on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the (2021-2026) Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The Fisheries Partnership Agreement (‘FPA’) between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the European Community was signed on 8 August 2008 for a period of 6 years, and was applied on a provisional basis from the same date. It was later tacitly renewed. The latest 4-year Implementing Protocol (2015-2019) to the FPA was extended twice, each time for a period of 1 year. It expires on 15 November 2021. On the basis of the relevant negotiating directives, the European Commission conducted negotiations with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (‘Mauritania’) with a view to concluding, on behalf of the European Union, a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement and implementing protocol. Following these negotiations, an agreement and a protocol were initialled by the negotiators on 28 July 2021. The new Agreement covers a period of 6 years from the date of provisional application laid down in Article 20 thereof, that being the date on which it is signed by both parties. It is tacitly renewable. The new Implementing Protocol covers a period of 5 years from the date of provisional application laid down in Article 19 thereof, that being the date on which it is signed by both parties. It contains a clause providing for a review during the second year of application, with a view to a possible adjustment of the fishing opportunities and associated financial compensation. The proposal aims to establish how the fishing opportunities provided by the Protocol will be distributed among the Member States.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

The main objective of the new Agreement is to provide an updated framework for cooperation, taking into account the priorities of the reformed common fisheries policy and its external dimension, with a view to continuing and strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in the field of fisheries. The Protocol aims to grant fishing opportunities to European Union vessels in the Mauritanian fishing zone in accordance with the best available scientific advice and the resolutions and recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), within the limits of the available surplus. The Commission based its negotiating position in part on the results of an evaluation of the previous Protocol (2015-2019) and a forward-looking assessment of whether a new protocol should be concluded. These were carried out by external experts. The aim is also to enhance cooperation between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania so as to promote sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fishery resources in the Mauritanian fishing zone and in the Atlantic Ocean, in the interest of both parties. This cooperation will also help to create jobs which offer decent working conditions in accordance with the Work in Fishing Convention (ILO 188). The new Protocol provides for the same fishing opportunities as the current Protocol during the first 2 years of application, except for a marginal adjustment of the reference tonnage for the two types of tuna vessel. Specifically, it covers the following categories:

–Category 1 – Vessels fishing for crustaceans other than spiny lobster and crab: 5 000 tonnes and 15 vessels;

–Category 2 – Black hake (non-freezer) trawlers and bottom longliners: 6 000 tonnes and 4 vessels;

–Category 2a – Pelagic freezer trawlers targeting black hake: 3 500 tonnes of hake, 1 450 tonnes of squid, 600 tonnes of cuttlefish for 6 vessels;

–Category 3 – Vessels fishing for demersal species other than black hake with gear other than trawls: 3 000 tonnes and 6 vessels;

–Category 4 – Tuna seiners: 14 000 tonnes (reference tonnage) and 29 vessels;

–Category 5 – Pole-and-line tuna vessels and longliners: 7 000 tonnes (reference tonnage) and 15 vessels;

–Category 6 – Pelagic freezer trawlers: 247 500 tonnes and 19 vessels;

–Category 7 – Non-freezer pelagic vessels: 15 000 tonnes (deducted from volume under category 6 if used) and 2 vessels.