EC/Senegal fisheries agreement: protocol for the period from 1 May 1997 to 30 April 2001

OBJECTIVE: adoption of a new fisheries protocol between the Community and Senegal setting the technical and financial conditions for the fishing activities of Community vessels in Senegalese waters for the period from 1 May 1997 to 30 April 2001. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation 542/98/EC on conclusion of the Protocol establishing the fishing rights and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Senegal on fishing off the coast of Senegal for the period from 1 May 1997 to 20 April 3001. SUBSTANCE: The protocol approved between the Community and Senegal provides for the granting of licences for Community vessels operating in Senegalese waters, with a new obligation for catches for certain types of fish. The licences are thus granted by category of vessel for: - 3 inshore demersal fishing trawlers (fish and cephalopods) not landing their catch in Senegal up to 331 GRT (with the option of fishing with freezing facilities for 150 GRT); - 11 ocean-going demersal fishing trawlers not landing their catch in Senegal, 3 750 GRT; - 7 inshore demersal fishing freezer trawlers (fish and cephalopods) landing and selling part of their catch in Senegal, up to 1 800 GRT; -29 ocean-going freezer trawlers (deep-water demersal fishing for crustaceans, except lobster)not landing their catch in Senegal, 4 119 GRT; - 12 pole-and-line tuna vessels; - 41 freezer tuna seiners; - 23 surface longliners; - 22 ocean-going freezer trawlers (deep-water fishing) per year with six being able to fish simultaneously. The maximum catch of deep-sea fish is set at 25 000 tonnes per year. The total number of trawlers (demersal fishing) is set at 50 vessels (with a maximum tolerance of 8% per category, but the parties may alter this threshold by agreement between them). The duration of licences is set by category of fishing vessel. It cannot be less than one month. In exchange Senegal will receive financial compensation of ECU 48 million, payable in four equal annual instalments. The Senegalese authorities are solely responsible for the use made of this sum. In addition to the fishing possibilities set under the new protocol, the regulation lays down a formula for apportioning trawler and tuna fishing opportunities between five Member States (Italy, Greece, Spain, France and Portugal) on the basis of the traditional allocation under the fisheries agreement. The regulation also lays upon Community shipowners an obligation to land tuna in Senegal on the basis of the following formula: - 44% for French tuna vessels, - 56% for Spanish tuna vessels. ENTRY INTO FORCE: the regulation enters into force on 18 March 1998, the fisheries protocol entering into force when the parties notify each other of the completion of the necessary procedures. �