Bilateral agreements

Both in coastal countries where the EU does not have an SFPA established, as well as to ensure the access of non-EU vessels to its EEZs, OPAGAC / AGAC establishes bilateral agreements under these countries’ legislation.

The Spanish Government, under the guidelines of Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 12, 2017 on the sustainable management of foreign fishing fleets, only grants fishing authorization in these countries if the criteria are met of admissibility established legally.

The governments of the non-EU vessels’ countries receive a copy of the licenses obtained and validate them according to the internal legal system of each flag country.

Both ICCAT and IOTC request the parties to notify the agreements or fishing permits that exist with third-party flagged vessels for fishing in their waters.