Brussels, 29/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 25 January, the European Commission adopted the formal proposal on the fisheries partnership agreement signed between the EU and Madagascar on 21 June 2006 (see EUROPE 9219). This partnership agreement for tuna will last 6 years from its starting date of 1 January 2007. Once adopted by the EU Council of Ministers, the new agreement will replace the current protocol, which expired at the end of 2006.
Financial contribution: the European Community will pay Madagascar €990,000 per year against a reference tonnage of 11,000 tonnes of tuna (bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, white tuna, swordfish, spearfish and marlin). 80% of this amount will provide support for defining and developing a sectoral fisheries policy in Madagascar. EU fishing possibilities could be increased to 12,000 tonnes from 2007, on condition that catches by EU vessels do not exceed 11,000 tonnes in 2006. Were there to be such an increase, the EU's financial contribution would rise to €1,080 million per year.
Fishing possibilities: 44 freezer tuna seiners (23 Spanish, 20 French and 1 Italian) and 44 surface longliners (21 Spanish, 15 French, 6 Portuguese and 2 British) are authorised to fish for tuna in the waters of Madagascar. This is an increase of 8 licences compared with the last protocol. In addition, 5 French vessels may carry out exploratory line or bottom longline fishing for demersal species over two six-month periods. EU shipowners' fees have been set at €35 per tonne of tuna (compared with €25 in the last protocol). The fees to be paid for the demersal species will be set after the experimental phase. (lc)