EC/Sao Tomé and Principe fisheries agreement: protocol for the period from 1st June 2002 to 31 May 2005

PURPOSE : to conclude a new Protocol on the fishing opportunities between São Tomé e Príncipe for the period from 01.06.2002 to 31.05.2005. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 2348/2002/EC on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out, for the period from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2005, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe on fishing off the coast of São Tomé e Príncipe. CONTENT : this new Protocol setting out, for the period from 1 June 2002 to 31 May 2005, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe on fishing off the coast of São Tomé e Príncipe is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. This new Protocol approves new opportunities for Spanish, French and Portuguese fishermen. The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol shall be allocated among the Member States as follows: - freezer tuna seiners: France: 18; Spain: 18 - pole-and-line tuna vessels: Portugal: 2 - surface longliners: Spain: 20; Portugal: 5 - experimental deep-water fishing targeting crab (1 June 2002 to 31 May 2003 only) Spain: 2 vessels under 250 GRT Portugal: 1 vessel under 250 GRT. If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State. The financial contribution of the Agreement shall be fixed at: EUR 925.000 in the first year, EUR 637 500 in the second year and in the third year. For tuna fishing, the financial contribution shall cover an annual catch of 8.500 tonnes in São Tomé e Príncipe waters. If the tuna caught each year by Community vessels in São Tomé e Príncipe's exclusive economic zone exceeds this weight, the amount referred to above shall be proportionately increased at the rate of EUR 75 per additional tonne. The financial contribution shall cover issues such as financing of scientific and technical programmes to promote better understanding of fisheries and living resources in the São Tomé e Príncipe fishing zone; stepping up surveillance, inspection and checks in the fishing zones; institutional support to the administrative department responsible for fisheries; study grants and practical training courses in the various scientific, technical and economic fields linked to fishing; São Tomé e Príncipe's contributions to international fisheries organisations and expenses of São Tomé e Príncipe delegates participating in international meetings concerning fisheries and aid for small-scale fishing. This amount also covers financing in the first year, for an evaluation study on deep-water crab. A joint scientific meeting shall be held annually to evaluate periodically within the Joint Committee the state of crab resources. Based on the findings, the fishing opportunities of this Protocol and the financial contribution may be adjusted after agreement between the twoparties meeting within the framework of the Joint Committee. The São Tomé e Príncipe Ministry responsible for fisheries shall transmit a detailed annual report on the implementation of these measures and the results achieved to the Delegation of the Commission responsible for São Tomé e Príncipe, no later than three months after the anniversary date of the Protocol. The conditions governing fishing by Community vessels in the São Tomé e Príncipe fishing zone are laid down in the annex to the Protocol. ENTRY INTO FORCE : the Regulation shall enter into force on 31.12.2002. The Protocol shall enter into force on the date of the signature by the parties. It shall apply from 1 June 2002.�