Brussels, 28/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - Contrary to what was agreed politically, the seventh round of negotiations between the EU and Senegal in view of the conclusion of a new protocol of the Fisheries Agreement has not resulted in an extension of the current protocol for another three year period. Consequently, EU vessels will not be allowed to fish in Senegal's waters as of 1 January 2002.
The current four-year Fisheries Protocol between the EU and Senegal was to expire at the end of April 2001. Both parties agreed to extend it to 31 December 2001, while they continued to negotiate a new one. A further three month extension was to be agreed upon if the seventh round of negotiations, which took place in the second week of December, did not allow them to conclude - idea envisaged by the Senegalese authorities while awaiting an impact study of the fisheries agreement with the EU, which is not yet complete. Meanwhile, the Senegalese authorities last week made the extension of the protocol dependent on new conditions, which the EU could not accept, as it considered that the new provisions could only come within the framework of a new protocol, and not as a precondition for an extension of the current protocol. The two parties are to meet again early 2002 to try to reach an agreement on an new protocol that satisfies both. "I am surprised and disappointed that the Senegalese authorities did not honour our agreement to extend the current protocol for another three months. This would have allowed both parties to continue the negotiations on a new protocol without suspension of the fishing activities of the EU fleet. I find that such a non respect of the agreed extension is not in accordance with the excellent long-standing relations existing between the EU and Senegal", declared Franz Fischler, European Commissioner responsible for fishing, on 21 December.
The fisheries agreement between the EU and Senegal dates back to 1980. It provides for fishing possibilities for trawlers, tuna boats and pelagic vessels, but only for a limited quantity of fish. The fishing activities of EU vessels essentially concern tuna, Nordic shrimps, bottom-dwelling species such as hake, as well as live top dwelling species such as grouper and cephalopods. These vessels are Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and Greek. The financial compensation paid by the Community in the framework of the current protocol is 48 million euro over four years.