Brussels, 17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 12 March, the European Commission adopted both proposals on the fisheries partnership agreement giving Community fishermen fishing possibilities in the Guinean fishing zone. Under the mandate given to the Commission by the Council, the EU and the Republic of Guinea negotiated and initialled this four-year partnership agreement on 20 December 2008.
Both sides have undertaken to ensure that resources are sustainably exploited, to assure control and surveillance of the fishing zones of the Republic of Guinea, and to work to strengthen the country's institutional capacity so that Guinea can conduct a genuine sectoral fisheries policy.
The financial compensation of the protocol is €450,000 per year, in return for fishing possibilities in the highly migratory species category. The entire amount of this financial compensation is earmarked for the introduction of a national fisheries policy, the aim of which is the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks in Guinean waters. An additional specific contribution (€600,000 in the first year, €400,000 in the second and €300,000 in the following years) will be granted to improve the monitoring, control and surveillance system in Guinean fishing zones and to enable Guinea to acquire a satellite surveillance system by 30 June 2010.
With regard to fishing possibilities, 28 seine netters (15 Spanish, 11 French and 2 Italian) and 12 rod-and-line vessels (8 Spanish and 4 French) will be authorised to fish. However, at the request of the Community, exploratory fishing voyages may be carried out as part of the agreement. If these voyages provide conclusive evidence, the two sides may decide to award new fishing possibilities to Community vessels. The protocol also provides fishing possibilities for shrimp trawlers, at a rate of 800 gross registered tonnes (grt) per quarter, if the state of the stock allows it. The partnership agreement also encourages economic, scientific and technical cooperation in the fishing and related sectors. (L.C./transl.rt)