EC/ Guinea-Bissau fisheries agreement: extension of the protocol for the period from 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007

2006/0065(CNS) 10/10/2006

PURPOSE: to extend the Protocol establishing fishing opportunities and the Community financial contribution on a fishing Agreement between the EU and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation 1491/2006/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the extension of the Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea-Bissau for the period 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007.

CONTENT: the existing Protocol between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau is approved by Council Regulation 249/2002/EC and as amended by Regulation 829/2004/EC. Both parties have now decided to extend the validity of the Protocol by one year, covering the period 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007. The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol are as follows:

Shrimps:

- Italy: 1 776 GRT (gross registered tonnage)

- Spain: 1 421 GRT

- Portugal: 1 066 GRT

- Greece: 137 GRT

Fin-fish/ cephalopods:

- Spain: 3 143 GRT

- Italy: 786 GRT

- Greece: 471 GRT

Tuna seiners:

- Spain: 20 vessels

- France: 19 vessels

- Italy: 1 vessel

Surface longliners and pole-and-line vessels:

- Spain: 21 vessels

- France: 5 vessels

- Portugal: 4 vessels.

If licence applications from the Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed by the Protocol, the Commission may consider licence applications from any other Member State. The Member State whose vessels fish in accordance with this Agreement need to notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock caught within the fishing zone of Guinea-Bissau.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 14 October 2006.

Final act