Brussels, 27/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted without debate, a decision on the new protocol for an agreement between the EU and Ivory Coast (EUROPE 12 March 2004). This new protocol, which covers 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2007, includes a slight increase in fishing possibilities (tuna and deep sea species) for French, Spanish and Portuguese boats. Financial contribution - 1.065 million annually - increase of 11% compared to previous protocol. The number of tuna fishing boats allowed to fish in the Ivory Coast has been reduced to 48 (34 tuna fishing liners, 11 longliners and 3 pole and line vessels), but rights for fishing catches increase from 8,500 to 9000 tonnes, and tonnage for high sea trawlers increased from 600 to 700 of Gross Registered tonnage (GRT) per month.