EC/Sao Tome e Principe fisheries agreement: protocol for the period from 1st June 1995 to 31st May 1999

OBJECTIVE: conclusion of a new Protocol on fishing between the Community and Sao Tomé e Príncipe establishing the fishing opportunities open to the Community fleets and the financial compensation provided for to S·o Tomé e Príncipe for the period 1 June 1996 to 31 May 1999. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation (EC) No 1130/97 on the conclusion of the Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of S·o Tomé e Príncipe on fishing off the coast of Sao Tomé e Príncipe for the period 1 June 1996 to 31 May 1999. SUBSTANCE: the fishing possibilities opened under this Protocol mainly concern the fishermen of Spain, France and Portugal. The Regulation sets the allocation of fishing possibilities between these three fleets as follows: - France: fishing licences for 18 freezer tuna seiners and 7 pole-and-line tuna vessels; - Spain: licences for 19 freezer tuna seiners and 20 surface long-liners; - Portugal: licences for 5 surface long-liners. In exchange for these fishing possibilities the financial compensation offered to S·o Tomé e Príncipe is ECU 1.8 million, which covers an annual catch of 9 000 tonnes. In addition to this compensation there is: - Community participation in the financing of scientific and technical programmes as regard the exclusive economic zone of S·o Tomé e Príncipe amounting to ECU 187 500; - the making available to the authorities of that state awards for study and practical training in the various disciplines relating to fisheries (ECU 35 000); - participation in the costs of international meetings on fisheries (ECU 62 000); - bearing the costs of the participation by Sao Tomé e Príncipe in the Regional Fisheries Committee for the Gulf of Guinea (up to ECU 90 000). The Annex to the Protocol sets out the conditions for the issue of licences and the obligations on Community vessels (fee of ECU 20 per tonne caught, keeping of a fishing log, regular communication of their position and their catches, requirement to comply with the request by the coastal state to allow on board observers). ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Regulation entered into force on 24 June 1997. As the protocol was initialled by the parties on 23 May 1996, it will enter into force as soon as all the necessary notifications have been completed. �