25/10/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 24 October, the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries voted in favour of approving the conclusion of the new fisheries agreement between the EU and Madagascar by adopting (19 votes in favour, one against and one abstention) a report by Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish) on this text (see EUROPE 13173/39). The new agreement covers a period of four years from the date of its provisional application, which has been set for 1 July 2023. The agreement provides for the reference tonnage to be reduced from 15,750 to 14,000 tonnes per year. The number of authorised vessels is due to fall from 94 to 65. The quantity of sharks authorised to be caught is 220 t per year. The total cost of the new protocol over its four years of application is estimated at €12.9 million. (LC)