Brussels, 08/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday evening, the European Commission and Cape Verde initialled a new protocol to the fisheries agreement lasting three years (1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004), after nine months of negotiation following the expiry, on 5 September 2000, of the last protocol. The number of European surface long-liners authorised to fish in Cape Verde waters will increase (from 26 to 62), as will the numbers of tuna pole-and-line vessels (10 to 18). The number of tuna seiners (19 French and 18 Spanish) remains identical. The financial compensation paid by the EU will amount to EUR 680,000 annually, as opposed to 580,000 according to the last protocol. The share of this amount devoted to scientific and technical research programmes, as well as to the training of nationals from this country in the field of fishing, will increase from 30% to 42% (EUR 280,000 annually). Contributions paid by European shipowners go from 2,000 to 2,750 euros for tuna seiners, from 1,000 to 2,000 euros for surface long liners and from 300 to 400 euros for tuna pole-and-liners.