Spanish fishing vessels. (Photo: T.Ezcurra)
EUROPEAN UNIONThursday, June 18, 2015, 23:00 (GMT + 9)
The Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament gave its approval to the new fisheries protocol between the European Union (EU) and Cape Verde, which will allow 71 EU vessels, mostly from Spain, to perform fishing activities for four years in the African country’s waters.
Cape Verde will receive EUR 550,000 annually in return during the first two years and EUR 500,000 during the two following ones the agreement is in effect. Half of the financial compensation should be allocated to promote sustainable fisheries and support local fishermen.
The agreement has been provisionally implemented since December 2014.
Permits have been negotiated for the fishermen from Spain, France and Portugal. From the Spanish fleet, in particular, 22 longline vessels from Galicia, 16 freezer tuna seiners based in the Basque Country and Galicia port, and 7 tuna pole-and-line boats having port base in the Basque Country will benefit.
MEPs also gave the green light to the agreement with Madagascar. This agreement allows 94 European vessels to perform fishing activities in this fishery ground, particularly freezer tuna seiners, surface longliners and pole and line tuna vessels with the flags of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.
Madagascar will receive a financial compensation of EUR 866,250 per year the first two years and a further sum amounting to EUR 787,500 in the last two years. Furthermore, the EU will grant EUR 700,000 per year to support the Madagascan fisheries policy and promote sustainability in its waters.
Now both protocols will receive the approval of the full European Parliament. The vote is scheduled for the July session in Strasbourg, France.