Proposal for a Council Regulation on the allocation of the fishing opportunities under the Protocol between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two parties currently in force and amending Regulation 1801/2006

On the basis of a mandate from the Council, the European Commission has conducted negotiations with the Islamic Republic of 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. The new protocol covers a period of two years from the date of its signature.

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 Commission has, among other things, taken account of the opinion of the Scientific Committee set up under the Agreement.

The general aim is to enhance the cooperation between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, thereby creating a partnership framework within which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fishery resources in the Mauritanian fishing zone, in the interests of both Parties.

More specifically, the Protocol provides for annual fishing opportunities in the following categories:

– 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 or longliners;
– 300 000 tonnes for pelagic freezer trawlers;
– 15 000 tonnes for non-freezer pelagic vessels (to be deducted from the allocation provided for pelagic freezer trawlers).

The method for allocating the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined.

The Commission proposes, on this basis, that the Council adopt this Regulation.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)547: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:547:FIN

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision on conclusion of the Protocol between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two Parties currently in force http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-on-conclusion-of-the-protocol-between-the-european-union-and-the-islamic-republic-of-mauritania-setting-out-fishing-opportunities-and-the-financial-contribution-provide/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signature, on behalf of the European Union, and the provisional application of the Protocol between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two parties currently in force http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-on-the-signature-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-and-the-provisional-application-of-the-protocol-between-the-european-union-and-the-islamic-republic-of-mauritania-set/

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