Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on fishing off the coast of Côte d’Ivoire for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2013
Date: 2008-04-18
Institutions: Côte d’Ivoire, European Community
Subjects: Côte d'Ivoire, European Community, agreement (EU), financial compensation of an agreement, fishing agreement, fishing rights, protocol to an agreement

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setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement
between the European Community and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on fishing off the coast of
Côte d’Ivoire for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2013

PROTOCOL

Article 1

Period of application and fishing opportunities

1.
For a period of six years from 1 July 2007, the fishing
opportunities granted under Article 5 of the Agreement shall be
as follows:

highly migratory species (species listed in Annex 1 to the 1982
United Nations Convention):

4.
If the overall quantity of catches by Community vessels in
Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zones exceeds the reference tonnage, the
amount of the annual financial contribution shall be increased
by EUR 65 for each additional tonne caught. However, the total
annual amount paid by the Community shall not be more than
twice the amount indicated in paragraph 3 (EUR 1 190 000).
Where the quantities caught by Community vessels exceed the
quantities corresponding to twice the total annual amount, the
amount due for the quantity exceeding that limit shall be paid
the following year.

— freezer tuna seiners: 25 vessels,

— surface longliners: 15 vessels.

Paragraph 1 shall apply subject to Articles 4 and 5 of this

2.
Protocol.

3.
Vessels flying the flag of a Member State of the European
Community may fish in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone only if they
are in possession of a valid fishing licence issued by Côte
d’Ivoire under this Protocol
in accordance with the Annex
hereto.

Article 2
Financial contribution — methods of payment

shall comprise,

The financial contribution referred to in Article 7 of the
1.
Agreement
the period referred to in
for
Article 1, an annual amount of EUR 455 000 equivalent to a
reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes per year and a specific
amount of EUR 140 000 per year for the support and imple-
mentation of Côte d’Ivoire’s
fisheries policy. This
specific amount
the single
financial contribution defined in Article 7 of the Agreement.

sectoral
shall be an integral part of

Paragraph 1 shall apply subject to Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 of

2.
this Protocol.

Payment of

5.
the financial contribution referred to in
paragraph 1 shall be made no later than 30 March 2008 in
the first year and no later than 1 July in the following years.

Subject to Article 6, the Côte d’Ivoire authorities shall
6.
have full discretion regarding the use to which this financial
contribution is put.

The financial contribution shall be paid into a single Côte

7.
d’Ivoire Public Treasury bank account.

Article 3
Cooperation on responsible fishing — Scientific
cooperation

1.
The Parties hereby undertake to promote responsible
fishing in Côte d’Ivoire waters on the basis of the principles
of non-discrimination between the different
fleets fishing in
those waters.

During

the period covered by

2.
the
Community and the Côte d’Ivoire authorities shall endeavour
to monitor the evolution of resources in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing
zone.

Protocol,

this

The Community shall pay the total amount

fixed in
i.e. EUR 595 000, each year during the period

3.
paragraph 1,
of application of this Protocol.

3.
The Parties undertake to promote cooperation at sub-
regional level on responsible fishing and, in particular, within
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas (ICCAT) or any other subregional or international organ-
isation concerned.

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In accordance with Article 4 of the Agreement and on the
4.
basis of the recommendations and resolutions adopted within
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas (ICCAT), and in the light of the best available scientific
advice, the Parties shall consult each other within the Joint
Committee provided for in Article 9 of the Agreement and
adopt, where appropriate after a scientific meeting possibly at
subregional level, and by mutual agreement, measures to ensure
the sustainable management of fisheries resources affecting the
activities of Community vessels.

Article 4

Review of fishing opportunities by mutual agreement

1.
The fishing opportunities referred to in Article 1 may be
increased by mutual agreement provided that the conclusions of
the scientific meeting referred to in Article 3(4) confirm that
such an increase will not endanger the sustainable management
of Côte d’Ivoire’s resources. In this case the financial contri-
bution referred to in Article 2(1) shall be increased proportio-
nately and pro rata temporis. However, the total amount of the
financial contribution paid by the European Community in
respect of the reference tonnage shall not be more than twice
the amount of
the financial contribution referred to in
annually by
the quantities
Article 2(1). Where
Community vessels are more than twice 7 000 tonnes (i.e.
14 000 tonnes), the amount due for the quantity exceeding
that limit shall be paid the following year.

caught

on the conditions applicable to these new fishing opportunities
and, if necessary, make amendments to this Protocol and to the
Annex hereto.

The Parties may carry out joint exploratory fishing trips in
2.
Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zones, subject
to an opinion by the
scientific meeting provided for in Article 3(4). To this end,
they shall hold consultations whenever one of the Parties so
requests and determine, on a case-by-case basis, relevant new
resources, conditions and other parameters.

The two Parties

3.
shall carry out exploratory fishing
activities in accordance with scientific and administrative para-
meters adopted by mutual agreement. The authorisations for
exploratory fishing shall be granted for test purposes, for a
maximum of two six-month trips, from the date decided by
mutual agreement between the two Parties.

results, while

produced
positive
and conserving living marine

4. Where the Parties conclude that the exploratory fishing
trips
preserving
have
resources, new
ecosystems
fishing opportunities may be awarded to Community vessels
following the consultation procedure provided for in Article 4
of this Protocol and until the expiry of the Protocol and in
accordance with the allowable effort. The financial contribution
will be increased as a result.

Conversely, if the Parties agree to adopt a reduction in the
2.
fishing opportunities provided for in Article 1, the financial
contribution shall be reduced proportionately and pro rata
temporis.

Article 6

Suspension and review of the payment of the financial
contribution in the event of unusual circumstances

the

The

allocation of

fishing opportunities

3.
among
different categories of vessels may also be reviewed, following
consultations and by mutual agreement between the Parties,
provided that any changes comply with recommendations
made by the scientific meeting referred to in Article 3(4)
regarding the management of stocks liable to be affected by
such redistribution. The Parties shall agree on the corresponding
adjustment of
the financial contribution where the redistri-
bution of fishing opportunities so warrants.

than

other

activities

circumstances,
fishing

natural
1. Where
unusual
in Côte d’Ivoire’s
phenomena, prevent
exclusive economic zone (EEZ),
the European Community
may suspend payment of the financial contribution provided
for in Article 2(1). The suspension decision shall be taken
following consultations between the two Parties within a
period of two months following the request of one of the
Parties, and provided that the Community has paid in full any
amounts due at the time of suspension.

Payment of

2.
the financial contribution shall resume as
soon as the Parties find, by mutual agreement following consul-
tations, that the circumstances preventing fishing activities are
no longer present and/or that the situation allows a resumption
of fishing activities.

Article 5

New and exploratory fishing opportunities

Should Community vessels be

1.
interested in fishing
activities which are not indicated in Article 1, the Community
shall consult Côte d’Ivoire in order to seek authorisation for
these new activities. Where appropriate, the Parties shall agree

3. Where the validity of the licences granted to Community
vessels is suspended along with the payment of the financial
contribution,
it shall be extended by a period equal to the
period during which fishing activities were suspended.

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Article 7
Promotion of responsible fishing in Côte d’Ivoire waters

1.
One hundred percent of the total amount of the financial
contribution fixed in Article 2 shall be allocated each year to
the support and implementation of
initiatives taken in the
context of the sectoral fisheries policy drawn up by the Côte
d’Ivoire Government.

ensuring sustainable

Côte d’Ivoire shall manage the corresponding amount following
the identification by mutual agreement between the two Parties,
in accordance with the current priorities of Côte d’Ivoire’s
and responsible
fisheries policy for
management of the sector, of the objectives to be attained
and the annual and multiannual programming required to
attain them, pursuant to paragraph 2 below,
in particular as
regards monitoring and control, the management of resources,
improving health and hygiene conditions in the production of
fishery products and strengthening the monitoring capacity of
the competent authorities.

On a proposal from Côte d’Ivoire and for the purposes of
2.
implementing the preceding paragraph, as soon as this Protocol
enters into force and no later than three months after that date,
the Community and Côte d’Ivoire 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) annual and multiannual guidelines for using the percentage
of the financial contribution referred to in paragraph 1 and
its specific amounts for the initiatives to be carried out each
year;

view to promoting

(b) the objectives, both annual and multiannual, to be achieved
and
with a
sustainable
the priorities
expressed by Côte d’Ivoire in its national fisheries policy
and other policies relating to or having an impact on the
introduction of responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries;

taking account of

responsible

fisheries,

fishing

(c) criteria and procedures for evaluating the results obtained

each year.

Any proposed amendments to the multiannual sectoral
3.
programme or of
the specific amounts for the
initiatives to be carried out each year must be approved by
both Parties within the Joint Committee.

the use of

Each year, Côte d’Ivoire shall allocate the share corre-
4.
sponding to the percentage 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.
thereafter, Côte d’Ivoire
shall notify the
For
each year
the
the allocation no later than 1 May of
Community of
previous year.

sectoral

the multiannual

5. Where the annual evaluation of the progress made in
implementing
so
warrants, the European Community may ask for the amount
for the support and implementation of Côte d’Ivoire’s sectoral
fisheries policy within the financial contribution referred to in
Article 2(1) of this Protocol to be readjusted with a view to
bringing the actual amount of financial resources allocated to
implementation of the programme into line with its results.

programme

Article 8
Disputes — suspension of application of the Protocol

1.
Any dispute between the Parties over the interpretation of
this Protocol or its application shall be the subject of consul-
tations between the Parties within the Joint Committee provided
for in Article 9 of
in a special meeting if
necessary.

the Agreement,

2. Without prejudice to Article 9, application of the Protocol
may be suspended at the initiative of one Party if the dispute
between the two Parties is deemed to be serious and if the
consultations
under
the
paragraph 1 have not resulted in an amicable settlement.

Joint Committee

held within

3.
Suspension of application 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.

4.
In the event of suspension, the Parties shall continue to
consult with a view to finding an amicable settlement to their
dispute. As soon as an amicable settlement is reached, appli-
cation 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 9

Suspension of application of the Protocol on grounds of
non-payment

to Article 6,

Subject
if
payments provided for
Protocol may be suspended on the following terms:

the Community fails to make the
this
in Article 2, application of

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(a)

Commission

the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities shall notify the
the
European
The
of
non-payment.
the requisite checks and,
Commission shall carry out
the payment within no more
where necessary,
the
than 60 working days of
notification;

the date of

receipt of

transmit

(b) if no payment is made and non-payment is not adequately
justified within the period provided for in Article 2(5) of
this Protocol, the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities shall
be entitled to suspend application of the Protocol. They
shall
inform the European Commission of such action
forthwith;

(c) application of the Protocol shall resume as soon as the

payment concerned has been made.

Article 10

National law
The activities of Community vessels operating in Côte d’Ivoire
waters shall be governed by the applicable law in Côte d’Ivoire,
unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, this Protocol and
the Annex and Appendices hereto.

Article 11

Review clause

Following the third anniversary of this Protocol and the Annex
thereto, the Parties shall review the application of the Protocol
and the Annex thereto and, where appropriate, consult each
other within the Joint Committee on any amendments of
their provisions. Any such amendments may include the
reference tonnage and the standard amounts paid for licences.

Article 12

Repeal

The Annex to the Agreement between the European Economic
Community and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on fishing off the
coast of Côte d’Ivoire is hereby repealed and replaced by the
Annex to this Protocol.

Article 13

Entry into force

This Protocol with its Annex shall enter into force on the
1.
date on which the Parties notify each other of the completion of
the procedures necessary for that purpose.

2.

They shall apply with effect from 1 July 2007.

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ANNEX

CONDITIONS GOVERNING FISHING ACTIVITIES BY COMMUNITY VESSELS IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE’S FISHING
ZONE

CHAPTER I

Application for and issue of licences

SECTION 1

Issue of licences

Only eligible vessels may obtain a licence to fish in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone.

For a vessel to be eligible, neither the owner, the master nor the vessel itself must be prohibited from fishing in
Côte d’Ivoire. They must be in order vis-à-vis the Côte d’Ivoire authorities insofar as they must have fulfilled all
prior obligations arising from their fishing activities in Côte d’Ivoire under fisheries agreements concluded with the
Community.

The relevant Community authorities shall submit (by electronic means) to the Ministry responsible for fisheries in
Côte d’Ivoire an application for each vessel wishing to fish or assist in fishing activities under the Agreement at
least 30 working days before the date of commencement of the period of validity requested.

Applications shall be submitted to the Ministry responsible for fisheries on a form drawn up in accordance with the
specimen in Appendix I. The Côte d’Ivoire authorities shall take all the necessary steps to ensure that the data
received as part of the licence application are treated as confidential. This data will be used exclusively in the
context of the implementation of the Fisheries Agreement.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

All licence applications shall be accompanied by the following documents:

— proof of payment of the flat-rate advance for the period of validity of the licence,

— any other documents or certificates required under the specific rules applicable to the type of vessel concerned

pursuant to this Protocol.

6.

The fee shall be paid into the account specified by the Côte d’Ivoire authorities in accordance with Article 2(7) of
the Protocol.

7.

The fees shall include all national and local charges with the exception of port taxes and service charges.

8.

Licences for all vessels shall be issued to shipowners or their representatives via the Delegation of the European
Commission to Côte d’Ivoire within 15 working days of receipt of all the documents referred to in point 6 by the
Ministry responsible for fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire.

9.

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

10. However, 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 of the same category as the first vessel, as referred to in Article 1 of
the Protocol, with no further fee due. In this case, the calculation of the catch levels to determine whether an
additional payment should be made shall take account of the sum of the total catches of the two vessels.

11.

The owner of the first vessel, or his or her representative, shall return the cancelled licence to the Ministry
responsible for fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire via the Delegation of the European Commission.

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12.

13.

The new licence shall take effect on the day that the vessel’s owner returns the cancelled licence to the Ministry
responsible for fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire. The Delegation of the European Commission to Côte d’Ivoire shall be
informed of the licence transfer.

The licence must be held on board at all times. The European Community shall keep an up-to-date draft list of the
vessels for which a fishing licence has been applied for under this Protocol. This draft shall be notified to the Côte
d’Ivoire authorities as soon as it is drawn up, and then each time it is updated. On receipt of this draft list and of
notification of payment of the advance sent to the coastal State authorities by the Commission, the vessel shall be
entered by the competent Côte d’Ivoire authority on a list of vessels authorised to fish, which shall be notified to
the authorities responsible for fisheries inspection. In this case, a certified copy of this list shall be sent to the
shipowner and kept on board instead of the fishing licence until the licence has been issued.

14.

The two Parties shall seek agreement for the purposes of promoting the introduction of a licence system based
exclusively on the electronic exchange of all the information and documents described above. The two Parties shall
seek agreement for the purposes of promoting the rapid replacement of the paper licence by an electronic
equivalent such as the list of vessels authorised to fish in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone.

SECTION 2

Licence conditions — Fees and advance payments

1.

Licences shall be valid for a period of one year. They shall be renewable.

2.

The fee shall be EUR 35 per tonne caught within Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone in the case of tuna seiners and surface
longliners.

3.

Licences shall be issued once the following standard amounts have been paid to the competent national authorities:

— EUR 3 850 per tuna seiner, equivalent to the fees due for 110 tonnes per year,

— EUR 1 400 per surface longliner, equivalent to the fees due for 40 tonnes per year.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Member States shall inform the European Commission not later than 15 June each year of the tonnages caught
during the past year, as confirmed by the scientific institutes referred to in point 5 below.

The final statement of the fees due for year n shall be drawn up by the European Commission by 31 July of year n
+ 1 at the latest on the basis of the catch declarations made by each shipowner and confirmed by the scientific
institutes responsible for verifying catch data in the Member States, such as the Institut de Recherche pour le
(IRD), the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), the Instituto Português de Investigaçao Maritima
Développement
(IPIMAR) and the Côte d’Ivoire Centre de Recherches Océanologiques (CRO). It shall be sent via the Delegation of
the European Commission.

This statement shall be sent simultaneously to the Ministry responsible for fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire and to the
shipowners.

Any additional payments (for quantities caught in excess of 110 tonnes for tuna seiners and 40 tonnes for
longliners) shall be made by the shipowners to the competent Côte d’Ivoire national authorities by 31 August
of year n + 1, into the account referred to in point 6 of Section 1 of this Chapter, on the basis of EUR 35 per
tonne.

8.

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.

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CHAPTER II

Fishing zones

1.

Community vessels may carry out fishing activities in waters beyond 12 nautical miles from the base lines in the
case of tuna seiners and surface longliners.

CHAPTER III

Catch reporting arrangements

1.

For the purposes of this Annex, the duration of a trip by a Community vessel in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone shall
be defined as follows:

— the period elapsing between entering and leaving Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone,

— or the period elapsing between entering Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone and a transhipment and/or a landing in

Côte d’Ivoire.

2.

All vessels authorised to fish in Côte d’Ivoire waters under the Agreement shall be obliged to notify their catches to
the Ministry responsible for fisheries in Côte d’Ivoire so that it can check the quantities caught, which shall be
validated by the competent scientific institutes in accordance with the procedure referred to in point 4 of Section 2
of Chapter I of this Annex. Catches shall be notified as follows:

2.1. During an annual period of validity of the licence within the meaning of Section 2 of Chapter I of this Annex,
declarations shall include the catches made by the vessel during each trip. The original of the declarations shall be
transmitted on a physical medium to the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry responsible for fisheries within 45 days following
the end of the last trip made during the period. These notifications shall also be made by fax (225 21 35 04 09 or
225 21 35 63 15) or e-mail.

2.2. Vessels shall declare their catches on the corresponding form in the logbook, in accordance with the specimen in
Appendix 2. The words ‘Outside Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone’ shall be entered in the logbook in respect of periods
during which the vessel is not in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone.

2.3. The forms shall be filled in legibly and signed by the master of the vessel or by his or her legal representative.

2.4. Catch declarations shall be reliable in order to contribute to the monitoring of the evolution of stocks.

3. Where the provisions set out in this Chapter are not complied with, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire reserves the
right to suspend the licence of the offending vessel until formalities have been completed and to apply to the
shipowner the penalty laid down in current Côte d’Ivoire legislation. The European Commission and the flag
Member State shall be informed thereof.

4.

The two Parties shall seek agreement for the purposes of promoting a catch reporting system based exclusively on
the electronic exchange of all the information and documents described above. The two Parties shall seek
agreement for the purposes of promoting the rapid replacement of the written declaration (logbook) by an
equivalent in the form of an electronic file.

CHAPTER IV

Embarking seamen

1.

Owners of tuna seiners and surface longliners shall employ ACP nationals, subject to the following conditions and
limits:

— for the fleet of tuna seiners, at least 20 % of the seamen signed on during the tuna-fishing season in the fishing

zone of the third country shall be of ACP origin,

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— for the fleet of surface longliners, at least 20 % of the seamen signed on during the fishing season in the fishing

zone of the third country shall be of ACP origin.

2.

Shipowners shall endeavour to sign on additional seamen of ACP origin.

3.

4.

5.

6.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work shall apply
as of right to seamen signed on by 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.

The employment contracts of ACP seamen shall be drawn up between the shipowners’ representative(s) and the
seamen and/or their trade unions or representatives. A copy of these contracts shall be given to the signatories.
These contracts shall guarantee the seamen the social security cover applicable to them, including life assurance and
sickness and accident insurance.

The wages of the ACP seamen shall be paid by the shipowners. They shall be fixed by mutual agreement among
the shipowners or their representatives and the seamen and/or their trade unions or representatives. However, the
wage conditions granted to ACP seamen shall not be lower than those applied to crews from their respective
countries 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 embar-
kation, shipowners shall be automatically absolved of their obligation to take the seaman on board.

CHAPTER V

Technical measures

Vessels shall comply with the measures and recommendations adopted by ICCAT in the region regarding fishing gear and
the technical specifications thereof and all other technical measures applicable to their fishing activities.

CHAPTER VI

Observers

1.

Vessels authorised to fish in Côte d’Ivoire waters under the Agreement shall take on board observers appointed by
the competent regional fisheries organisation on the terms set out below.

1.1. At the request of the competent authority, Community vessels shall take on board an observer designated by the

authority in order to check catches made in Côte d’Ivoire waters.

1.2. The competent authority shall draw up a list of vessels designated to take an observer on board and a list of the
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.

1.3. The competent authority shall

inform the shipowners concerned, or their representatives, of the name of the
observer appointed to be taken on board their vessel at the time the licence is issued, or no later than 15 days
before the observer’s planned embarkation date.

2.

The time spent on board by observers shall be one fishing trip. However, at the express request of the competent
Côte d’Ivoire authorities, this embarkation may be spread over several trips according to the average duration of
trip for a particular vessel. This request shall be made by the competent authority when the name of the observer
appointed to board the vessel in question is notified.

3.

The conditions under which observers are taken on board shall be agreed between shipowners or their represen-
tatives and the competent authority.

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4.

Observers shall be taken on board at a port chosen by the shipowner at the beginning of the first voyage in Côte
d’Ivoire waters after notification of the list of designated vessels.

5. Within two weeks and giving ten days’ notice, the shipowners concerned shall make known at which ports in the

subregion and on what dates they intend to take observers on board.

6. Where observers are taken on board in a country outside the subregion, their travel costs shall be borne by the
shipowner. Should a vessel with a regional observer on board leave the regional fishing zone, all measures must be
taken to ensure the observer’s return as soon as possible at the expense of the shipowner.

7.

8.

If the observer is not present at the time and place agreed or within the twelve hours following the time agreed,
shipowners shall be automatically absolved of their obligation to take the observer on board.

Observers shall be treated as officers. Where vessels are operating in Côte d’Ivoire waters, they shall carry out the
following tasks:

8.1.

observe the fishing activities of the vessels;

8.2.

verify the position of vessels engaged in fishing operations;

8.3.

perform biological sampling in the context of scientific programmes;

8.4. note the fishing gear used;

8.5.

verify the catch data for Côte d’Ivoire waters recorded in the logbook;

8.6.

verify the percentages of by-catches and estimate the quantity of discards of species of marketable fish;

8.7.

report by any appropriate means fishing data, including the quantity of catches and by-catches on board, to their
competent authority.

9.

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

10. Observers 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. take all appropriate steps to ensure that the conditions of their boarding and presence on the vessel neither

interrupt nor hamper fishing operations,

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

12. At the end of the observation period and before leaving the vessel, observers shall draw up an activity report to be
transmitted to the competent authorities, with a copy to 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 scientific observer is put
ashore.

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13.

Shipowners shall bear the cost of accommodating observers in the same conditions as the officers, within the
confines of the practical possibilities offered by the vessel.

14.

The salary and social contributions of the observer shall be borne by the competent authorities.

15.

The two Parties shall consult each other, and interested third parties, as soon as possible as regards the definition of
a system of regional observers and the choice of the competent regional fisheries organisation. Pending the
implementation of a system of regional observers, vessels authorised to fish in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone
under the Agreement shall take on board, instead of regional observers, observers designated by the competent
Côte d’Ivoire authorities in accordance with the rules set out above.

1.

2.

CHAPTER VII

Monitoring

In accordance with point 13 of Section 1 of Chapter I of this Annex, 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 Côte d’Ivoire authorities responsible for fisheries inspection as soon as it is drawn up and each time it is
updated.

On receipt of this draft list and of notification of payment of the advance (referred to in point 3 of Section 2 of
Chapter I of this Annex) sent to the coastal State authorities by the European Commission, the vessel shall be
entered by the competent Côte d’Ivoire authority on a list of vessels authorised to fish, which shall be sent to the
In this case, a certified copy of this list shall be sent to the
authorities responsible for fisheries inspection.
shipowner and kept on board instead of the fishing licence until the licence has been issued.

Entering and leaving the zone

3.
3.1. At least three hours in advance Community vessels shall notify the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities responsible
for fisheries inspection of their intention to enter or leave Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone; they shall also declare the
overall quantities and the species on board.

3.2. When notifying leaving, vessels shall also communicate their position. This information should preferably be
communicated by fax (225 21 35 04 09 or 225 21 35 63 15) or e-mail ([…]) or, for vessels not equipped
with a fax or e-mail, by radio (call sign: […]).

3.3. Vessels found to be fishing without having informed the competent Côte d’Ivoire authority shall be regarded as

vessels in breach of the rules.

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

issued.

Control procedures

4.
4.1. Masters of Community fishing vessels engaged in fishing activities in Côte d’Ivoire waters shall allow and facilitate
boarding and the discharge of their duties by any Côte d’Ivoire official responsible for the inspection and control of
fishing activities.

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

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

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5.

Satellite monitoring

5.1. All Community vessels fishing under this Agreement shall be subject to satellite monitoring in line with Appendix
3. These provisions shall enter into force on the tenth day following notification by the Government of Côte
d’Ivoire to the Delegation of the European Commission to Côte d’Ivoire of the entry into operation of the Côte
d’Ivoire Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC).

Boarding

6.
6.1. The competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities shall inform the flag State and the European Commission, within no more
than 36 hours, of all boardings of and penalties imposed on Community vessels in Côte d’Ivoire waters.

6.2. The flag State and the European Commission shall at the same time receive a brief report of the circumstances and

reasons leading to the boarding.

Statement of boarding

7.
7.1. After the competent Côte d’Ivoire authority has drawn up a statement, the master of the vessel shall sign it.

7.2. This signature shall not prejudice the rights of the master or any defence which he or she may make to the alleged
infringement. If the master refuses to sign this document, he or she shall specify the reasons for doing so in writing
and the inspector shall write ‘refusal to sign’ on it.

7.3. The master shall take the vessel to the port indicated by the Côte d’Ivoire authorities. In the case of minor
infringements, the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities may authorise the boarded vessel to continue fishing.

8.

Consultation meeting in the event of boarding

8.1. 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 infrin-
gement, a consultation meeting shall be held, within one working day of the receipt of the above information,
between the European Commission and the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities, possibly attended by a represen-
tative of the Member State concerned.

8.2. At the meeting, the Parties shall exchange any relevant documentation or information helping to clarify the
circumstances of the established facts. The shipowner or his or her representative shall be informed of the
outcome of the meeting and of any measures resulting from the boarding.

9.

Settlement of boarding

9.1. Before any judicial procedure, an attempt shall be made to resolve the presumed infringement
compromise procedure. This procedure shall end no later than three working days after the boarding.

through a

9.2.

In the event of an amicable settlement, the amount of the fine shall be determined in accordance with Côte d’Ivoire
legislation.

9.3.

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 boarding costs and the fines and compensation payable by the parties
responsible for the infringement shall be lodged by the shipowner with a bank specified by the competent Côte
d’Ivoire authorities.

9.4. The bank security shall be irrevocable until the legal proceedings have been concluded. It shall be released once
legal proceedings end without a conviction. Similarly, in the event of a conviction leading to a fine of less than the
security lodged, the balance shall be released by the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities.

9.5. 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 9.3 has been lodged and accepted by the competent Côte d’Ivoire

authorities, pending completion of the legal proceedings.

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Transhipment

10.
10.1. All Community vessels wishing to tranship catches in Côte d’Ivoire waters shall do so in or off Côte d’Ivoire ports.

10.2. The owners of such vessels must notify the following information to the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities at

least 24 hours in advance:

— the names of the transhipping fishing vessels,

— the names, OMI numbers and flag of the cargo vessels,

— the tonnage by species to be transhipped,

— the day and place of transhipment.

10.3. Transhipment shall be considered as an exit from Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone. Masters of vessels must submit their
catch declarations to the competent Côte d’Ivoire authorities and state whether they intend to continue fishing or
leave Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone.

10.4. Any transhipment of catches not covered above shall be prohibited in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone. Any person

infringing this provision shall be liable to the penalties provided for by Côte d’Ivoire law.

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

Appendices

1. Licence application form

2. ICCAT logbook
3. Provisions applicable to the satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS) and coordinates of Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing

zone

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Appendix 1

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2

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A

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Appendix 3

The two Parties shall consult each other at a later stage within the Joint Committee to lay down the provisions applicable
to the satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS) and the coordinates of Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone.