Brussels, 24/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU and the Republic of Guinea have agreed to extend the current Protocol to their Fisheries Agreement for another year, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002. The conditions will remain exactly as they are now and the financial compensation will also remain the same.
EU vessels fishing under this Agreement come from France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. They target shrimp, fish/cephalopods and tuna. Fishing possibilities include 1,500 GRT (Gross Registered Tonnes) for shrimp and 2,500 GRT for fish/cephalopods. Tuna fishing possibilities are provided for 68 vessels (38 tuna seiners, 14 pole and line vessels and 16 surface longliners).
The EU financial compensation amounts to EUR 2,960,000 per year. Almost half (EUR 1,360,000) is allocated to targeted measures aiming to promote scientific research, monitoring and control, support for small-scale fisheries, training facilities and support for participation by Guinea in Regional Fisheries Organisations.
In addition, the EU grants Guinea a EUR 370,000 per year premium to encourage its endeavour to reduce fishing effort in its waters, through measures including stopping allocation of fishing licences to vessels which do not operate under the same constraints as those fishing within the framework of the Agreement.