Brussels, 01/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the report by Duarte Freitas (EPP-ED, Portugal) in Brussels on Thursday 30 November, the European Parliament approved with a few amendments the text of the new EU/Cape Verde fisheries partnership agreement (EUROPE 9229 on the detailed proposal). The agreement applied for a period of five years dating from the date of its entry into force, scheduled for 1 September 2006. The new protocol allows only tuna fishing, and fishing licences have been cut from 117 to 84 for European fishing vessels. Amendments aim to improve information forwarded to the EP concerning the way the protocol is implemented.
Fishing possibilities specified in the agreement are: - freezer tuna seiners, 25 vessels (Spain 12, France 13), a reduction of 32% compared to the previous protocol; - pole-and-line tuna vessels, 11 vessels (Spain -7, France -4), a reduction of 39% compared to the previous protocol; - and surface longliners, 48 vessels (Spain -41, Portugal -7), a reduction of 23% compared to the previous protocol. During the period of validity of the agreement, the Community is committed to paying annual compensation of €385,000 to the authorities of Cape Verde: - €325,000 per year for 5,000 tonnes of fish caught and €60,000 per year for the support and implementation of initiatives taken in the context of the Cape Verde sectoral fisheries policy. Amounts paid by Community shipowners could create additional annual income of around €243,450. Also, the agreement includes provisions relating to the satellite tracking of Community fishing vessels operating in the Cape Verde exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This vessel tracking system is to be in place at the latest 15 months after the entry into force of the Agreement. (lc)