PURPOSE: approving a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation 1801/2006/EC on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
CONTENT: in adopting this Regulation the Community approves the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The text of the Partnership Agreement is attached to the Regulation. The Agreement will apply for a period of two years commencing the 1 August 2006. It may be renewed twice for a period of two years on the basis of a tacit agreement between the two parties.
In summary, the Agreement establishes the principles, rules and procedures governing the economic financial, technical and scientific co-operation in the fisheries sector. It also sets: the conditions for access to the Mauritanian fishing zones for Community vessels; the arrangements needed for policing Mauritanian fishing zones; the basis for partnerships between Community and Mauritanian companies; the conditions for the landing and transhipment of catches made in Mauritanian fishing zones; and the terms for taking seamen on board Community vessels operating under the Agreement.
The essential principle governing the Agreement is one of responsible, non-discriminatory, fishing. The employment of Mauritanian seamen on-board Community vessels will be governed by ILO standards. Under the terms of the Agreement, Mauritania will allow Community vessels to operate in its fishing zones – on condition that Community vessels are in possession of a fishing licence issued under the terms of the Agreement. In addition, both sides agree to undertaking joint scientific projects to monitor the state of resources in Mauritanian fishing zones.
In return the Community will grant Mauritania a financial contribution comprising of two elements. Firstly, a financial contribution for access by Community vessels to Mauritanian fishing zones, (without prejudice to the fees due by Community vessels to obtain licences) and secondly, financial support for implementing a national fisheries policy based on responsible fishing and on the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources in Mauritanian waters. The total EU contribution is fixed at EUR 86 million per year, of which EUR 11 million per year will be allocated by Mauritania to implementing its national fisheries policy and EUR 1 million per year will be given to the Banc d’Arguin National Park (PNBA).
The Agreement provides for a Joint Committee, which will be responsible for monitoring and implementing the Agreement. It will act as a liaison on matters of mutual interest in the field of fisheries. It will meet at least once a year. Termination and suspension provisions are also foreseen.
The fishing opportunities, as set out in the Protocol, are as follows:
- Category 1: Fishing vessels specialising in crustaceans other than crawfish and crab: maximum authorised capacity 9 440 GT. To be divided between Spain, Italy and Portugal.
- Category 2: Black hake trawlers and bottom longliners: maximum authorised capacity 3 600 GT. For Spain.
- Category 3: Demersal fisheries – other than trawlers and targeting species other than black hake: maximum authorised capacity 2 324 GT. To be divided between Spain, the UK and Malta.
- Category 4: Pelagic freezer trawlers fishing for demersal species: Maximum authorised capacity: 750 GT. For Greece.
- Category 5: Cephalopods: maximum authorised capacity 18 600 GT for 43 licences. To be divided between Spain and Italy.
- Category 6: Crawfish: maximum authorised capacity 300 GT. For Portugal.
- Category 7: Freezer tuna fisheries: maximum of 36 licences. To be divided between Spain, France and Malta.
- Category 8: Pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface longliners: maximum of 31 licences. To be divided between Spain, France and Portugal.
- Category 9: Pelagic freezer trawler: 22 licences for a maximum ceiling of 440 000 tonnes. To be divided between the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France and Poland.
- Category 10: Crab fishing: maximum authorised capacity 300 GT. For Spain.
- Category 11: Non-freezer pelagic vessels: maximum authorised capacity 15 000 GT.
If licence applications from the Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities then the Commission may take other licence applications from any other Member State into consideration.
ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE PROTOCOL: 15 December 2006