COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EVALUATION Accompanying the document Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Liberia
Date: 2020-09-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: Liberia, catch area, catch quota, fishing agreement, fishing rights, negotiation of an agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement, ratification of an agreement, sea fishing, sustainable fisheries

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 25.9.2020 SWD(2020) 196 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  EVALUATION  Accompanying the document Recommendation for a   COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Liberia {COM(2020) 582 final} - {SWD(2020) 197 final}  
 
 
Table of contents 

1. 

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 2 

Purpose and scope . ......................................................................................................... 2 

2. 

3. 

BACKGROUND TO THE INTERVENTION ..................................................................................... 2 

IMPLEMENTATION/STATE OF PLAY ............................................................................................ 3 

4.  METHOD.............................................................................................................................................. 5 

5.  ANALYSIS AND ANSWERS TO THE EVALUATION QUESTIONS ............................................ 5 

6. 

CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................................... 7 

ANNEX 1: PROCEDURAL INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 9 

ANNEX 2: STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ....................................................................................... 11 

ANNEX 3: METHODS AND ANALYTICAL MODELS .......................................................................... 12 

1 

 
 
1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Purpose and scope 

Bilateral  sustainable  fisheries  partnership  agreements  (hereafter  -  SFPAs)  between  the 
EU and third countries are covered by the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) regulation1. 
SFPAs  help  to  implement  the  CFP  objectives  internationally,  ensuring  that  fishing 
activities  of  the  EU  fleet  outside  Union  waters  are  based  on  the  same  principles  and 
standards  as  those  applied  in  EU  waters.  SFPAs  are  based  on  the  principles  of 
sustainability  and  best  available  scientific  advice,  transparency,  non-discrimination, 
solidarity  through  partnership.  All  in  all,  SFPAs  contribute  to  the  establishment  of  a 
governance framework for external fishing activities2. Furthermore, the EU commitment 
to  promote  ocean  governance  at  a  global  level  should  be  incorporated  in  newly 
negotiated SFPAs.  

The  Council  Conclusions  on  the  external  dimension  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy 
adopted on 19 March 2012, calls for an ex-post and ex-ante evaluation to be carried out 
by the Commission before negotiating a new protocol3. The need for an ex-ante and ex-
post evaluation with an aim to inform decision- makers, before the negotiation directives 
by the Council are adopted is also confirmed in Article 31(10) of the CFP regulation. Ex-
ante.  

This  staff  working document (SWD) presents  the results of  a retrospective and ex-ante 
evaluation of the current Protocol (2015-2020) between the EU and Liberia, which will 
expire on 8 December 2020 and it is mainly based on a supporting study. The evaluation 
covers the period from the entry into force of the Protocol (9 December 2015) till the end 
of 2020. The ex-post evaluation is made on the basis of assessment criteria: effectiveness, 
efficiency,  economy,  coherence,  relevance,  EU  added  value  and  acceptability.  The  ex-
ante analysis focuses on the identification of the main problems and needs, the objectives 
expected to be achieved, the available options (renewal or non-renewal of the Protocol) 
and  their  impacts  together  with  the  associated  risks.  The  analysis  also  explain  the 
possible benefits of a new Protocol as well as its added value for the EU. 

2. 

BACKGROUND TO THE INTERVENTION 

To explain the logic of this intervention, it is important to explain the rationale of SFPAs. 

SFPAs  are  transparent,  coherent  and  mutually  beneficial  tools  that  enhance  fisheries 
governance  for  sustainable  exploitation,  fish  supply  and  development  of  the  fisheries 
sector in SFPA partner countries. SFPAs consist of three major parts: Agreements, which 
sets the main principles of the bilateral partnership, Protocol, which establishes in more 
detail  elements  such as the financial contribution, reference tonnage  and functioning of 
the Joint Committee and the sectoral support component and Technical  Annexes which 
provide the technical details of the implementing protocol. While once negotiated SFPA 
Agreements  are  automatically  extended,  the  Protocols  have  to  be  renegotiated  before 
their  expiry.  SFPAs  are  rendered  operational  through  implementation  Protocols  that 
contain  Technical  Annexes.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  evaluation  is  needed  (as 
explained in the introduction), in order to decide whether it is beneficial or not renewing 
the Protocol and, if so, under which conditions.  

1 
2 
3 

Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 of 11 December 2013 the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L354, 28.12.2013, p. 22); 
Overview of SFPA: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/international/agreements_fr; 
Doc. 7086/12 PECHE 66. 

2 

 
 
 
                                                 
EU concludes fisheries partnership agreements with third countries to enable the EU fleet 
to fish surplus resources in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of partner  countries (in 
this  case  -  Liberia),  in  a  legally  regulated  environment  and  in  exchange  for  a  financial 
contribution by the EU and ship-owners. The EU contribution is made up of two separate 
components: 1) EU access fee that gives access for the EU fleet to fisheries resources of 
a  partner  country;  and  2)  EU  sectorial  support  devoted  to  development  of  the  fisheries 
sector in partner countries. The EU public contribution is complemented by contributions 
paid by EU ship-owners. 

Each SFPA is an exclusive agreement: once in place, EU vessels can only fish under this 
SFPA,  and  cannot  enter  into  private  agreements  with  the  partner  country.  The  SFPA 
ensures a level-playing field and establishes minimum standards for sustainable resource 
management  as  it  includes  provisions  prohibiting  the  granting  of  more  favourable 
conditions to other foreign fleets. The implementation of the Agreement and the Protocol 
is managed by a Joint Committee, composed of representatives of both parties.  

The  EU  and  Liberia  concluded  a  bilateral  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  (FPA)  in 
December  20154.  This  agreement  has  three  main  objectives:  To  contribute  towards 
resource conservation and environmental sustainability through  rational  and sustainable 
exploitation of living marine resources of  Liberia, to  protect  the EU long-distance fleet 
and  the  employment  linked  to  the  fleet  operating  within  SFPAs  and  to  support  the 
development  of  a  sustainable  fisheries  sector  in  partner  countries  (sectoral  support)... 
This  Agreement  provided  fishing  possibilities  exclusively  for  highly  migratory  species 
for EU vessels fishing in Liberia waters. It entered into force on 9 December 2015. The 
existing  Protocol,  which  expires  on  8  December  2020  and  thus  has  to  be  renegotiated, 
foresees  a  maximum  of  34  EU  tuna  vessels  to  the  fishing  zone  of  Liberia  (28  purse 
seiners and 6 surface longliners) in exchange of an annual amount for access of EUR 357 
000 for the first year, EUR 325 000 for the second, third and fourth years, and EUR 292 
500 for the fifth year, and a specific annual amount for the support and implementation 
of Liberia’ sectoral fisheries policy of EUR 357 000 for the first year, EUR 325 000 for 
the second, third and fourth  years, and EUR 292 500 for the fifth  year. In addition, the 
ship-owners from two Member States (France, Spain) pay a minimum fee for access to 
Liberia waters.  

The  newly  negotiated  Protocol  has  to  re-evaluate  various  existing  components  of  the 
Protocol,  such  as  reference  tonnage,  financial  compensation  (EU  and  ship-owners), 
fishing possibilities; technical conditions (embarking of seamen and observers; fishing of 
sharks; declaration of catches; support vessels, and other), and also include new elements 
if necessary.  

3. 

IMPLEMENTATION/STATE OF PLAY 

As regards the implementation of the Protocol, a number of areas are identified in order 
reflect  what  the  situation  was  like  before  the  intervention  started,  and  how  it  was 
expected to develop and other relevant points of comparison. 

Utilisation  of  fishing  opportunities.  Overall  uptake  across  fishing  categories  (seiners 
and longliners) during the first four years of the Protocol has ranged from 62% to 68%, 
with  a  good  utilisation  for  seiners  75-79%  marginal  for  longliners  vessels.  A  new 

4 Adopted by Council Decision (EU) 2016/1062 of 24 May 2016 (OJ L 177, 1.7.2016). 

3 

 
 
                                                 
protocol  should  reflect  the  number  of  actives  vessels  and  historical  uptake  of  licences, 
and thus adjust fishing categories.  

Catches and their  reporting.  Average volume  of catches  at  the period  2015-2019 has 
been around 5000 tons, only exceeding the reference tonnage of 6500 tons foreseen in the 
current protocol in 2017 (7734 tons). The reference tonnage in the new Protocol should 
take into consideration historical catches. Regarding the reporting of catches, during the 
current  Protocol  there  was  no  operational  Electronic  catch  reporting  system  (ERS) 
system  in  place  that  would  have  allowed  Liberia  to  receive  information  on  catches  on 
daily basis by electronic means. The ERS system is to be installed in the coming months, 
and the new Protocol will mark major improvements in this regard.  

Landings.  The  Protocol  did  not  mandate  compulsory  landing  in  Liberia,  but  included 
financial incentives in the form  of reduction in  the fishing authorisation  fees in  case of 
landing in a Liberia port. However, EU vessels have not used Liberia’s ports since there 
are no suitable ports facilities in  Liberia and the majority  of the landings took  place in 
Dakar  and  Tema.  There  is  no  dedicated  industrial  fishing  port  or  quay  area.  Further 
developments of the Mesurado port are being considered for support under a next World 
Bank programme, but it is unlikely that investments will be completed in the short term. 
In view of this, and taking into account that EU purse seiners have already logistic bases 
in West Africa that serve their needs (i.e. Abidjan, Dakar, Tema), use of Liberian ports 
by  EU  purse  seiners  or  by  any  EU  fishing  vessel  of  a  certain  capacity  is  unlikely  in  a 
foreseeable future. 

Embarking of seamen. According to the Protocol, EU vessel owners had to employ at 
least 20% of seamen of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries origin during the 
tuna  fishing  season  in  the  fishing  zone  of  third  countries.  EU  vessels  owners  should 
endeavour  to  sign  on  three  qualified  Liberian  seamen  per  vessel  selected  from  a  list 
submitted  by  Liberia  to  the  EU.  However,  EU  vessel  owners  did  not  employ  Liberian 
seamen  despite  Liberia  submitting  lists  of  candidates  as  expected.  The  issue  has  been 
regularly  raised  by  Liberia  who  considered  employment  of  nationals  as  an  opportunity 
for training and as an opportunity for Liberia to obtain some indirect economic benefits 
from the SFPA. However, there is some reluctance from EU ship owners to recruit new 
presumably inexperienced crew members in view of the hazardous nature of purse seine 
fishing,  which  also  means  disembarking  some  of  their  regular  experienced  ACP  crew 
members  working  on  the  same  positions.  The  new  Protocol  will  likely  have  to  address 
this issue with possible review of this clause. 

Embarking of observers. The current protocol foresees obligation for the EU vessels to 
embark Liberian observers designated by Liberia. This provision has been implemented 
only in 2016 with the embarkment of two observers. Logistical problems to embark more 
observers  have  been  encountered  other  years.  Nevertheless,  to  ensure  transparency  of 
fishing  activities,  EU  vessels  had  scientific  observers  on  board  and  ensured  100% 
voluntary observer coverage. The new protocol and in particular sectorial support should 
finance training of Liberian observers.  

Sectorial support. The sectoral support under current protocol particularly concentrated 
on two main objectives, namely the implementation of an effective Monitoring, Control 
and  Surveillance  system  (38%  of  total  multiannual  budget  of  EUR  1.625  million)  and 
strengthening institutional, human and financial capacities of Liberia’s National Fisheries 
and Aquaculture Agency (NaFAA) (43% of total budget), leaving other important areas, 
such as research and science, small scale fisheries, etc., behind. The new Protocol should 
aim to more fairly distribute sectorial support resources to cover adequately other areas 
as well. 

4 

 
Local  Agent.  Although  not  explicitly  prescribed  by  the  Protocol,  the  recruitment  of  a 
local agent to represent ship-owners is an implicit obligation for all activities associated 
with issuing of licences, observer boarding, submission of catch information etc. All EU 
vessels  utilising  fishing  opportunities  hired  a  local  agent.  However,  EU  ship-owners 
reported  that  financial  charges  associated  were  excessive  and  not  always  transparently 
imposed on EU ship-owners. The new protocol should better define the mandate of the 
agent, charges applicable, and to monitor their application. 

4. 

METHOD 

Short description of methodology 

The evaluation was supported by a study that was carried out by an external consultant. 
The evaluation study was conducted between December 2019 and March 2020, under the 
guidance of  an  interservice  group  (ISG)  and  in  the  framework  of  the  terms  of  
reference.  The methodology included analysis of available documentation and data, and 
consultation of Liberian and EU stakeholders (see Annex 2). The evaluation report was 
prepared in line with EU guidelines (including the ‘evaluation toolbox’), in particular on 
how to assess impacts on other countries, and methodological elements  specific  to  the  
external    dimension    of    the    CFP    (e.g.  methods    for    assessing    the  socio-economic 
benefits of fisheries agreements).  

Limitations and robustness of findings  

The  findings  of  the  study  are  robust  and  reliable.  The  methodology  for  this  evaluation 
included a review of literature and data, and consultations (some face to face, and some 
remotely)  with  stakeholders  in  Liberia  and  in  the  EU.    In  addition,  secondary  sources 
analysis and literature review complemented data from interviews. 

5. 

ANALYSIS AND ANSWERS TO THE EVALUATION QUESTIONS 

Ex-post evaluation 

The  2015-2020  Protocol  between  the  EU  and  Liberia  generally  meets  the  minimum 
conditions of effectiveness, efficiency, economy relevance, coherence, acceptability and 
the EU added value and. The current Protocol can be broadly described as win-win deal 
for both parties, for Liberia on one side and the EU and ship-owners on the other.  

Effectiveness. The protocol broadly succeeded in achieving its main objectives described 
under section 2. The fishing opportunities negotiated for the EU fleet in Liberia’ EEZ are 
aligned with limits imposed in the regional context and do no generate specific threats to 
either  the  stocks  of  highly  migratory  species  under  the  management  mandate  of  the 
International  Commission  for  the  Conservation  of  Atlantic  Tunas  (ICCAT),  or  to  the 
marine  ecosystems.  The  activities  of  the  EU  tuna  fleet  in  Liberia’  EEZ  are  monitored 
through  the  reporting  requirements  set  out  in  the  Protocol  in  conformity  with  CFP  and 
ICCAT  standards  and  voluntary  commitments  which  include,  in  particular,  a  100% 
observer  coverage.  Unilateral  measures  implemented  by  EU  operators  through  their 
Fisheries Improvement Plan further strengthened mitigation of environmental impacts of 
fishing.  Therefore,  the  Protocol  can  be  estimated  to  contribute  towards  sustainable 
exploitation  of  fisheries  resources  in  the  Liberia’s  EEZ.  However,  Liberia  encountered 
administrative difficulties to monitor EU vessels as a result of administrative problems, 
suggesting  that  the  Electronic  Reporting  System  foreseen  by  the  Protocol,  but  not 
implemented as yet, remains relevant. 

5 

 
 
Efficiency. The Protocol is efficient. Whilst the fishing opportunities negotiated have not 
been fully utilised with respect to Protocol potential (22 fishing authorisations drawn out 
of a maximum of 34 on average, i.e. 65%), catches reached 77% of the reference tonnage 
on average with highly variable uptake between years (between 48% in 2016 and 121% 
in  2017).  Compared  to  other  access  arrangements  concluded  by  Liberia  for  access  to 
highly  migratory  species,  the  cost  of  fishing  opportunities,  access  fees  paid  by  the  EU 
party are below (15%) access fee paid by non-EU operators. As a result of the level of 
catches compared to the reference tonnage, the SFPA Protocol generated a positive return 
on investment with a EUR 18 value-added multiplier for every 1 EUR invested for access 
from  the  EU  budget  on  average  between  2016  and  2019.  However,  the  share  of  value-
added accruing to Liberia (11%) is modest, and limited to access payments in the absence 
of economic interactions. 

Economy.  The  EU’s  sectoral  support  addresses  Liberia’s  needs  and  is  fully  absorbed. 
The EU has disbursed access payments and contributions for sectoral support in a timely 
manner consistent with the protocol. 

Relevance.  The  Protocol  is  still  relevant  to  address  the  needs  of  the  EU  in  terms  of 
promotion of sustainable fishing practices in external waters, the needs of EU purse seine 
operators  in  terms  of  access  to  productive  fishing  grounds,  and  the  need  of  Liberia  in 
relation to extracting benefits from tuna resources available in its EEZ and integration of 
the country in the fisheries international community.  

Coherence.  The  Protocol  is  coherent  with  the  current  CFP  in  general  and  with  the 
overarching  conservation  and  management  regime  implemented  under  the  multilateral 
framework  of  ICCAT.  The  sectoral  support  component  of  the  agreement  is  utilised  to 
support  capacity  building  for  the  management  of  fisheries  in  national  waters,  and 
complements  other  EU  interventions,  in  particular  those  provided  under  the  European 
Development Fund (EDF) PESCAO project5 and the technical assistance programme to 
NaFAA. 

The EU added value. Compared to any other mechanism for gaining fisheries access for 
EU  vessels  in  the  tuna  fisheries  segment,  the  Protocol  has  delivered  a  wide  range  of 
valuable  benefits  to  both  the  EU  and  Liberia  parties,  in  terms  of  sustainability  and 
national development. However, from NaFAA perspective, EU added value would have 
been  more  evident  if  dialogue  could  include  at  the  same  time  all  fisheries  issues  of 
priority  for  the  country  (SFPA,  illegal,  unreported  and  unregulated  fishing  (IUU)  and 
sanitary controls). Also, EU operators prefer the SFPA/Protocol multiannual framework 
over a private agreement. 

Acceptability.  EU  ship-owners  utilising  the  fishing  opportunities  negotiated  are 
generally  satisfied  with  the  conditions  set  up  by  the  Protocol  and  clearly  support  its 
renewal.  Liberia  authorities  also  expressed  their  broad  satisfaction,  and  there  is  no 
perceived reticence from Liberia regarding the principle of negotiations for the renewal 
of the Protocol after 2020 which will seek to increase national benefits. The Liberia civil 
society  has  overall  little  awareness  of  the  SFPA  but  supports  it  as  far  as  it  supports 
NaFAA  capacity  building.  However,  the  civil  society  would  like  to  see  some  of  the 
sector support directly benefiting the small-scale fishers or to promotion of employment 
of nationals. 

5  The  project  ‘Improved  regional  fisheries  governance  in  western  Africa  (PESCAO)’  was  adopted  by 
Commission Decision C(2017) 2951 of 28 April 2017 

6 

 
                                                 
Ex-ante evaluation 

The    ex-ante    evaluation    of    a   possible   future    protocol    to    the   EU/Liberia    SFPA,  
outlines the key needs to be met by both Liberia and the EU.  

Shared needs of both parties are:  

  sustainable resource exploitation, and  
  a fair sharing of benefits between the two parties.  

It describes and assesses three possible options.  

  The renewal of the Protocol implementing the SFPA concluded between the EU 

and Liberia for an extended multiannual period (status quo), or 

  The non-renewal of the Protocol. 

Two  different  sub-options  may  be  considered  for  the  negotiation  of  a  new  Protocol 
implementing the SFPA for a next multiannual period: 

  A new Protocol considering only fishing opportunities for EU tuna vessels (purse 
seiners, surface longliners and possibly pole and liners) – a tuna only Protocol 
  A new Protocol considering fishing opportunities for EU tuna vessels and for EU 
fishing  vessels  targeting  demersal  species  such  as  fish,  cephalopods  and 
crustaceans – a multispecies Protocol 

In  reviewing  the  results  of  the  four options,  the  evaluation  finds  that in view of the 
risks  generated  by  a  multispecies  Protocol  in  terms  of  stock  sustainability,  but  also  in 
view of the potential difficulties to derive socio-economic benefits from the activities of 
non-tuna vessels, the sub-option consisting in negotiating a tuna only Protocol emerges 
as the most appropriate.  

The  non-renewal  of  the  Protocol  does  not  appear  to  be  a  desirable  option.  The  non-
renewal  of  the  Protocol  notably  deprives  the  EU  from  an  instrument  capable  of 
responding  to  the  needs  of  the  various  stakeholders  and  to  its  own  needs  in  terms  of 
strengthening the global fisheries governance in the Atlantic Ocean. 

6. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The  protocol  can  be  broadly  described  as  a  ‘win-win’  arrangement,  in  that  it  addresses 
the identified needs of the various stakeholders. 

Renewal  of  the  agreement  emerges  clearly  as  the  preferred  option.  No    other    option,  
including  that  of  not  renewing  the  protocol  or  negotiating a multispecies protocol, 
would bring the same benefits.  

A possible  future  protocol  should  be  based  on  a  similar  technical  and  financial 
approach, with some technical adaptations to improve the conditions for embarkment of 
observers and national seamen as well as for improving the electronic reporting system. 

The evaluation can draw the following conclusions and made specific recommendations:  

(1)  In  terms  of  fishing  opportunities,  a  status  quo  is  recommended  for  the  maximum 
number of purse seiners and long-liners to keep some flexibility margins. Introduction of 

7 

 
 
 
fishing  opportunities  for  tuna  pole  and  liners  may  be  envisaged,  but  with  associated 
provisions  for  catching  live  bait,  the  two  being  indissociable  elements  of  their 
deployment strategies.  

(2)  In  terms  of  financial  conditions,  a  comparable  level  of  reference  tonnage  may  be 
carried over under a next  Protocol.  The catch levels  used to  determine the value of the 
non-refundable part of access fees paid by EU ship-owners may be increased to lower the 
variable part of access fees and hence increase visibility for budget forecasts by Liberia. 

(3)  Concerning  technical  conditions,  it  does  not  appear  appropriate  nor  relevant  to 
mandate  employment  of  national  seamen  on  board  EU  tuna  vessels  through  a  next 
Protocol.  Promotion  of  employment  of  national  seamen  should  be  considered  under  a 
next  sectoral  support  programme  with  possibly  financial  contributions  from  EU  ship-
owners. The implementation of an Electronic Reporting System should also be a priority 
under a next Protocol to ensure that all parties have a same level of information on EU 
fishing activities in the EEZ. 

To  sum  up,  the  Commission  supports  the  conclusions  of  the  assessment  made  by  the 
contractor in favour of a renewal of the protocol to the SFPA with Liberia. However, and 
due to the ongoing IUU dialogue (on 23 May 2017, the Republic of Liberia was notified 
of the possibility of being identified as a non-cooperating third country in fighting illegal, 
unreported  and  unregulated  fishing  (the  so-called  “yellow  card”)  by  Commission 
Decision 2017/C 169/12  under Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 
2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported 
and  unregulated  fishing),  negotiations  will  not  start  until  the  current  yellow  card  is 
reversed. 

8 

 
APPENDIX 1: PROCEDURAL INFORMATION 

1.  LEAD DG, DeCIDE PLANNING/CWP REFERENCES 

Responsible DG: DG MARE – Maritime Affairs and Fisheries/ PLAN/2019/5254 

2.  ORGANISATION AND TIMING 

An  inter-service  group  (ISG),  included  DG  MARE,  DG  for  International  Cooperation 
and Development (DEVCO), the Secretariat-General (SG) and European External Action 
Service  (EAAS),  was  established  to  steer  the  preparation  of  this  evaluation.  The 
evaluation was carried out between November 2019 and March 2020.  

The  evaluation  was  also  supported  by  a  study  carried  out  by  an  external  consultant 
between the same periods. 

Tasks 

Signature of the contract  

Kick-off meeting 

Report of the Kick-off meeting 

Time 

15 November 2019 

21 November 2019 

22 November 2019 

Submission of the inception report  

13 December 2019 

Comments to the inception report 

27 December 2019 

Meeting to discuss inception report 

Exchange 
Steering committee  

in  written  with 

the 

Submission of the draft final report 

27 February 2020 

Meeting to discuss draft final report  

5 March 2020 

Submission of the final report  

23 March 2020 

3.  EXCEPTIONS TO THE BETTER REGULATION GUIDELINES 

The  legal  and  procedural  requirements  for  the  preparation  of  the  renewal  of  fisheries 
protocols  lead  to  a  tight  schedule  which  prevents  the  holding  of  an  open  public 
consultation. Moreover, the impact of SFPA is relatively limited, as they focus on a small 
number of stakeholders. The consultation strategy excludes open public consultations. 

4.  CONSULTATION OF THE RSB (IF APPLICABLE) 

Not applicable. 

5.  EVIDENCE, SOURCES AND QUALITY 

The evaluation is based on the study of “Retrospective and Ex-ante evaluation study of 
the  Protocol  to  the  Agreement  on  a  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership  between  the 
European Union and the Republic of Liberia” that was carried out by a consultant.  

Additional  information  sources  for  this  evaluation  were  used  through  scientific  advice 
reviews,  literature  reviews,  Joint  Committee  meetings  minutes,  bilateral/multilateral 
discussions/consultations with  Member States  and civil  society organisations,  including 
the LDAC.   

9 

 
 
Last but not least, the evaluation process and the final evaluation report were subject to a 
quality assessment by the Steering Committee. 

10 

 
APPENDIX 2: STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION 

In line with its guidelines and the ‘better regulation toolbox’, the Commission presented 
a strategy for consultation when preparing negotiations for the renewal of FPA protocols. 
The    strategy    involves    determining    the    best    means    of    consulting    relevant  
stakeholders  in the EU and the partner country concerned.   

Objectives 

The aim of the consultation is:   

  to    gather    stakeholders’    views    on    the    implementation    of    the  
previous/ongoing protocol and its possible renewal, including the various options; 
and  

  to  feed  into  the  evaluation  report  (a  Commission  working  document  to  be 
prepared before the opening of negotiations on the basis of an evaluation study by 
an external contractor).   

Approach to consultation  

The main stakeholders concerned with the protocol, are:  

  owners of vessels flying Member States’ flags and benefiting from the protocol; 
representatives or associations of ship-owners benefiting from the protocol;  

  NGOs;  
 
 
 

the Liberian authorities;  
representatives of the Member States’ authorities; and 
the private sector and civil society. 

Detailed results  

These results are presented in Annex 3 to the study6. 

6 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/f407575c-6d7e-11ea-b735-01aa75ed71a1/language-en 

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APENDIX 3: METHODS AND ANALYTICAL MODELS 

Economic analysis  

A  harmonised  methodology  has  been  developed  for  the  economic  analysis  of  the  tuna 
fleets, which fish in the framework of SFPAs and RFMOs. The data used correspond to 
the data provided by EU Member States to the contractor.    

Science  

The analysis of the scientific advice on the state of the stocks and the recommendations, 
focusing  on  the  potential  and  the  state  of  stocks  of  highly  migratory  species  (tuna  and 
associated species), with an emphasis on Liberia’s EEZ. The evaluators did not carry out 
stock assessments, as such, but have used the latest available scientific advice on the state 
of  the  stocks  and  management  measures,  the  most  recent,  adopted  by  the  International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for the tuna stocks.  

The data on the catches and fishing authorisations  

The catch data for EU vessels used in the evaluation were extracted from the European 
Commission  consolidated  catch  database,  which  is  updated  by  the  EU  Member  States.  
The  information  concerning  the  fishing  authorisations  granted  by  Liberia  to  the  EU 
vessels were extracted from the Commission database on fishing authorisations.  

12