The European Union and the island nation of Mauritius on Thursday reached a fisheries partnership agreement that runs through 2015.
Over a three-year period, EU member nations will be allowed to catch 5,500 metric tons of fish. In return, Mauritius will receive a total of almost EUR 2 million over the three-year period — EUR 357,500 per year for providing access to its fishing grounds and EUR 302,500 per year to implement and support a fisheries policy that promotes sustainable fishing in Mauritius waters.
The deal was hammered out by a European Commission delegation led by Stefaan Depypere, director of international affairs and markets for maritime affairs and fisheries, and a Mauritius delegation led by A.C. Moosuddee, secretary of the fisheries ministry.
Located in the Indian Ocean about 870 kilometres east of Madagascar, Mauritius earns about EUR 200 million annually from its seafood exports, and the industry directly employs about 6,000 people.
