afrol News, 31 October - The European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a consultative report on the conclusion of a new fisheries partnership agreement between the European Commission (EC) and Mozambique.

Signed for a period of five years and subject to renewal, the agreement grants fishing opportunities to vessels from Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

407 parliamentarians voted in favour of the report, 73 voted against it and 76 were absent.

The lawmakers called on the commission to submit a report on the application of the agreement to the European Parliament and Council during the final year of the protocol's validity and before another agreement is concluded on its renewal.

Fishing opportunities have been granted to 44 purse seine vessels and 45 surface longliners.

A rapporteur of the agreement, Emanuel Jardim Fernandes, emphasised the urgency of concluding the agreement, expected it “to be positive in some respects” because it will support Mozambican sectoral policy on fisheries.

But he said, "it fails to respect the principle of relative stability which has always been followed in previous agreements, even though other criteria have also been used".

He said owing to possible legal considerations, it has not been possible to table legislative amendments to the articles of agreement aimed at improving analysis and management of future fishing agreements through strengthening Mozambican civil society with the active participation of fishermen.

Accompanied by a protocol and an annex, the new agreement has been initiated on 21 December 2006.

The community’s annual financial contribution is fixed at euros 900,000 while the tonnage has been fixed at 10,000 tonnes of tune per year. 100% of the contribution will be allocated to support the implementation of Mozambican government’s sectoral fishing policy.

During the tuna-fishing season, shipowners should employ at least 20% seamen of the African Caribbean and Pacific origin. 40% of the seamen should be Mozambicans.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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