EC/Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution from 18 November 2012 to 15 December 2014. Protocol

PURPOSE: the conclusion of the Protocol between the European Union and Mauritania setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2013/672/EU on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a period of two years

BACKGROUND: the European Commission has conducted negotiations with Mauritania with a view to renewing the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

At the end of those negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 26 July 2012 which now needs to be concluded on behalf of the European Union.

That Protocol should now be approved on behalf of the EU.

CONTENT: with this Decision, the Council concluded, with Parliament’s approval, and on behalf of the EU, a fishing protocol between the European Union and Mauritania setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and that country.

Objective: the main aim of the Protocol to the Agreement is to provide fishing opportunities for vessels of the European Union in the waters of Mauritania within the limits of the available surplus. The Protocol aims to strengthen the cooperation between the Parties with a view to establishing a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Mauritanian fishing zones, in the interests of both Parties.

Fishing Protocol: the Protocol provides for annual fishing opportunities in the following categories and quantities:

·        5 000 tonnes for fishing vessels specialising in crustaceans other than spiny lobster and crab;

·        4 000 tonnes for black hake (non-freezer) trawlers and bottom longliners;

·        2 500 tonnes for vessels fishing for demersal species other than black hake with gear other than trawls;

·        200 tonnes of crab;

·        22 tuna seiners;

·        22 pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface longliners;

·        300 000 tonnes for pelagic freezer trawlers;

·        15 000 tonnes for non-freezer pelagic vessels (to be deducted from the allocation set for pelagic freezer trawlers).

Financial contribution: the financial contribution is wet at EUR 70 million over the entire period of the protocol.

·        a financial contribution of EUR 67 million for access to the fisheries resources, and

·        EUR 3 million in development aid for Mauritania's sectoral fisheries policy. This support meets the objectives of the national fisheries policy.

This financial contribution was calculated on the basis of reference tonnages outlines above. The Parties may adopt in the Joint Committee provided for in the Agreement, a revision to the fishing opportunities. In this case the financial contribution shall be adjusted proportionately and pro rata temporis.

Duration of the fishing protocol: the Protocol is concluded for 2 years from the date of its signature unless it is terminated.

ENTRY INTO FORCE:  the Decision enters into force on 15.11.2013. The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal by the General Secretariat of the Council.