Brussels, 23/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the Council of the EU adopted, without debate, the new protocol to the EC/Guinea fishing agreement of July 2003 (EUROPE of 12 July 2003). The new protocol, which covers the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008, provides for a reduction of the number of Community vessels authorised to catch tuna from 68 to 57. The financial compensation paid to Guinea by the EU is 19.975 million EUR over five years.