Brussels, 12/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, recently signed a new Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Greenland. Lasting six years from 1st January 2007, this new agreement replaces the current one, which is due to expire at the end of the year, and includes decreases in a number of fishing opportunities for the EU fleet, among which a 66% reduction to 8,000 tonnes (t) in the annual quota for redfish, and a 50% reduction, to 500t, for snowcrab. There is also a reduction of 16% for Greenland halibut (East). The quota for roundnose grenadier has been removed. The new agreement provides for a 66% increase, to 2,500t, in the quota for Greenland halibut (West), and a 23% increase in shrimp to 7,000t. A quota for cod has been introduced, with a level of 1,000t in 2007, rising to 3,500. Elsewhere, the agreement provides for the exchange of quotas with third countries which fish in the North Atlantic.
The annual EU compensation to the Greenland authorities is 15.8 million euro, a quarter of which is earmarked for support to the Greenland fisheries policy. In addition, a payment of 2 million euro is expected from ship owners in the form of licence fees. The EU will also pay Greenland 25 million euro for cooperation in areas other than fisheries.