18/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 16 May, the European Parliament approved a regulation granting a one year extension (from 1st June 2005 to 31 May 2006) to the protocol setting the fishing possibilities and the financial compensation allowed for in the agreement between the EU and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tomé e Principle. Fishing possibilities remain unchanged (36 French and Spanish freezer tuna seiners, 2 Portuguese tuna pole-and-line vessels and 25 Spanish and Portuguese surface longliners). The reference tonnage is 8500 tonnes of tuna during the period of the extension and the financial compensation is 687,500 euro for the exploitation of the resources.