EC/Mauritania fisheries agreement: protocol for the period from 1st August 2001 to 31 July 2006

PURPOSE : to adopt a new Protocol relating to the fishing agreement between the European Community and Mauritania for the period 01/08/2001 to 30/07/2006. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 2528/2001/EC on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement on co-operation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the period 01.08.2001 to 31.07.2006. CONTENT : the Council, by a qualified majority with Greece voting against and Italy abstaining, formally adopted this Regulation. The Regulation is in accordance with the initial proposal which laid down the fishing opportunities to be allocated among Member States. The new Protocol provides for an increase of possibilities for fishing for categories 1, 5 and 8 (crustaceans, cephalopods and tuna seiners/pole-and-line), a decrease for categores 3, 4, 6, 7 nd 9 (demersal, lobsters, tuna seiners and pelagic species) and the status quo for category 2 (black hake). In addition, there is also an increase of 10% for the crustaceans and 42 vessels (average of the previous protocol) and 55 vessels for cephalopods for the duration of the present Protocol. With regard to category 9, pelagic species, there is a decrease from 22 to 15 vessels. The total financial contribution is set at EUR 86 million per year, comprising EUR 82 million financial compensation and EUR 4 million to cover financial assistance for fisheries research, institutional support for fisheries surveiallnce, rescue services and the management of fishing licences, maritime training, the development of fisheries statistics and participation in international seminars and meetings. The possibilities for fishing set out in the Protocol are divided between Spain, Italy and Portugal according to a allocation of Gross registered tonnage (GRT) and the number of vessels which may be used. If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other ENTRY INTO FORCE : the Regulation shall entry into force 25.12.2001. It should be added that the Council has also adopted a decision relating the provisional application of this Protocol (2001/926/EC). �