EC/Guinea fisheries agreement: protocol for the period from 1st January 2004 to 31 December 2008

PURPOSE : to approve the Protocol defining for the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008 the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the EEC and the Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast. PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation. CONTENT : this new Protocol replaces the existing fisheries Protocol with Guinea and comes into force on 1 January 2004. The details are as follows: - it grants fishing opportunities for an annual average of 2 500 GRT per month for fin-fish and cephalopod trawlers, for an annual average of 1 500 GRT per month for shrimp trawlers, for 34 freezer tuna seiners, for 14 pole-and-line tuna vessels and for 9 surface longliners; - fishing opportunities for fin-fish and cephalopod trawlers may be increased in 2005 and 2006 to a maximum level of 3 500 GRT provided that the following three conditions are fulfilled: - availability of scientific evidence of the sound state of stocks; - equivalent reduction in the quota of licences issued outside the scope of agreements; - satisfactory rate of use of fishing opportunities. The financial contribution amounts to EUR 3 400 000, comprising EUR 2 000 000 in financial compensation and EUR 1 400 000 for measures aimed at achieving objectives associated with the sustainable management of Guinean fisheries resources. These amounts may be increased in 2005 up to a maximum of EUR 3 825 000 and in 2006 up to a maximum of EUR 4 250 000, in proportion to the above-mentioned increases in fishing opportunities. In addition to the financial contribution, provision is made for two payments, of EUR 500 000 and EUR 300 000, in the first two years of the Protocol for the purchase of at least two surveillance vessels to combat illegal fishing. The Protocol emphasises the need to preserve fisheries resources and to give priority to traditional non-industrial fishing. In addition, it is aimed at contributing towards food security by substantially reducing discards and setting up a collection system for catches to be landed in Guinea by Community vessels. The Protocol relies on the Fisheries Agreement as a means of developing fisheries in Guinea. This new Protocol will make it possible to promote business partnerships between Community operators and Guinean operators aimed at joint, responsible exploitation of Guinean fisheries resources. Community vessel-owners will be able to continue fishing (in particular for shrimp, demersal fish species, cephalopods and tuna) in Guinea's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In addition, the exclusivity clause (Community vessels may fish in Guinea only under the Agreement) and the social clause have been included in the Protocol. The fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol are allocated among the Member States as follows: 1) Shrimp fishing: - Spain 1 050 GRT; - Portugal 300 GRT; - Greece 150 GRT; 2) Tuna seiners: - France 17 vessels -Spain 17 vessels 3) Pole-and-line tuna vessels: - France 7 vessels - Spain 7 vessels 4) Surface longliners: - Spain 8 - Portugal 1 The fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol for fin-fish and cephalod fishing for 2004 will be allocated among the Member States as follows: - Spain 844 GRT; - Italy 750 GRT; - Greece 906 GRT. FINANCIAL STATEMENT : - Budget line - B78000: International Fisheries Agreements. - Overall figures - Total allocation for action (Part B): EUR 3 900 000 in the first year, EUR 4 125 000 in the second year, and EUR 4 250 000 per year in the third, fourth and fifth years, in commitment appropriations. - Period of application: 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008. - Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure: minimum: EUR 17 800 000; maximum: EUR 20 775 000. - Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure: EUR 275,955. - Total commitments and payments - minimum EUR 18, 077 million; maximum 21, 025 million. - Impact on human resources : 3 permanent staff will be assigned to the management of the action.�