Brussels, 27/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament gave its approval on Tuesday 27 September to the text of the new fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and Cape Verde. The new agreement, which covers a period of three years from 1 September 2010, allows 28 tuna seiners (16 Spanish and 12 French), 35 surface longliners (26 Spanish and nine Portuguese) and 11 pole-and-line vessels (seven Spanish and four French) to fish for tuna (annual reference tonnage 5,000 tonnes) in Cape Verdean waters.
The annual financial compensation paid by the EU is €435,000: €325,000 annually for access to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cape Verde and €110,000 per year to support the development of the sectoral fisheries policy of Cape Verde. Advances and fees payable by ship owners will be €35 per tonne of tuna caught in the Cape Verdean fishing area by seiners and surface longliners and €25 per tonne for pole-and-line vessels.
The report by Pat the Cope Gallagher on this fisheries agreement was passed by the substantial majority of 539 votes to 82, with 21 abstentions. (LC/transl.rt)