Brussels, 06/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 5 February, the European Parliament approved the new fishing agreement between the EU and Gabon, with its adoption of a report by João Ferreira (GUE/NGL, Portugal). The new agreement was initialled on 24 April 2013. The new protocol covers a three-year period starting from the provisional application date, which will be the date of signature.
The previous protocol was in force from 3 December 2005 to 2 December 2011. Since protocol was not renewed (due to tricky negotiations), the fishing activity of European Union vessels has been at standstill since 2 December 2011.
The new protocol, which has been in place provisionally since 24 April 2013, provides for fishing opportunities for the following categories: 27 freezer tuna vessels and 8 pole-and-line tuna vessels. The fishing opportunities laid down in the previous protocol for surface long-liners (16 licences) were not renewed.
In return for opportunities to catch tuna and other highly migratory fish species, an annual financial consideration of €1,350,000 will be paid by the EU to Gabon. This amount is based on: - a reference tonnage of 20,000 tonnes, with €900,000 related to access to the fish resources; - development support for the sectoral fisheries policy in Gabon, worth €450,000.
Access to fishery resources in Gabonese fishing zones will be granted to foreign fleets to the extent that there is a surplus. The two sides have agreed to improve the regular monitoring of the catches by EU vessels in the Gabonese fishing zones.
For each tonne caught in Gabonese waters, EU ship-owners must pay taxes. The level of the flat-rate tax to be paid by ship-owners operating tuna seiners and pole-and-line tuna vessels has been laid down at €55 per tonne for the first year of application of the protocol and €65 per tonne in the following two years. An annual national fee of €13,750 will also be charged during the application period. Tuna seiners must land a minimum of 30% of catch taken in Gabonese waters in Gabonese ports. The pole-and-line vessels must undertake to land 100% of their catch in Gabonese ports. The ship-owners must also undertake to employee nationals of the ACP countries. At least 20% of the crews of tuna seiners or pole-and-line vessels must be ACP nationals and the vessel owners must endeavour to sign on Gabonese seamen. (LC/transl.fl)