Brussels, 05/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU and the Solomon Islands have signed a new Fisheries Agreement that provides Spain and France with fishing possibilities for an initial period of three years, applicable as from 1st January 2005, provides fishing possibilities exclusively for tuna for EU vessels fishing in the waters of the Solomon Islands. It also establishes fishing opportunities to EU vessels that are adapted in the light of scientific advice and limitations established by the Palau Arrangement which aims to co-ordinate management measures for the purse seine fishery in the Western Pacific area.
This Fisheries Agreement with the Solomon Islands is the second of its kind to be signed by the EU with a country of the Pacific region. The first was signed with Kiribati in 2002. The waters of the West Pacific are the richest in tuna resources as they traditionally provide 50% of the world annual catches of albacore, bigeye, skipjack and yellow-fin tuna.
The main principles of the agreement are as follows:
Fishing possibilities: In 20054 purse seine vessels and 10 long-liners will be authorised to fish tuna under the Agreement. From 2006, the number of purse seine vessels may be increased if scientific assessment warrants such an increase. The reference tonnage has been set at 6,000 tonnes of tuna catches per year.
Financial contribution: The EU financial contribution will amount at € 400,000 per year, with a possible increase of € 65,000/year from 2006 for each additional licence obtained. The share of the cost to be met by ship-owners has been agreed at € 35 per tonne of tuna. Each vessel fishing under the Agreement is also required to embark at least one national as a crew-member. 30% of the EU contribution (€ 120,000) will be devoted to the implementation of a multi-annual sectoral programme which will be agreed mutually in the context of a political dialogue, at the latest three months after the entering into force of the Agreement.
Technical and operational conditions: . EU vessels operating under this Agreement will fish beyond a 30-mile coastal band in order to avoid any risk of competition with the local artisanal fleet. Each of them will have to take an observer on board according to a pre-established observation programme and to contribute € 400 to the Solomon Islands observer programme. EU vessels will also be subject to national monitoring and control procedures and to catch reporting.