Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2013)650 - Allocation of fishing opportunities under the Protocol with Morocco on fishing opportunities and financial contributions to the fisheries agreement between the two parties - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2013)650 - Allocation of fishing opportunities under the Protocol with Morocco on fishing opportunities and financial contributions to ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2013)650  |
| date | 23-09-2013 |
On the basis of a mandate from the Council[1], the European Commission has opened negotiations with the Kingdom of Morocco on the renewal of the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco. At the end of the negotiations a new draft Protocol was initialled by the negotiators on 24 July 2013. The new Protocol covers a period of four years from its entry into force.
The main aim of the Protocol to the Agreement is to provide fishing opportunities for European Union vessels in the waters of the Kingdom of Morocco within the limits of the available surplus. The Commission’s negotiating position was based in part on the results of an ex-post evaluation carried out by external experts.
The general aim is to strengthen cooperation between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco, thereby creating a partnership framework within which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in the Moroccan fishing zone, in the interests of both Parties.
More specifically, the Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories:
– Small-scale pelagic fishing in the north: 20 seiners,
– Small-scale fishing in the north: 35 bottom longliners,
– Small-scale fishing in the south: 10 vessels (rods and lines),
– Demersal fishing: 16 bottom longliners and bottom trawls,
– Tuna fishing: 27 pole-and-line vessels
– Industrial pelagic fishing: 80 000 tonnes of catch, 18 vessels
The method for allocating fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined.
The Commission proposes, on this basis, that the Council adopt the Regulation.
Contents
The interested parties were consulted during the evaluation of the Protocol for the period 2007-11. Experts from the Member States were also consulted in technical meetings. These consultations led to the conclusion that it would be beneficial to maintain a fishing protocol with the Kingdom of Morocco.
This procedure is being initiated in parallel with the procedures relating to the Council Decision for the signature of the Protocol, as well as the Council Decision for the conclusion of the Protocol itself.