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Table 4.12 Main fisheries management principles/instruments
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The maximum sustainable yield (MSY): The MSY approach aims at restoring and maintaining fish stocks at levels that allow fishermen to catch a maximum proportion of a fish stock without leading to a long term depletion and a reduction in overall yield. An effective MSY approach can be implemented using fishery management instruments such as multi-annual plans and TACs. Under the reformed CFP, member States agreed to set the objective of reaching MSY for all stocks by 2020.
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Table 4.12 Main fisheries management principles/instruments
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Regionalization: (...) In this regard, the member States with a direct management interest may agree to submit joint recommendations for achieving the CFP conservation objectives. The recommendations must be based on scientific advice and be compatible with relevant conservation measures and/or multi-annual plans. (...)
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Table 4.12 Main fisheries management principles/instruments
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Fisheries control system: (...) The EU CFP control system is supported by the implementation of sustainable management of external fishing fleet (SMEFF) and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) Regulations (...)

4.108. Aquaculture is a key component of both the CFP and the Blue Growth strategy. The CFP Regulation (Article 34) sets the objective of the sustainable development of the EU aquaculture sector. As indicated in the Regulation, the European Commission adopted, in 2013, non-binding Strategic Guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture , setting common priorities and targets to unlock the potential of the sector. As also required by the CFP Regulation, EU member States adopted multi annual national strategic plans (MNAPs), for the development of sustainable aquaculture on the basis of the Commission Guidelines. (...)

4.109. (...) The CMO regulation helps producers in the sector to guarantee sustainable fisheries and to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU fishery and aquaculture sector through, inter alia, production and marketing plans, consumer information requirements, and market intelligence (i.e. EUMOFA for market transparency and efficiency).

4.112. While nearly 80% of all EU catches take place in EU waters, the remaining catches come from the international high seas and waters of non-EU countries. EU fishing activities outside EU waters are based on the same principles as fishing within the EU. In December 2017, the EU introduced a new regulation on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets (SMEFF Regulation), which provides a new system of issuing and managing authorizations for EU vessels fishing outside EU waters, in order to improve monitoring and transparency of EU vessels. All EU vessels outside EU waters under the management of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and bilateral fisheries agreements, and in high seas not under RFMOs, must be authorized by a flag member State.

4.114. The EU continues to cooperate with international partners to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing worldwide, pursuant to the EU regulation on IUU. During the review period, the EU signed an agreement on ocean partnerships with China (on 16 July 2018) and Canada (on 18 July 2019) for better international governance of the oceans, including the fight against IUU fisheries and the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in the high seas. (...)

4.115. Regarding arrangements with non-EU countries, the EU has two types of fishing agreements with Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands under Northern Agreements; and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs), in which the EU provides financial and technical support in exchange for fishing rights, mainly with developing countries. Each SFPA protocol specifies fishing opportunities, amounts and methods of payments, and sectoral support.

Table 4.14 List of fisheries agreements
Country; Expiration Date
Tuna: EU vessels are allowed to catch migrating tuna stocks off the shores of Africa and through the Indian Ocean
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Senegal; 5 years (20.11.2014—19.11.2019) On 19 July 2019, the EU and Senegal negotiators paraphed a new implementing protocol to the existing sustainable fisheries partnership agreement
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To be activated shortly
São Tomé and Principe; Protocol expired on 22.05.2018, On 17 April 2019, the EU and São Tomé and Principe negotiators paraphed a new implementing protocol to the existing sustainable fisheries partnership agreement
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4.118. On 2 May 2018, the European Commission proposed a new EMFF budget (EUR 6.14 billion) for 2021-27. The proposed EMFF budget will focus on four priorities: (i) fostering sustainable fisheries and the conservation of marine biological resources; (ii) contributing to food security in the EU through sustainable and competitive aquaculture and markets; (iii) enabling the growth of a sustainable blue economy and fostering prosperous coastal communities; and (iv) strengthening international ocean governance and enabling safe, secure, clean and sustainably-managed seas and oceans. (...)