Brussels, 17/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - So as to reduce the scope of the criticisms levelled by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on fisheries negotiations with the Senegal, the European Commission stated, on Tuesday, that the fisheries possibilities for Community vessels would be determined on "a scientific basis and in dialogue with the authorities in Dakar". The spokesperson for Commissioner Frans Fischler refuted the figures put forward by WWF on Monday by which the EU would like to negotiate an increase of 60% of fishing rights in Senegalese territorial waters "already overexploited, which could threaten the survival and subsistence of certain fish resources" in Western Africa.
The Commission spokesperson explained that the fishing possibilities for Europeans had not yet been examined by the negotiators. . The latter have to meet in Dakar from 20 to 23 April to seek a compromise on the renewal of the fisheries agreement that expires on 30 April 2001. "European vessels are present in fishing locations that the local small or industrial fleet do not exploit much", said the spokesperson.
Current financial compensation amounts to 48 million euro (over four years) in exchange for access to Senegalese waters granted to Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Italian and French vessels. The protocol provides for fishing possibilities for trawlers, tuna boats and pelagic vessels, but only for a limited volume of catches. Fisheries activities concern mainly tuna, high-sea shrimp and species such as hake, as well as species living in shallower waters like cephalopodes and groupers.
"Each year, the EU spends some 270 million euro to gain access to fisheries resources in other countries, the majority of which in Africa. Payments are often below the real market value", WWF stresses, while recalling that other fisheries agreements like those with Mauritania and Guinea Bissau are soon to be renegotiated.