Brussels, 02/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 1 October, the European Commission adopted proposals on the conclusion of the protocol setting the fishing opportunities and the financial compensation contained in the four-year fisheries partnership agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
A new protocol was initialled by negotiators on 10 July 2015. It covers a four-year period from the provisional date of application set (that is, from the date of signature).
The protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories:
Category 1 - Vessels fishing for crustaceans other than spiny lobster and crab: 5,000 tonnes (Spain 4,150 tonnes, Italy 600 tonnes and Portugal 250 tonnes) and a maximum of 25 vessels at any one time in Mauritanian waters;
Category 2 - Non-freezer trawlers and bottom longliners fishing for black hake: 6,000 tonnes (for Spain) and 6 vessels;
Category 3 - Vessels fishing for demersal species other than black hake with gear other than trawl nets: 3,000 tonnes (for Spain) and 6 vessels;
Category 4 - Tuna seiners: 12,500 tonnes (reference tonnage) and 25 vessels (Spain 17 annual licences and France 8);
Category 5 - Pole-and-line tuna vessels and longliners: 7,500 tonnes (reference tonnage) and 15 vessels (14 for Spain and 1 for France);
Category 6 - Pelagic freezer trawlers: 247,500 tonnes (Germany 12,560 tonnes, France 2,615 tonnes, Latvia 53,913 tonnes, Lithuania 57,642 tonnes, Netherlands 62,592 tonnes, Poland 26,112 tonnes, United Kingdom 8,531 tonnes and Ireland 8,535 tonnes) and 19 vessels. Each year, the member states will have a number of quarterly licences (Germany 4, France 2, Latvia 20, Lithuania 22, Netherlands 16, Poland 8, United Kingdom 2 and Ireland 2). In this category, a maximum of 19 vessels may be deployed at any one time in Mauritanian waters.
Category 7 - Non-freezer pelagic vessels: 15,000 tonnes for Ireland (to be deducted from the Category 6 allocation if used) and 2 vessels.
The annual financial compensation is €59,125 million, broken down as follows: 1) for a total allowable catch of 261,500 tonnes for fishing categories 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 and a reference tonnage of 20,000 tonnes for categories 4 and 5 of the protocol, €55 million; 2) sectoral support for the development of the fisheries policy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, €4,125 million. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)