon  Islands  fishing  zone,  all  measures  must  be  taken  to  ensure  the 
observer's return to Solomon Islands as soon as possible at the expense of the ship-
owner. 

If the observer is not present at the time and place agreed and during the six (6) hours 
following  the  time  agreed,  ship-owners  shall  be  automatically  absolved  of  their 
obligation to take the observer on board. 

Observers shall be treated as officers. They shall carry out the following tasks: 

observe the fishing activities of the vessels; 

verify the position of vessels engaged in fishing operations; 

perform biological sampling in the context of scientific programmes; 

note the fishing gear used; 

verify the catch data for Solomon Islands’ zone recorded in the logbook; 

verify the percentages of by-catches and estimate the quantity of discards of species 
of marketable fin-fish, crustaceans, cephalopods and marine mammals; 

report fishing data once a week by radio, including the quantity of catches and by-
catches on board. 

Masters shall do everything in their power to ensure the physical safety and welfare 
of observers during performance of their duties. 

Similarly, as far as possible, they shall be offered every facility needed to carry out 
their  duties.  The  master  shall  give  them  access  to  the  means  of  communication 
needed  for  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  to  documents  directly  concerned  with  the 
vessel's fishing activities, including in particular the logbook and the navigation log, 
and  to  those  parts  of  the  vessel  necessary  to  facilitate  the  exercise  of  their  tasks  as 
observer. 

11. 

While on board, observers shall: 

11.1 

11.2 

12. 

take all appropriate steps to ensure that the conditions of their boarding and presence 
on the vessel neither interrupt nor hamper fishing operations, 

respect the material and equipment on board and the confidentiality of all documents 
belonging to the said vessel.  

At  the  end  of  the  observation  period  and  before  leaving  the  vessel,  observers  shall 
draw up an activity report to be transmitted to the Permanent Secretary, with a copy 

EN 

25 

   EN 

 
to the Delegation of the European Commission. They shall sign it in the presence of 
the  master,  who  may  add  or  cause  to  be  added  to  it  any  observations  considered 
relevant, followed by the master’s signature. A copy of the report shall be handed to 
the master when the observer is put ashore. 

Ship-owners shall bear the cost of accommodating observers in the same conditions 
as the officers on the vessel. 

The  salary  and  social  contributions  of  the  observer  shall  be  borne  by  the  Solomon 
Islands Government. 

CHAPTER VII 

VESSEL IDENTIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT. 

For fisheries and marine safety purposes, every vessel shall be marked and identified 
in accordance with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) approved standard 
specification for the marking and identification of fishing vessels. 

The name of the vessel will be printed clearly in Latin characters on the bow and the 
stern of the vessel. 

Any  vessel  not  displaying  its  name  and  radio  call  sign  or  signal  letters  in  the 
prescribed  manner  may  be  escorted  to  a  Solomon  Islands  port  for  further 
investigation. 

A vessel operator shall ensure the continuous monitoring of the international distress 
and  calling  frequency  2182  kHz  (HF),  and/or  the  international  safety  and  calling 
frequency 156.8 MHz (Channel 16, VHF-FM) to facilitate communication with the 
fisheries management, surveillance and enforcement authorities of the Government. 

A vessel operator shall ensure that a recent and up to date copy of the International 
code of Signals (INTERCO) is on board and accessible at all times. 

CHAPTER VIII 

COMMUNICATION WITH PATROL VESSELS OF SOLOMON ISLANDS 

Communication  between  the  permitted  vessels  and  the  patrol  vessels  of  the 
Government shall be made by international signal codes as follows: 

13. 

14. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

1. 

International Signal Code – Meaning: 

L …………………………..Stop immediately 

SQ3 ……………………….Stop or slow down, I wish to board your vessel 

QN ………………………..Lay your vessel along the star board side of our vessel 

QN1 ………………………Lay your vessel along the port side of our vessel 

TD2 .……………………...Are you a fishing vessel? 

EN 

26 

   EN 

 
C ………………………….Yes 

N ………………………….No 

QR ………………………...We cannot lay our vessel alongside your vessel 

QP …………………………We will lay our vessel alongside your vessel 

CHAPTER IX 

MONITORING 

1. 

2. 

3. 

3.1 

3.2 

3.3 

3.4 

4. 

4.1 

4.2 

4.3 

The  European  Community  shall  keep  an  up-to-date  list  of  the  vessels  to  which  a 
fishing licence has been issued under this Protocol. This list shall be notified to the 
Solomon Islands authorities responsible for fisheries inspection as soon as it is drawn 
up and each time it is updated.  

Community vessels may be included on the list referred to in the previous point upon 
receipt of notification of the advance payment referred to in point 3 of Section 2 of 
Chapter I of this Annex. The shipowner may then obtain a certified copy of this list 
to be kept on board instead of the fishing licence until the licence has been issued. 

Entering and leaving the zone: 

Community vessels shall notify the Permanent Secretary at least 24 hours in advance 
of their intention to enter or leave the Solomon Islands fishing zone. As soon as the 
vessels  enter  the  Solomon  Islands’  fishing  zone,  they  shall  inform  the  Permanent 
Secretary by fax, e-mail or radio. 

When  notifying  leaving,  vessels  shall  also  communicate  their  position  and  the 
volume and species in catches kept on board. These communications shall be made 
preferably by fax, but failing this, in the case of vessels without a fax, by e-mail or 
by radio. 

Vessels found to be fishing without having informed the Permanent Secretary shall 
be regarded as vessels without a licence. 

Vessels shall also be informed of the fax and telephone numbers and e-mail address 
when the fishing licence is issued. 

Control procedures. 

Masters  of  Community  fishing  vessels  engaged  in  fishing  activities  in  the  fishing 
zone of Solomon Islands shall allow and facilitate boarding and the discharge of their 
duties by any Solomon Islands official responsible for the inspection and control of 
fishing activities. 

These  officials  shall  not  remain  on  board  for  longer  than  is  necessary  for  the 
discharge of their duties. 

Once the inspection has been completed, a certificate shall be issued to the master of 
the vessel. 

EN 

27 

   EN 

 
5. 

5.1 

5.2 

6. 

6.1 

6.2 

6.3 

7. 

7.1 

7.2 

8. 

8.1 

8.2 

8.3 

Arrest of fishing vessels. 

The Permanent Secretary shall inform the Delegation of the European Commission, 
within  48  hours,  of  all  arrests  and  penalties  imposed  on  Community  vessels  in  the 
Solomon Islands fishing zone. 

The Delegation of the European Commission shall at the same time receive a brief 
report of the circumstances and reasons leading to the arrest. 

Statement of arrest. 

After the inspection officer has drawn up a statement, the master of the vessel shall 
sign it. 

This  signature  shall  not  prejudice  the  rights  of  the  master  or  any  defence  which  he 
may make to the alleged infringement. 

The master shall take the vessel to a port designated by the inspection officer. In the 
case  of  minor  infringements,  the  Permanent  Secretary  may  authorise  the  boarded 
vessel to continue its fishing activities. 

Consultation meeting in the event of arrest. 

Before  any  measures  regarding  the  master  or  the  crew  of  the  vessel  or  any  action 
regarding the cargo and equipment of the vessel are considered, other than those to 
safeguard  evidence  relating  to  the  presumed  infringement,  a  consultation  meeting 
shall  be  held,  within  one  working  day  of  the  receipt  of  the  above  information, 
between the Delegation of the European Commission and the Permanent Secretary, 
possibly attended by a representative of the Member State concerned.  

At the meeting, the Parties shall exchange any relevant documentation or information 
helping  to  clarify  the  circumstances  of  the  established  facts.  The  shipowner  or  its 
agent shall be informed of the outcome of the meeting and of any measures resulting 
from the arrest. 

Settlement of arrest. 

Before  any  judicial  procedure,  an  attempt  shall  be  made  to  resolve  the  presumed 
infringement  through  a  compromise  procedure.  This  procedure  shall  end  no  later 
than four (4) working days after the arrest. 

In the event of an amicable settlement, the amount of the fine shall be determined in 
accordance with Solomon Islands legislation. 

If the case cannot be settled by amicable procedure and  has to be brought before a 
competent judicial body, a bank security set to take account of the arrest costs  and 
the  fines  and  compensation  payable  by  the  parties  responsible  for  the  infringement 
shall  be  paid  by  the  shipowner  into  Government  Revenue  Account  No.  0260-002 
with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, Honiara. 

8.4 

The  bank  security  shall  be  irrevocable  until  the  legal  proceedings  have  been 
concluded.  It  shall  be  released  once  legal  proceedings  end  without  a  conviction. 

EN 

28 

   EN 

 
Similarly,  in  the  event  of  a  conviction  leading  to  a  fine  of  less  than  the  security 
lodged,  the  balance  shall  be  released  by  the  Permanent  Secretary,  Ministry  of 
Finance. 

8.5 

The vessel shall be released and its crew authorised to leave the port: 

–  once the obligations arising under the amicable settlement have been fulfilled, or 

–  when the bank security referred to in point 8.3 has been lodged and accepted by 

the Permanent Secretary, pending completion of the legal proceedings. 

9. 

9.1 

9.2 

9.3 

9.4 

10. 

Transhipment. 

Community vessels wishing to tranship catches in Solomon Islands waters shall do 
so within Solomon Islands designated ports. 

The owners of such vessels must notify the following information to the Permanent 
Secretary at least 48 hours in advance: 

–  the names of the transhipping fishing vessels, 

–  the names of the cargo vessels, 

–  the tonnage by species to be transhipped, 

–  the day of transhipment. 

Transhipment  shall  be  considered  as  an  exit  from  Solomon  Islands'  fishing  zone. 
Vessels  must  therefore  submit  their  catch  declarations  to  the  Permanent  Secretary 
and  state  whether  they  intend  to  continue  fishing  or  leave  the  Solomon  Islands 
fishing zone. 

Any transhipment of catches not covered above shall be prohibited in the Solomon 
Islands  fishing  zone.  Any  person  infringing  this  provision  shall  be  liable  to  the 
penalties under the by Solomon Islands laws. 

Masters of Community fishing vessels engaged in landing or transhipment operations 
in a Solomon Islands port shall allow and facilitate the inspection of such operations 
by Solomon Islands inspectors. Once the inspection has been completed, a certificate 
shall be issued to the master of the vessel. 

APPENDICES 

1. 

2. 

Licence Application Form. 

Logbook. 

EN 

29 

   EN 

 
EC / SOLOMON ISLANDS FISHERY AGREEMENT 
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION & PERMIT  
To the Permanent Secretary of the  

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES OF SOLOMON ISLANDS 

Appendix 1a  

INSTRUCTIONS: 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Applicant MUST sign and date the application; otherwise, not valid. 
Address means complete mailing address. 
Clearly mark ⌧ where appropriate. 
All units in Metrics; specify units if other systems used. 
Affix a recent 6x8 inch color side photo of the vessel to this application, showing Vessel Name and Registration Number. 
Attach a copy of Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Regional Register and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Certificates. 

If this vessel was registered before, specify: 
Old Vessel Name 
Old Registration Number 
Old International Radio Call Sign 

  Regional Requirements: 
  FFA Registration Number 
  FFA VMS Registration No. 
  Type of ALC 

Vessel Identification: 
Name 
Vessel 

of 

Vessel Type: (Select as appropriate) 

Single Purse Seiner 
Longliner 
Pole and Liner 

Country of Registration 
International Radio Call Sign 

Vessel Owner: 
Name 
Address 

Vessel Master: 
Name 
Address 

Operational Base(s): 

Port 1/Country 
Port 2/Country 
Port 3/Country 
Flag/State  of  Authorized  Fishing 
Area 

Fish Carrier/Reefer 
Bunker 
Group Purse Seiner 

Search Boat 
Other 

  Specify 

Country of Registration Number 

Vessel Operator/Charterer: 
Name 
Address 

Fishing Master: 
Name 
Address 

Permit Details: 

Select duration of permit as applicable 
and  specify  the  preferred  effective 
date. 

1-year 
6-months 
3-months 
Other (Specify): 

__________________________ 
__________________________ 
___________________ 
___________________ 

Vessels Specifications: 
Hull Material: 
Year Built 
Place Built 
Crew Size 

Steel  ڤ 

FRP  ڤ 

Wood  ڤ 
Gross Tonnage 
Overall Length 
Main Engines Power (specify units) 

If other, specify 

Fuel Carrying Capacity (kiloliters) 

EN 

30 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daily Freezing Capacity (Select more than one, if appropriate): 
Method 

Capacity 
Metric tons / day 

BR ڤ 
Brine (NaCl) 
CB ڤ 
Brine (CaCl) 
BF ڤ 
Air (Blast) 
Air (Coils) 
RC ڤ 
If other, specify _______________ 

____________________________ 
____________________________ 
____________________________ 
____________________________ 
____________________________ 

Storage Capacity (more than one, if appropriate): 
Method 

Capacity 
Cubic meters 

Ice 
Refrigerated Sea Water 
Brine (NaCl) 
Brine (CaCl) 
Air (Coils) 
If other, specify _______________ 

IC  ڤ 
RW  ڤ 
BR  ڤ 
CB  ڤ 
RC  ڤ 

____________________________ 
____________________________ 
____________________________ 
____________________________ 

Temperature (c) 

________________ 
________________ 
________________ 
________________ 
________________ 

Temperature (c) 

________________ 
________________ 
________________ 
________________ 

____________________________ 

________________ 

Complete either A, B, C or D below as appropriate. 

A. For Purse Seine Vessels: 
Helicopter Reg. No. _________________________________ 
Helicopter Model ___________________________________ 
Support Craft: 
Name 1 ___________________________________________ 
Name 2 ___________________________________________ 
Name 3 ___________________________________________ 

Net Length (meters)________________ 
Net Depth (meters) ________________ 

Type 1__________________________ 
Type 2__________________________ 
Type 3__________________________ 

B. For Pole and Line Vessels: 
Number of automatic poling devices (0 if none)  __________ 
Bait Storage (more than one, if appropriate) 
Circulation Method 
(x where appropriate) 
Natural 
Circulation 
Refrigerated 

NN  ڤ 
CR  ڤ 
RC  ڤ 

Capacity 
(Cubic meters) 

____________________________ 
____________________________ 
____________________________ 

C. For Longline Vessels: 
Average number of baskets ____________________________ 
Average number of hooks per basket ____________________ 
Maine line material __________________________________ 

Mainline Length Km ______________ 

D. For Support Vessels: 
Activities (more than one, if appropriate) 
Refrigerated Carrier 
Anchor Boat 
If other, specify__________________________________________________________________________________ 
Fishing Vessel(s) Supported  ________________________________________________________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________ 

Scouting Boat 
ڤ 
Supply/Mothership  ڤ 

ڤ 
ڤ 

I declare that the above information is true and complete. I understand, I am required to report any changes to the above information 
immediately, and further understand that failure to do so may affect good standing on the FFA Regional Register. This application is 
filed pursuant to:  

Applicant: 
State whether owner, charter or duly agent_________________________________ 

Agreement Name 

Agreement Effective Date 

Applicant Name: 
Address: 

Signature 

Phone: 
Fax: 
Email: 

Date 

EN 

31 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REV: SPC/FFA DEC 1996 

NAME OF VESSEL 

SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL PURSE-SEINE LOGSHEET 

FISHING PERMIT OR LICENCE NUMBER(S) 

YEAR 

Appendix 2a 

PAGE _____OF ________ 

NAME OF FISHING COMPANY 

FFA REGIONAL REGISTER NUMBER 

NAME OF AGENT IN PORT OF UNLOADING 

PORT OF DEPARTURE 

PORT OF UNLOADING 

COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION 

FFA TYPE APPROVED ALC (Y/N) ? 

. ALL DATES AND TIMES MUST BE UTC/GMT 
. ALL WEIGHTS MUST BE METRIC TONNES 

DATE AND TIME OF DEPARTURE 

DATE AND TIME OF ARRIVAL IN PORT 

REGISTRATION NUMBER IN COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION 

INTERNATIONAL RADIO CALLSIGN 

AMOUNT OF FISH ONBOARD AT START OF TRIP 

AMOUNT  OF  FISH  ONBOARD  AFTER 
UNLOADING 

MONTH 

DAY 

ACTIVITY 
CODE 

01:00 UTC OR SET POSITION 

LATITUDE 
DDMM.MMM 

N 
S 

LONGITUDE 
DDDMM.MM
M 

RETAINED CATCH 

DISCARDS 

E 
W 

SCHOOL 
ASSOC 
CODE 

SET START 
TIME 

SKIPJACK 
WEIGHT 

YELLOWFIN 
WEIGHT 

OTHER SPECIES 

NAME 

WEIGHT 

WELL 
NUMBERS 

TUNA SPECIES 

OTHER SPECIES 

CODE 

NAME 

NUMBER  

WEIGHT 

NAME 

W
EI
G
H
T 

B
I
G
E
Y
E

W
E
I
G
H
T

ACTIVITY CODES 

RECORD ALL SETS 

IF  NO  FISHING  SET  MADE  IN  A  DAY 
RECORD  THE  MAIN  ACTIVITY  FOR 
THAT DAY 

1 FISHING SET 

2 SEARCHING 

SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CODES 

1 UNASSOCIATED 

2 FEEDING ON BAITFISH 

3  DRIFTING  LOG,  DEBRIS  OR  DEAD 
ANIMAL 

4 DRIFTING RAFT, FAD OR PAYAO 

5 ANCHORED RAFT, FAD OR PAYAO 

PAGE TOTAL 

TRIP TOTAL 

START 

END DATE 

CANNERY---OR---VESSEL  AND 

INTERNATIONAL RADIO CALL SIGN 

SKIPJACK 

YELLOWFIN 

BIGEYE 

MIXED 

UNLOADINGS TO CANNERY, COLD STORAGE, CARRIER OR OTHER VESSEL 

EN 

32 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 TRANSIT 

6 LIVE WHALE 

4 NO FISHING – BREAKDOWN 

7 LIVE WHALE SHARK 

5 NO FISHING – BAD WEATHER 

8 OTHER 

6 IN PORT – PLEASE SPECIFY 

TUNA DISCARD CODES 

7 NET CLEANING SET 

1 FISH TOO SMALL 

2 FISH DAMAGED 

DATE 

DESTINATION 

3 VESSEL FULLY LOADED 

NAME OF CAPTAIN 

SIGNATURE OF CAPTAIN 

DATE 

4 OTHER REASON 

See reverse side for instructions 

EN 

33 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REV: SPC/FFA DEC 1996 

NAME OF VESSEL 

SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL LONGLINE LOGSHEET 
FISHING PERMIT OR LICENCE NUMBER(S) 

Appendix 2b 

PAGE _____OF _______ 

YEAR 

NAME OF FISHING COMPANY 

FFA REGIONAL REGISTER NUMBER 

NAME OF AGENT IN PORT OF UNLOADING 

PORT OF DEPARTURE 

DATE AND TIME OF DEPARTURE 

COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION 

FFA TYPE APPROVED ALC (Y/N) ? 

. ALL DATES AND TIMES MUST BE UTC/GMT 
. ALL WEIGHTS MUST BE KILOGRAMS 

PORT OF UNLOADING 

DATE AND TIME OF ARRIVAL IN PORT 

REGISTRATION NUMBER IN COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION 

INTERNATIONAL RADIO CALLSIGN 

PRIMARY TARGET SPECIES 

AMOUNT OF HOOKS BETWEEN FLOATS 

MONTH 

DAY 

ACTIVITY 
CODE 

01:00 UTC OR SET POSITION 

SET 
START 
TIME 

NUMBER 
OF HOOKS 

ALBACORE 

BIGEYE 

YELLOWFIN 

SHARK 

STRIPED 
MARLIN 

LATITUDE 
DDMM 

N 
S 

LONGITUDE 
DDDMM 

E 
W 

No 
RET 

KG 
RET 

No 
DISC 

No 
RET 

KG 
RET 

No 
DISC 

No 
RET 

KG 
RET 

No 
DISC 

No 
RET 

No 
DISC 

No 
RET 

KG 
RET 

BLUE 
MARLI
N 

N
o 
R
E
T 

K
G 
R
E
T 

BLACK 
MARLIN 

SWORD
FISH 

OTHER 
SPECIES 

No 
R
ET 

K
G 
R
E
T 

N
o 
R
E
T 

K
G 
R
E
T 

N
A
M
E 

N
o 
R
E
T 

K
G 
R
E
T 

ACTIVITY CODES 

1 A SET 

2 A DAY AT SEA BUT NOT FISHED OR TRANSIT 

3 TRANSIT 
4 IN PORT – PLEASE SPECIFY 

PAGE TOTAL 

TRIP TOTAL 

NAME OF CAPTAIN 

EN 

See reverse side for instructions 

34 

SIGNATURE OF CAPTAIN 

DATE 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

NAME OF THE PROPOSAL: 

Proposal  for  a  Council  Regulation  on  the  conclusion  of  the  Partnership 
Agreement between the European Community and Solomon Islands on fishing 
off Solomon Islands 

2. 

ABM / ABB FRAMEWORK 

11. Fisheries  

1103. International Fisheries Agreements 

3. 

3.1 

BUDGET LINES 

Budget  lines  (operational  lines  and  related  technical  and  administrative 
assistance lines (ex- B..A lines)) including headings : 

110301: “International Fisheries Agreements” 

11010404: “International Fisheries Agreements, administrative expenditure”. 

3.2 

Duration of the action and of the financial impact: 

The  Agreement  has  been  concluded  for  an  initial  period  of  3  years,  automatically 
renewable until denunciation by one of the two Parties. 

The Protocol, which contains the provisions on fishing possibilities and the financial 
contribution,  has  been  concluded  for  a  period  of  3  years  starting  from  entry  into 
force. 

3.3 

Budgetary characteristics (add rows if necessary) : 

Budget 
line 

Type of expenditure 

New 

EFTA 
contribution 

Contributions 
from applicant 
countries 

Heading in 
financial 
perspective 

11.0301 

Comp 

Diff4/ 

11.010404 

Comp 

Non-
diff5 

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

No 4 

No 4 

4 
5 

Differentiated appropriations. 
Non-differentiated appropriations hereafter referred to as NDA. 

EN 

35 

   EN 

 
                                                 
4. 

SUMMARY OF RESOURCES 

4.1 

Financial Resources 

4.1.1 

Summary of commitment appropriations (CA) and payment appropriations (PA) 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Expenditure type 

Section 
no. 

Min. 

Max. 

Year 
n 

n + 1 

n + 2 

n + 3 

n + 4 
and 
later 

Total 

Operational expenditure6 

Commitment 
Appropriations (CA)7 

8.1 

Payment  Appropriations 
(PA) 

a 

b 

Min. 

0.400 

0.400 

0.400 

-- 

Max. 

1.200 

1.330 

1.330 

Min. 

0.400 

0.400 

0.400 

-- 

Max. 

1.200 

1.330 

1.330 

-- 

-- 

1.200 

3.860 

1.200 

3.860 

Administrative expenditure within reference amount8 

Technical 
& 
administrative  assistance 
(NDA) 

8.2.4 

c 

-- 

-- 

0.040 

-- 

-- 

0.040 

TTOOTTAALL  RREEFFEERREENNCCEE  AAMMOOUUNNTT  

Commitment 
Appropriations 

Payment 
Appropriations 

a+c 

b+c 

Min. 

0.400 

0.400 

0.440 

-- 

Max 

1.200 

1.330 

1.370 

Min. 

0.400 

0.400 

0.440 

-- 

Max 

1.200 

1.330 

1.370 

-- 

-- 

1.240 

3.900 

1.240 

3.900 

Administrative expenditure not included in reference amount9 

Human 
associated 
(NDA) 

resources 

and 
expenditure 

Administrative  costs,  other 
than  human  resources  and 
associated 
not 
included in reference amount 
(NDA) 

costs, 

8.2.5 

d 

0.065 

0.065 

0.065 

-- 

-- 

0.195 

8.2.6 

e 

0.012 

0.012 

0.012 

-- 

-- 

0.036 

6 
7 

8 
9 

Expenditure that does not fall under Chapter 11 01 01 of the Title 11 concerned. 
The financial compensation for tuna fishing is € 400.000 per year and covers a volume of 6 000 tons of 
catches. If the volume of annual catches exceeds that quantity, the amount of financial compensation is 
increased proportionately at the rate of € 65/ton, but it may not exceed € 1 200 000 per year. Starting 
from year 2, these amounts could be increased by € 65 000 for each additional purse seine vessel (see 
Art.  1.3  and  Art.  2.3  of  the  Protocol).  It  may  be  estimated  that,  overall,  the  increase  of  fishing 
possibilities for purse seine vessels is limited to a maximum of 2 units. 
Expenditure within article 11 01 04 of Title 11. 
Expenditure within chapter 11 01 other than articles 11 01 04. 

EN 

36 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Total indicative financial cost of intervention 

TOTAL  CA 
cost 
Resources 

of 

TOTAL  PA 
cost 
Resources 

of 

including 
Human 

including 
Human 

Co-financing details 

a+c
+d+
e 

b+c
+d+
e 

Min. 

0.477 

0.477 

0.517 

-- 

-- 

Max. 

1.277 

1.407 

1.447 

Min. 

0.477 

0.477 

0.517 

-- 

-- 

Max. 

1.277 

1.407 

1.447 

1.471 

4.131 

1.471 

4.131 

Co-financing body 

Min. 

Max 

Year n 

n + 1 

n + 2 

n + 3 

n  +4 
and 
later 

Total 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

…………………… 

TOTAL  CA  including  co-
financing 

f 

a+c
+d
+e+
f 

4.1.2  Compatibility with Financial Programming 

X 

Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming. 

Proposal  will  entail  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the  financial 

(cid:133) 
perspective. 

Proposal  may  require  application  of  the  provisions  of  the  Interinstitutional 

(cid:133) 
Agreement10 (i.e. flexibility instrument or revision of the financial perspective). 

4.1.3 

Financial impact on Revenue 

X 

(cid:133) 

Proposal has no financial implications on revenue 

Proposal has financial impact – the effect on revenue is as follows: 

NB:  All  details  and  observations  relating  to  the  method  of  calculating  the  effect 
on revenue should be shown in a separate annex. 

EUR million (to one decimal place) 

Situation following action 

[Yea
r n] 

[n+1] [n+2] [n+3

] 

[n+4]  [n+5]

11

Prior to
action 
[Year 
n-1] 

Budget line 

Revenue 

a) Revenue in absolute terms 

10 
11 

See points 19 and 24 of the Interinstitutional agreement. 
Additional columns should be added if necessary i.e. if the duration of the action exceeds 6 years 

EN 

37 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
b) Change in revenue 

 ∆ 

(Please  specify  each  revenue  budget  line  involved,  adding  the  appropriate 
number of rows to the table if there is an effect on more than one budget line.) 

4.2 

Human  Resources  FTE  (including  officials,  temporary  and  external  staff)  –  see 
detail under point 8.2.1. 

Annual requirements  Year n 

n + 1 

n + 2 

n + 3 

n + 4 

n + 5 
and 
later 

Total 
number 
human resources 

of 

0.6 

0.6 

0.6 

5. 

CHARACTERISTICS AND OBJECTIVES 

Details  of  the  context  of  the  proposal  are  required  in  the  Explanatory 
Memorandum.  This  section  of  the  Legislative  Financial  Statement  should 
include the following specific complementary information: 

5.1 

Need to be met in the short or long term 

The  need  of  this  new  bilateral  fishery  Agreement  lies  in  the  necessity  to  allow 
Community vessels to obtain fishing rights for purse seine vessels and surface long-
liners  in  the  Solomon  Islands’  fishing  zone,  exclusively  for  tuna  and  tuna-like 
species.  

Further to the entry into force of the EC/Kiribati Fishery Agreement in September 
2003, this new Agreement extends and consolidates the fishing possibilities  of the 
EC  industrial  tuna  fleet  in  Central  West  Pacific.  The  idea  of  a  network  of  tuna 
Agreements  is  essential  for  the  consolidation  of  a  fishery  that,  for  its  own  nature, 
depends on the seasonal migration of the stocks concerned. In this context, it must 
be indicated that, in parallel to the new  Solomon  Agreement, the Commission has 
concluded, still in the Pacific area, another tuna agreement with the Federated States 
of Micronesia (FSM) which is currently the object of a separate adoption procedure. 

As the presence of EC tuna vessels in the region is recent and relatively modest in 
number,  the  Agreements  negotiated  with  the  Solomon  Islands  will  permit  to 
consolidate  the  presence  of  the  EC  fleet  in  Central  West  Pacific  and  open  serious 
perspectives  for  the  development  of  the  European  tuna  fishing  industry  in  the 
Pacific, which is the most important tuna fishing zone in the world. 

The  access  of  EC  tuna  vessels  to  the  Central  West  Pacific,  in  the  full  respect  of 
regional and multilateral provisions for the conservation and sound management of 
the  local  fishery  resources,  is  a  key  element  for  the  long-term  preservation  of  the 
world leadership position of the EC tuna fishing industry. 

EN 

38 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Furthermore, the financial contribution paid by the Community, in conjunction with 
the licence fees paid by ship-owners, constitutes an important source of revenues for 
the Solomon Government. 

In  addition,  the  Agreement  is  going  to  generate  an  economic  impact  on  the 
Solomon’s  fishery  sector,  mainly  through  the  implementation  of  the  partnership 
approach,  and,  more  generally,  on  the  economic  development  of  the  country  at 
large.  

5.2 

Value-added of Community involvement and coherence of the proposal with other 
financial instruments and possible synergy 

Fisheries  agreements  were  concluded  by  the  Community  following  changes  to  the 
Law of the Sea in the seventies. Member States agreed, in a Council Resolution of 3 
November 1976, to transfer their competence in this domain to the Community and 
therefore  fisheries  agreement  fall  completely  under  the  Community  exclusive 
competence.  

As stated in its Communication on the CFP reform12 and in the Communication on 
Fisheries Partnerships Agreements, it essential that an improved policy concerning 
the fisheries agreements is established together with all partners, private and public, 
within  the  Community.  This  is  a  major  step  to  reconfirm  the  commitment  of  the 
Community to contribute to the sustainable development of fishing activities at the 
international level.  

This position was endorsed in 2003 by the European Parliament and in 2004 by the 
Council of Ministers.  

The  Community  is  therefore  proposing  to  establish  a  new  type  of  fisheries 
agreements (Fisheries  Partnership Agreements)  in order to strengthen co-operation 
and to ensure the implementation of a sustainable fisheries policy and a rational and 
responsible  exploitation  of  the  resources  in  the  mutual  interest  of  the  Parties 
concerned.  In  order  to  allow  the  European  long  distant  waters  fishing  fleet  to 
consolidate  its  role  the  sustainable  exploitation  of  global  fishing  stocks  must  be 
ensured. 

As  far  as  the  proposed  fisheries  partnership  agreement  with  Solomon  Islands  is 
concerned, the Community considers that such an agreement is the only solution: 

– 

– 

to  promote  sustainable  fisheries  activities  and  provide  a  binding  framework 
for all concerned parties, i.e. the Community, its Member states, the European 
operators and the third country to attain this objective and,  

to protect and develop European fishing activities within these waters and to 
enhance their political and socio-economic impact both in Europe and in the 
Solomon Islands. 

12 

COM(2002) 181 final of 28 May2002. 

EN 

39 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Furthermore,  in  order  to  reinforce  the  notion  of  a  binding  framework  for  all 
concerned  parties,  the  Agreement  contains  an  “exclusivity  clause”  that  does  not 
allow EC fishing vessels to fish in Solomon’s waters outside the Agreement’s legal 
framework. 

During  the  whole  process  of  negotiation,  the  Commission  took  account  of  the 
situation in Solomon Islands and the agreement will be implemented by both parties 
taking  duly  account  of  the  development  and  environmental  objectives  of  Solomon 
Islands.  

5.3 

Objectives, expected results and related indicators of the proposal in the context of 
the ABM framework 

The negotiation and conclusion of fishery agreements with third countries responds 
to the general objective to maintain and safeguard traditional fishing activities of the 
EC  fleet,  including  long  distance  fishing,  and  to  develop  partnership  relations  in 
view  of  enhancing  sustainable  exploitation  of  fisheries  resources  outside 
Community  waters,  while  taking  account  broader  environmental,  economic  and 
social concerns.  

The objective of the EC/Solomon Islands Agreement is to guarantee the access of 4 
purse seine vessels and 10 surface long-liners to the Solomon Islands fishing zone 
for fishing exclusively tuna and tuna-like species. In conjunction with this objective, 
the  Agreement  aims  at  enhancing  responsible  fishing  and  the  sustainable 
exploitation of fisheries resources in Solomon Islands’ fishing zone.  

Expected catches for the entire fleet are estimated at 6000 tons of tuna per year. The 
relative financial contribution is fixed at 400.000 euros per year. However, in case 
of annual catches exceeding 6000 tons, the Community will pay 65 euros per ton for 
each  additional  ton.  In  any  case,  the  overall  Community  payment  cannot  exceed 
1.200.000 euros per year. 

30%  of  the  financial  contribution  (120.000  euros  per  year)  will  be  allocated  to 
enhancing responsible fishing in Solomon’s fishing zone (art. 5 of the Protocol) 

The  following  indicators  will  be  used  in  the  context  of  the  ABM  framework  to 
monitor the implementation of the agreement:  

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

rate of utilisation of the fishing possibilities; 

catch data and commercial value of the agreement; 

Contribution to employment and value added in the EC; 

Contribution to Community market stabilization 

Contribution towards overall poverty reduction in Solomon Islands, including 
contribution to employment and infrastructure development in Solomon Is and 
support to the State budget.  

EN 

40 

   EN 

 
– 

– 

– 

– 

number  and  type  of  concrete  results  expected  through  the  use  of  the 
percentage  of  the  financial  contribution  allocated  to  enhancing  responsible 
fishing in Solomon’s fishing zone (art. 5 of the Protocol). 

number of Joint Committee meetings and of technical meetings; 

number of missions; 

information on by-catches and environmental impact as reported by observers. 

5.4 

Method of Implementation (indicative) 

Show below the method(s)13 chosen for the implementation of the action. 

X  Centralised Management 

X  Directly by the Commission 

ٱ 

Indirectly by delegation to: 

ٱ 

ٱ 

ٱ 

Executive Agencies 

Bodies set up by the Communities as referred to in art. 185 
of the Financial Regulation 

National  public-sector  bodies/bodies  with  public-service 
mission 

ٱ 

Shared or decentralised management 

ٱ  With Member states 

ٱ  With Third countries 

ٱ 

Joint management with international organisations (please specify) 

Relevant comments: 

6. 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

6.1 

Monitoring system 

Continuous  monitoring  by  the  Commission  is  foreseen  for  the  Agreement.  The 
Commission  is  solely  responsible  for  implementing  the  Agreement  and  will  do  so 
through  its officials posted both  in  Brussels and in  its office  in Honiara (Solomon 
Islands) and in its Delegation in Papua New Guinea (responsible also for Solomon 
Islands). 

13 

If  more  than  one  method  is  indicated  please  provide  additional  details  in  the  "Relevant  comments" 
section of this point 

EN 

41 

   EN 

 
                                                 
The  licence  application  by  EC  ship-owners  is  closely  followed  by  the  competent 
Commission’s services. Data on actual catches are regularly collected. 

The  implementation  of  the  partnership  approach  and  the  use  of  the  share  of  the 
financial  contribution  allocated  to  it  will  be  managed  in  the  light  of  objectives 
identified  by  mutual agreement between the two parties and the annual and multi-
annual programming to attain them. For such purposes, the EC and Solomon Islands 
shall agree, within the Joint Committee, on a multi-annual sectoral programme and 
detailed  implementing  rules  including  criteria  and  procedures  for  evaluating  the 
results obtained each year. 

As  a  general  rule,  from  the  entry  into  force  of  the  Agreement,  the  competent 
Commission  services  will  collect  the  appropriate  information  allowing  the 
verification and follow up of the indicators listed at the above point 5.3. 

6.2 

Evaluation 

6.2.1 

Ex-ante evaluation 

An  ex-ante  evaluation  has  been  carried  out  between  June  and  July  2004  with  the 
assistance of an independent consortium of consultants. The full evaluation will be 
made available on the DG FISH web site. 

The  main  elements  of  the  impact  assessment  have  been  studied  on  the  basis  of  a 
number of possible scenarios14 to determine the range of possible economic, social 
and environmental impacts. 

When considering the financial and economic impacts of the 3 different scenarios, 
summary ranges for the three scenarios are provided below: 

Summary ranges of scenario impacts (annual) 

14 

The assumptions of the three scenarios are reported in Appendix 1. 

EN 

42 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Item 

Total EC value-added (Euro) 

Range 

627,056 – 1,254,112 

Total Solomons value-added/licence fees (Euro) 

148,540 – 297,080 

Total EC Employment (No.) 

Total Solomons employment (No.) 

Fleet catches (tonnes) 

Compensation (Euro) 

Catch value (Euro) 

Compensation as % of catch value (%) 

Cost advantage for the EC (ratio) 

Net EC benefit (Euro) 

21 – 42 

0 

3,806 – 7,612 

400,000 - 530,000 

3.2 mn – 6.4 mn 

8 – 12 

1.57 – 2.37 

227,056 – 724,112 

EC cost of compensation per tonne of fish (Euro) 

70 – 105 

Solomons net benefit (Euro) 

After tax profits for fishers (Euro) 

Profit to fishers as % of catch value (%) 

542,465 – 814,930 

89,781 – 179,561 

2.8 

Scenario 2, which assumes an uptake of the FPA by 4 long-liners and an increasing 
number of purse seiners from 4 in year 1, to 6 in year 2, and to 8 in year 3, is on 
balance the most advantageous for the Community. 

It  provides  the  greatest  levels  of  EU  employment  (42),  the  most  cost  effective 
scenario  from  the  perspective  of  the  Community  (with  a  cost  advantage  ratio  of 
2.37),  the  greatest  absolute  value  of  net  Community  benefits  (Euro 724,112),  and 
the  lowest  cost  per  tonne  of  fish  caught  (Euro  70),  the  highest  total  value-added 
(Euro 1.25 million),  and  compensation  as  a  percentage  of  catch  value  is  lowest  at 
8%. Scenario 2 also provides the greatest post-tax profits to Community fishers. On 
balance, scenario 2 is also the most advantageous for the Solomon Islands creating 
the greatest net benefits (Euros 814,930). 

All scenarios generate net benefits for the Community, net benefits for the Solomon 
Islands,  and  after-tax  profits  for  Community  fishers.  In  addition,  none  of  the 
scenarios  appear  to  run  the  risk  of  any  negative  economic  impacts.  All  three 
scenarios indicate that value-added created in the EU is 4-5 times that created in the 
Solomon  Islands,  and  no  employment  is  created  in  the  Solomon  Islands.  But, 
mitigating against that in terms of equity, is that under all Scenarios, net benefits to 
the Solomon Islands are greater than the net benefits to the EC. 

Under all three scenarios, the purse seine fleet provides the major share of benefits 
to the Community, Community fishers and the Solomon Islands. The long-line fleet 
only provides benefits greater that the purse seine fleet with regards to downstream 
value-added  and  employment  in  the  Community,  due  to  swordfish  catches  being 
sold in the EU. Importantly, under all three scenarios, long-line profitability appears 
to  be  marginal,  and  this  could  precipitate  either  a  switch  to  tuna  long-lining 
(sashimi/albacore  dual  purpose),  or  a  lack  of  interest  by  long-liners  in  the  FPA. 
Licence fees under all scenarios are 1.2% of catch value for long-liners, and 4.3% of 
catch value for purse seiners. 

EN 

43 

   EN 

 
In terms of social impacts, the FPA is expected to create few impacts in either the 
Solomon Islands or the EC in terms of food security or human capital. Impacts on 
social  capital  will  not  be  significant  in  the  EU,  but  compensation  paid  by  the  EU 
could  have  an  impact  on  social  capital  in  the  Solomon  Islands,  if  used  to  support 
awareness and education programmes for inshore fishers, and improved policy and 
management  of  tuna  resources  with  support  for  the  Tuna  Management  Plan.  Such 
activities would be associated with improved social capital, and given the significant 
national  level  of  fishery  dependency,  would  lead  to  improvements  in  the  social 
welfare of the general population. Natural capital impacts under all scenarios are not 
significant, while financial capital in the Solomons will be enhanced by the financial 
compensation  flowing  into  the  national  treasury,  and  potentially  for  EC  fishers  by 
increasing the flexibility of their fishing strategy. No significant impacts on physical 
capital are expected under any scenario. 

In  terms  of  environmental  impacts,  no  significant  negative  impacts  are  expected 
under any scenarios; the level of EU vessel activity for both purse seining and long-
lining is very small in comparison to regional vessel numbers totals, and it is these 
regional totals that are expected to have an impact on the status of both target and by 
catch species, given that they are also regional in nature. However overall, the net 
change  of  the  FPA  on  big-eye  harvesting  in  the  waters  of  the  Solomon  Islands 
depends largely on whether the FPA vessels represent a replacement for the existing 
tuna  fishing  operations,  or  are  in  addition  to  the  existing  operations,  and  whether 
they target tuna or swordfish. 

6.2.2  Measures taken following an intermediate/ex-post evaluation (lessons learned from 

similar experiences in the past) 

The  proposed  Agreement  with  Solomon  Islands  is  the  first  one  with  this  country 
and,  consequently,  experience  from  interim  or  ex  post  evaluation  of  this  specific 
Agreement is not yet available.  

Even though a similar Agreement with the Republic of Kiribati entered into force in 
September  2003,  it  is  too  early  to  draw  lessons  from  its  implementation  and 
experience. 

Nevertheless,  historical  statistical  data  on  catches  from  other  long  distance  fleets 
(mainly US, Japan, Korea and Taiwan) have been taken into account. All such data, 
confirmed  by  EC  ship-owners  and  supported  by  specialised  scientific  bodies, 
indicate  that,  in  terms  of  catches,  Solomon  Islands  fishing  zone  offers  one  of  the 
best fishing grounds in the region. 

The  EC  fishing  effort  in  the  Solomon  Islands  is  compatible  with  all  the  regional 
provisions applicable for the conservation and management of tuna resources (FFA 
Minimum  Terms  and  Conditions,  Palau  Arrangement  for  the  Management  of  the 
Western Pacific Purse seine Fishery). In addition, as regards conservation measures, 
several  scientific  studies  and  institutions  confirm  that  the  status  of  tuna  stocks, 
particularly  for  skipjack  and  yellowfin  –  the  bulk  of  industrial  tuna  fishing  in 
Central  West  Pacific  -,  is  good  therefore  that  an  increase  of  the  fishing  effort  is 
admissible. 

EN 

44 

   EN 

 
6.2.3 

Terms and frequency of future evaluation 

Before the Protocol is renewed the entire  period which it covers will  be evaluated 
(ex-post  assessment),  measuring  indicators  relating  to  results  (catches,  values  of 
catches)  and  impact  (number  of  jobs  created  and  maintained,  relation  between  the 
cost  of  the  Protocol  and  the  value  of  catches),  including  an  impact  on  the  marine 
environment. 

The indicators listed under the above point 5.3 will be used to perform the ex post 
evaluation.  

7. 

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES 

Fishery  Agreements  are  commercial  agreements  with  a  financial  contribution  paid 
in exchange for fishing rights in the waters of third  countries. This contribution is 
complemented by the licence fees paid by the EC ship-owners authorised to fish in 
the framework of the Agreement. 

The way such a contribution is used depends exclusively on the responsibility of the 
third  country,  which  has  negotiated  the  agreement  with  the  Community  as  a 
sovereign state. In most cases, a part of the financial contribution is used to finance 
activities for improving or supporting the fishery policy of the concerned country. 

In  this  case,  the  programming  of  the  activities,  their  implementation  and  the 
information  about  the  results  on  their  implementation  to  be  provided  to  the 
Commission  remain  within  the  exclusive  competence  of  the  third  country. 
Nonetheless,  the  Commission  invites  the  third  country  to  establish  a  permanent 
political  dialogue  with  its  services  in  order  to  improve  the  management  of  the 
Agreement  and  strengthen  the  Community’s  contribution  to  the  management  of 
fishing resources.  

In the context of the new Fishery Partnership Agreements (FPA) it is foreseen that 
the  Commission  and  the  third  country  fix,  by  mutual  agreement,  the  goals  to  be 
attained through the use of a part of the financial contribution allocated to this end. 
At  the  same  time,  both  Parties  will  establish  an  annual  and  multi-annual 
programming for the pursuit of those goals.  

In the event that the implementation of the programme does not correspond to the 
level of resources fixed by the Protocol to this end, the Commission could ask for a 
reduction of the percentage of the financial contribution used in the context of the 
agreed programme. 

In any case, every payment realised by the Commission in the context of the fishery 
Agreement is subject to the normal Commission’s budgetary rules and procedures. 
This  fact  allows,  in  particular,  to  identify  the  bank  accounts  of  the  third  country 
where the amounts of the financial contribution are paid. 

When  it  is  specifically  established  by  the  Protocol,  the  Commission  analyses  in  a 
detailed manner the activities benefiting of a specific financial support (part of the 
financial contribution) both in respect of the agreed programme and in respect of the 

EN 

45 

   EN 

 
implementation  results  as  reported  by  the  specific  report  provided  by  the  third 
country  to  the  Commission.  However,  in  respect  of  the  principle  of  national 
sovereignty,  the  Commission  cannot  carry  out  (directly  or  indirectly),  by  its  own 
initiative,  a  financial  audit  concerning  the  financial  contribution  paid  to  third 
countries. 

EN 

46 

   EN 

 
8. 

DETAILS OF RESOURCES 

8.1 

Objectives of the proposal in terms of their financial cost 

(Headings  of  Objectives,  actions 
and outputs should be provided) 

Type of output 

OPERATIONAL  OBJECTIVE  No.1 
15.  Fishing  opportunities  in  exchange 
for a financial compensation 

Action 1  

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

A
v. 
c
os
t 

Year 
n 

Year 
n+1 

Year 
n+2 

Year n+3 and 
later 

TOTAL 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total 
cost 

No. 
outputs 

Total cost 

- Output 1 

Min. Reference tonnage  

6000 tons 

0.280 

6000 
tons  

0.280 

6000 
tons  

0.280 

Max reference tonnage  

18.000 
tons 

1.080 

18.000 
tons 

1.080 

18.000 
tons 

1.080 

- Output 2 

Additional fishing poss. for 
purse 
vessels 
seine 
(eventual) 

- 

- 

0.130 

2  purse 
seine 
vessels 

2  purse 
seine 
vessels 

0.130 

Sub-total Objective 1 

OPERATIONAL  OBJECTIVE  No.2 
Enhancing 
in 
responsible 
Solomon Islands 

fishing 

Action 1 

- Output 1 

TOTAL COST 

Allocation  of  30%  of  the 
min.  financial  contribution 
to  enhancing  responsible 
fishing  

30%  min. 
financial 
contributi
on 

Min 0.400  
Max. 1.200 

0.120 

0.120 

30% 
min. 
financi
al 

30% 
min. 
financi
al 

0.120 

Min. 0.400  
Max. 1.330 

Min. 0.400  
Max. 1.330 

15 

As described under Section 5.3 

EN 

47 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
8.2 

Administrative Expenditure 

8.2.1  Number and type of human resources 

Types of 
post 

Staff to be assigned to management of the action using existing and/or additional 
resources (number of posts/FTEs) 

Year n 

Year n+1 

Year n+2 

Year n+3 

Year n+4 

Year n+5 

A*/AD 

B*, 
C*/AST 

0.3 

0.3 

Officials 
or 
temporary 
staff16 
(XX 01 
01) 

Staff  financed17  by 
art. XX 01 02 

staff18 
Other 
financed  by  art.  XX 
01 04/05 

- 

- 

0.3 

0.3 

0.3 

0.3 

- 

- 

- 

- 

TOTAL 

0.6 

0.6 

0.6 

8.2.2  Description of tasks deriving from the action 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

• 

Assist  the  negotiator  in  preparing  and  conducting  the  negotiations  of  the  fisheries 
agreements: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Participate 
agreements.  

in  negotiations  with 

third  countries 

to  conclude  fisheries 

Prepare Draft Assessment Reports and Strategy notes for the Commissioner.  

Present  and  defend  the  positions  of  the  Commission  in  the  external  working 
group of the Council.  

Participate in finding compromises with the Member States and reflect these 
in the final text of the Agreements. 

• 

Monitoring of the agreements: 

– 

– 

Day to day follow-up of the fisheries agreements.  

Prepare  and  check  the  commitments  and  the  payment  orders of  the  financial 
compensations and of the targeted actions 

– 

Regular reporting of the implementation of the agreements. 

16 
17 
18 

Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount 
Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount 
Cost of which is included within the reference amount 

EN 

48 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
– 

Evaluation of the agreements - scientific and technical aspects 

• 

Policy design: 

– 

Prepare draft Regulations and Decisions of the Council. Elaborate text of the 
agreements.  

– 

Launch and follow up the approval procedures.  

Technical assistance: 

– 

Prepare the Commission position in view of Joint Committees. 

Institutional Relations: 

• 

• 

– 

Represent  the  Commission  before  the  Council,  European  Parliament  and 
Member States in the context of the negotiation process.  

– 

Drafting of replies to written and oral Parliamentary questions … 

• 

Inter-service co-ordination and consultation: 

– 

Liaise with other Directorates General in matters concerning the negotiations 
and the follow-up of the agreements. 

– 

Carry out and respond to inter-service consultations. 

• 

Evaluation: 

– 

Participate in the various evaluation exercises (ex-ante, mid-term, ex-post) and 
impact assessments. 

– 

Analyse the attainment of objectives and quantified indicators. 

8.2.3 

Sources of human resources (statutory) 

(When  more  than  one  source  is  stated,  please  indicate  the  number  of  posts 
originating from each of the sources) 

Posts currently allocated to the management of the programme to be replaced 

X 
or extended 

(cid:133) 

(cid:133) 

Posts pre-allocated within the APS/PDB exercise for year n 

Posts to be requested in the next APS/PDB procedure 

Posts to be redeployed using existing  resources  within  the  managing  service 

(cid:133) 
(internal redeployment) 

Posts  required  for  year  n  although  not  foreseen  in  the  APS/PDB  exercise  of 

(cid:133) 
the year in question 

EN 

49 

   EN 

 
8.2.4  Other  Administrative  expenditure  included  in  reference  amount  (XX  01  04/05  – 

Expenditure on administrative management) 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Budget line 

(11 01 04 04, Heading 4) 

Year 
n 

Year 
n+1 

Year 
n+2 

Year 
n+3 

Year 
n+4 

Year 
n+5  

and 
later 

TOTAL 

Technical 

1 
and 
assistance (including related staff costs) 

administrative 

Executive agencies19 

technical  and  administrative 

Other 
assistance 

- intra muros  

- extra muros 

Total  Technical  and  administrative 
assistance 

0.040 

0.040 

0.040 

0.040 

8.2.5 

Financial  cost  of  human  resources  and  associated  costs  not  included  in  the 
reference amount 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Type of human resources 

Year n 

Year n+1  Year n+2  Year n+3  Year n+4 

Year n+5 

and later 

Officials  and  temporary  staff  (XX 
01 01) 

Staff  financed  by  Art  XX  01  02 
(auxiliary, END, contract staff, etc.) 

(specify budget line) 

Total cost of Human Resources 
and associated costs (NOT in 
reference amount) 

Calculation– Officials and Temporary agents 

Reference should be made to Point 8.2.1, if applicable 

1A = € 108.000* 0.3 = € 32 400 

19 

Reference should be made to the specific legislative financial statement for the Executive Agency(ies) 
concerned. 

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50 

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1B = € 108.000* 0.15 = € 16 200 

1C = € 108.000* 0.15 = € 16 200 

Total: € 64 800 per year (EUR million: 0.065 per year) 

Calculation– Staff financed under art. XX 01 02 

Reference should be made to Point 8.2.1, if applicable 

8.2.6 Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount 

EUR million (to 3 decimal places) 

Year n 

Year 
n+1 

Year 
n+2 

Year 
n+3 

Year 
n+4 

TOTAL 

  XX 01 02 11 01 – Missions 

0.010 

0.010 

0.010 

  XX 01 02 11 02 – Meetings & Conferences 

0.002 

0.002 

0.002 

0.030 

0.006 

  XX 01 02 11 03 – Committees20  

  XX 01 02 11 04 – Studies & consultations 

  XX 01 02 11 05 - Information systems 

2 Total Other Management Expenditure 

(XX 01 02 11) 

3 

Other 

expenditure 

administrative 
including reference to budget line) 

nature 

of 

an 
(specify 

Total Administrative expenditure, other 
than human resources and associated 
costs (NOT included in reference 
amount) 

0.012 

0.012 

0.012 

0.036 

Calculation - Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount 

20 

Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs. 

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Appendix 1 

EC/SOLOMON ISLANDS FISHERY AGREEMENT 

Ex-ante Evaluation - Scenarios and relative assumptions 

The first scenario is based on a limited uptake of licenses, based on vessel numbers believed 
to be currently operating in the region under the Kiribati FPA i.e. 3 purse seiners and 2 long 
liners. 

The second scenario is based on an uptake of purse seine licences of 4 in year 1, 6 in year 2 
and 8 in year 3 (as provided for in the protocol), but a limited uptake of 4 longline licences, as 
greater uptake is not considered likely (based on interviews with longline vessel owners and 
ORPAGU, September 2004). 

The third and final scenario represents a precautionary approach with respect to purse seine 
fishing on FADs but with vessel numbers the same as per scenario 321. 

Details  on  each  of  the  three  scenarios,  and  the  main  assumptions,  are  provided  below.  All 
scenarios  are  based  on  the  three-year  period  of  the  FPA,  and  in  all  scenarios,  the  vessel 
operator pays the licence fees. Also applicable to all scenarios are the following assumptions: 

1. 

2. 

21 

22 
23 

24 

25 

Purse  seine  dependency22  is  estimated  at  25%  of  total  catches23  with  long  line 
dependency  estimated  at  10%24  -  less  than  the  estimated  figure  given  by  vessel 
owners and the manager of the longliner association ORPAGU (September 2004).  

Longliners currently operating in Kiritbati are targeting swordfish (which represents 
50% of their catch) and marlin (interviews September 2004), and report that they are 
making money doing so25 and plan to continue to do so in Solomons under the FPA. 
They report they could switch to sashimi/albacore tuna if prices for swordfish drop, 
but  that  this  would  decrease  their  interest  in  the  Solomons  FPA.  Therefore,  for  the 
purpose of the scenarios, and based on the intention and comments of vessel owners 

Unlike the FSM evaluation report, a scenario is not modeled which excludes longline fishing altogether, 
as the more southerly latitude of the Solomons increases the possibility that targeting swordfish will be 
economically viable, whereas in FSM, viability is considerably more doubtful 
Dependency is the % of a vessel’s total catches made in the waters of the Solomons 
OPAGAC report (interviews Sept 2004) that they plan to place a specific number or vessels in Western 
Pacific and another specific number in Eastern, depending on the catch possibilities of both areas, and 
once  this  assignation  is  made,  there  is  no  intention  of  transferring  the  vessels  from  one  area  of  the 
Pacific to the other. So a figure of 25% is justifiable given other FPAs in the W Pacific 
Longliners interviewed reported that they are likely to spend 190 out of a total of 270 fishing days in 
Solomons  and  Kiribati,  and  that  2/3  of  total  yearly  value-added  should  be  generated  during 
these 190 days. 
Local  vessel  agents  in  Fiji  reported  as  part  of  interviews  conducted  during  the  evaluation  that 
profitability may be artificially enhanced because of subsidization by a Spanish oceanographic institute 
(Pers.  Comm.).  This  subsidy  is  intended  to  compensate  the  losses  of  the  vessel  as  they  are  doing  a 
spatial  survey  for  the  "IEO"  Spanish  Institute  of  Oceanography,  and  they  do  not  move  to  the  higher 
stock  densities  for  fishing,  but  to  the  survey  areas  indicated  by  the  scientific  researcher  on  board.  In 
addition, they are using different kind of hooks under the supervision of the researcher, so they cannot 
fish  continuously  as  they  are  experimenting  with  different  fishing  gears.  Thus  the  subsidized  input  is 
intended to compensate for the opportunity costs of the scientific survey and biological sampling. The 
subsidy is calculated so as not to generate extra costs or benefits for the fishing vessel. 

EN 

52 

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interviewed,  the  scenarios  assume  that  longline  vessels  are  targeting  swordfish, 
rather  than  being  dual  use  (albacore/sashimi)  vessels.  However,  swordfish  catches 
are likely to be low in the Solomons, and the only commercial targeting of swordfish 
that we have previously been aware of is south of the Fiji/Tonga zones in the cooler 
surface  waters.  In  addition,  informal  discussions  on  this  issue  have  been  held  with 
the  former  head  of  the  SPC  tuna  programme,  an  individual  who  managed  the 
industrial fisheries in FSM for 9 years, and other experts on longlining in the region, 
who all report  that swordfish fishing  in FSM/Solomons  is not  viable (Pers. Comm. 
between Gillett et al, 2004). There is therefore a question-mark about whether in the 
more  equatorial  waters  (Solomons/Kiribati/FSM),  targeting  swordfish  would  be 
economically  feasible,  especially  given  the  relatively  high  costs  of  running  EU 
vessels,  compared  to  Asian  ones.  Solomon  Islands  catches  have  historically  not 
shown  significant  catches  of  swordfish  or  marlin,  but  the  extent  to  which  this  is 
because  there  is  little  of  these  species  there,  and  the  what  extent  to  which  it  is 
because  you  need  different  bait  to  catch  swordfish  and  marlin  (squid)  compared  to 
tuna, and need to fish at different levels, is not known. 

With  respect  to  dependencies  of  both  fleet  segments,  it  should  be  noted  that  an  El 
Nino event could severely affect the dependencies of EU vessels on different regions 
and the need to make uncharacteristic moves in fishing grounds. Given the sensitivity 
of  the  scenarios  to  dependency  assumptions,  the  ex-post  evaluation  will  need  to 
critically  evaluate  actual  dependency.  At  the  present  time  we  can  only  base  our 
assumptions  on  industry  reaction,  overall  catch  rates  in  the  region,  and  informed 
opinion  -  we  are  not  in  a  position  to  provide  firm  quantification  of  the  extent  to 
which  purse  seine  vessels  may  remain  in  the  western  or  eastern  Pacific,  or  move 
between the two, or the extent to which swordfish vessels will be able to fish in more 
northern waters. 

Longline catch mix (based on interviews (September 2004)) are taken as being 50% 
swordfish,  20%  marlin,  20%  shark  species  defined  in  the  log  book  as  “jaqueton, 
marrajo  and  quella”,  9%  yellowfin,  and  1%  other.  This  mix  is  not  necessarily  the 
catch mix likely in the FSM zone, as lower abundance of target species is assumed to 
lower  the  dependency/utilization  of  the  FPA,  rather  than  to  result  in  a  different 
species mix. 

Purse seine catch mix in Scenarios 1 and 2 is 40% yellowfin and 60% skipjack (an 
average purse seine mix from 2002 and 2003 based on Solomon’s statistical data on 
domestic  tuna  catches).  The  Western  Pacific  as  a  whole  typically  has  an  average 
species  mix  of  around  15%  yellowfin,  85%  skipjack,  with  a  small  proportion  of 
bigeye. The higher percentage of yellowfin in the Solomons is probably the result of 
a combination of a) different resource abundance and b) the greater use of FAD/log 
sets  in  the  Solomons  with  higher  yellowfin  catches.  For  scenario  3  with  a 
precautionay ban on FAD/log sets, the catch mix is therefore assumed to change to 
reflect a mid-point between the current species mix and that for the Western Pacific 
as a whole, with 25% yellowfin, 2.5% bigeye and 72.5% skipjack (this species mix 
has been confirmed as reasonable by OPAGAG, September 2004) 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Upstream EC value-added impacts. While it is possible that during the course of the 
three-year FPA one or two vessels may return to the EU, the frequency of such visits 
is  likely  to  be  very  rare.  However,  some  specialty  foods  and  spare  parts  may  be 

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7. 

8. 

9. 

sourced  from  the  EU  by  both  purse  seiners  and  longliners,  and  longline  bait  and 
packaging  (as  confirmed  by  interviews)  is  bought  and  transported  from  the  EU. 
Other  fishing  inputs  of  EU  crew,  insurance,  depreciation  and  financing,  also  come 
from the EU for both purse seiners and longliners. Upstream value-added in the EU 
is  therefore  included  for  bait  and  packaging  (for  longliners)  and  for  insurance, 
depreciation and financing (for all vessels). 

Upstream  EC  employment  impacts.  The  IFRMER  study  (1999)  used  in  the  Cape 
Verde and Sao Tome and Principe evaluations to estimate multiplier effects estimates 
20 upstream jobs for every one longline vessel and 22 jobs for every one purse seine 
vessel. In the Sao Tome and Principe evaluation, longline costs incurred in the EU 
are around 50% of the sales value of catches and 68% of total costs, while for purse 
seiners EU costs are 38% of sales values and 46% of total costs. Calculations for the 
EU longliners to operate in the Solomons show that EU costs are 28% of sales values 
and  34%  of  total  costs  i.e.  roughly  half  in  each  case,  so  we  assume  that  10  jobs 
upstream  are  created  for  every  one  longline  vessel.  Calculations  for  the  EU  purse 
seiners to operate in the Solomons show that EU costs are 19% of sales values and 
24%  of  total  costs  i.e.  again  roughly  half  in  each  case,  so  we  assume  that  11  jobs 
upstream are created for every one purse seine vessel. 

Upstream  Solomons  impacts.  Interviews  with  vessel  owners  (September  2004) 
revealed that vessels are likely to use Fiji as a base for their fishing operations. It is 
unlikely therefore that EU vessels will purchase any fishing inputs in the Solomons, 
and  so  the  assumption  made  is  that  there  will  be  no  upstream  value-added  or 
employment in the Solomon Islands.  

Downstream impacts. It is impossible within the scope of this ex-ante evaluation and 
impact  assessment  to  provide  an  accurate  assessment  of  what  the  EU  vessels  are 
likely  to  do  in  terms  of  transhipment,  offloading,  grading,  and/or  processing  in  the 
Solomons  and  the  EU.  However,  with  respect  to  processing  of  purse  seine  caught 
fish,  Solomon  Islands-caught  fish  is  not  sold  to  any  French  tuna  canneries  in  the 
region,  and  is  unlikely  to  be  sold  to  the  cannery  in  the  Solomons  (which  sources 
product  from  local  pole  and  line  vessels  at  prices  that  are  lower  than  international 
prices  for  purse  seine  caught  fish).  Unless  there  are  some  marketing  arrangements 
that  we  are  not  aware  of  (e.g.  requirements  of  a  loan  to  sell  fish  to  a  European 
canner),  then  it  is  likely  that  the  fish  would  be  sent  to  a  cannery  in  Bangkok  or  in 
Pago  Pago  –  where  most  of  the  fish  from  this  region  are  sent.  They  usually  pay 
higher prices than the canneries in Solomons or Fiji that have exported to EU in the 
past. All the Pago fish goes to the US market. Bangkok canned tuna goes US, EU, 
and  other  markets.  Therefore,  in  order  not  to  overstate  the  potential  benefits  no 
downstream employment or value-added is considered likely for purse seine vessels 
in either the Solomons or the EU in processing. With respect to long-liners, they sell 
their  catches  in  Italy  and  Spain,  so  downstream  value-added  and  employment 
multipliers  in  the  EU  are  based  on  those  used  for  long-liners  in  the  Sao  Tome  and 
Principe evaluation. As previously stated the Solomons does not compare favourably 
with  other  ports  in  the  region  for  transhipment  or  offloading,  and  vessel  owners 
interviewed (September 2004) confirm that they are likely to tranship or offload in 

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Fiji26. While some local use of employment and creation of value-added is possible 
in  the  Solomons  from  transhipment  of  purse  seine  catches  and  for  offloading, 
grading,  boxing  etc  of  long-line  caught  fish,  these  are  likely  to  be  very  small,  and 
have not been quantified, so downstream multipliers in the Solomons are estimated 
as zero. 

Purse  seine  skipjack  is  valued  at  Euro  700/tonne  and  yellowfin  at  Euro  980/tonne 
(based  on  interviews  with  OPAGAC  (September  2004)  and  FFA  market  reports). 
Long-line catch is valued (based on prices provided by ORPAGU) at Euro 4,350 for 
swordfish,  Euro  1,680  for  marlin,  Euro  2,000  for  yellowfin,  and  Euro  1,400  for 
jaqueton, marrajo, quella. 

Solomons  islands  income  is  derived  from  the  initial  licence  income  and  the  Euro 
35/tonne from EU vessels fishing more than 371 tonnes in the case of purse seiners 
and 80 tons in the case of long-liners. Additional income is derived from the observer 
fee and licence application cost, and a lump sum equivalent payment of 2 crew for a 
fishing season of 3 months (Euro 1,559 per vessel) as it is assumed that EU vessels 
will not take onboard crew from the Solomons. 

10. 

11. 

**** 

26 

Vessel  owners  also  reported  however,  recent  problems  with  being  refused  permission  to  land  fish  in 
Fiji”. This was because the vessels were not on the regional register, as per the MTCs. 

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