19/12/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament approved (478 votes in favour, 87 against and 127 abstentions) on Wednesday 18 December the conclusion of the new six-year EU/Gambia fisheries agreement (see EUROPE 12282/28). The fishing opportunities granted to EU vessels concern, on the one hand, highly migratory species (28 tuna seiners and 10 pole-and-line vessels) and, on the other hand, deep-sea demersal species (3 trawlers). The financial contribution paid by the Union to this country is set at 3.3 million euros (550,000 euros per year). An annual amount of 275,000 euros will be paid for access to fisheries resources (reference tonnage for highly migratory species of 3,300 tonnes per year), while the other half of the contribution will be used for structural support to strengthen the sustainable management of fisheries resources and the development of the Gambian fisheries sector. (LC)