Brussels, 17/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 16 April, the European Parliament approved the conclusion of three different fishing agreements between the EU and three third countries.
The partnership agreement on fishing concluded between the EU and Madagascar, which was the subject of a report by Crescenzio Rivellini (EPP, Italy), allows European vessels to fish in the territorial waters of Madagascar, as part of a raft of agreements on tuna fishing concluded with the countries of the Indian Ocean. The new protocol will apply for a period of two years (2013-2014) and provides for fishing possibilities for 96 vessels (40 tuna seiners and 56 long-liners). The total financial contribution under the new protocol will be €3,050,000, or €1,525,000 per year, which represents an increase of €328,000 per year on the previous agreement (2007-2012).
The new EU-Seychelles protocol (report by MEP Maria do Céu Patrao Neves) enters into force for a period of six years starting from the beginning of its provisional application and lays down fishing possibilities for 40 seiners (22 Spanish vessels, 16 French ones and two Italians) and six long-liners (shared equally between the Spanish, French and Portuguese fleets). The total financial contribution will be €30.7 million and will fund access to fish resources and support the sectorial fisheries policy in the Seychelles.
The new protocol with the Comores (report by Jaroslaw Leszek Walêsa) will apply from 1 January 2014 for a period of three years. The financial contribution has been laid down at €600,000 per year (annual reference tonnage set of 6,000 tonnes). Fishing possibilities will cover 42 tuna seiners and 20 surface long-liners. (LC)