Brussels, 11/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and the Republic of Guinea have signed a new 5-year protocol to the fisheries agreement between the two parties for the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008. This protocol provides for the reduction from 68 to 57 of Community vessels authorised to catch tuna. The vessels concerned still come from France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. The other fishing possibilities may be reviewed downward, only when scientific conditions are met. They will therefore remain identical up to: 2,500 GRT (gross registered tonnes) per month as an annual average for fish and cephalopod trawlers, and 1500 GRT per month annual average for shrimps.
The financial compensation paid by the EU in favour of Guinea has been slightly increased. It will amount to EUR 19.975 million over five years (i.e. EUR 3.999 million per year on average, as opposed to EUR 2.960 million annually according to the current protocol). Nearly half this amount, i.e. EUR 8.875 million in five years, will be granted for the funding of scientific and technical programmes intended to improve the knowledge of fishing resources in the region. EUR 2.5 million (in five years) will serve to improve controls on fishing activities.
The Commission specifies that a number of innovations have been made to protect local non-industrial fishing. Thus, industrial fishing within the 12-mile coastal zone will be banned, in the same way as fishing at depths of over 20 metres. Furthermore, in order to reduce rejects, the Community vessels should keep accessory catches on board over and above a certain level and offload them with a view to supplying the local market. An exclusivity clause was brought in to ban access to Guinea's waters by Community vessels that are not concerned by the protocol.