Brussels, 26/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and Senegal have initialled a protocol to renew the long-standing fisheries agreement between the EU and Senegal for the period commencing 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2006. Fishing possibilities for EU vessels have been decreased on sensitive stocks and technical measures including a 2-month biological rest (The number of Senegalese fishermen to be employed on EU vessels has been increased from 33% to 50%). The financial compensation has been increased from €12 million to 16 million per year with a share of €3 million for stock conservation. The fishing possibilities remain the same for tuna vessels (54) and surface long liners (23). Overall fishing possibilities on demersal fisheries (species living near the seabed) have been decreased from 10,000 Gross Tonnes (GT) to 8,000 GT. The EU also withdrew its request for fishing possibilities on pelagic (mid-water) species. EU vessels operating under this protocol come from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece, essentially concerning tuna, Nordic shrimps, deep demersal species such as hake and other species living in shallow waters such as cephalopods and grouper.