Council Regulation (EEC) No 3680/92 of 7 December 1992 on the conclusion of the Protocol establishing, for the period from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993, the fishing rights and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast
Date: 1992-12-07
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Guinea, fishery management, fishing agreement, fishing licence













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31992R3680

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3680/92 of 7 December 1992 on the conclusion of the Protocol establishing, for the period from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993, the fishing rights and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast  


Official Journal L 379 , 23/12/1992 P. 0001 - 0014 





COUNCIL  REGULATION (EEC) No 3680/92  of 7 December 1992 on the conclusion of the Protocol establishing, for  the period from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993, the fishing rights and financial compensation  provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the  Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coastTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article  43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament  (1), Whereas, pursuant to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of  the Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast  (2), signed in Conakry on 7 February 1983,  as last amended by the Agreement signed in Brussels on 28 July 1987  (3), the two Parties conducted  negotiations to determine the amendments or additions to be made to the Agreement at the end of the  period of application of the Protocol annexed to the Agreement; Whereas, as a result of these negotiations, a new Protocol establishing, for the period from 1  January 1992 to 31 December 1993, the fishing rights and financial compensation provided for in the  abovementioned Agreement was initialled on 12 December 1991; Whereas it is in the Community's interest to approve the new Protocol, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:Article 1The Protocol establishing, for the period  from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993, the fishing rights and financial compensation provided for  in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of  Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Regulation.Article 2The President of the Council is  hereby authorized to designate the persons empowered to sign the Protocol in order to bind the  Community.Article 3This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its  publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all  Member States. Done at Brussels, 7 December 1992. For the CouncilThe PresidentD. HURD (1)  OJ No C 305, 23. 11. 1992.  (2)  OJ No L 111, 27. 4. 1983, p. 1.  (3)  OJ No L 29, 30. 1. 1987, p. 9. PROTOCOL establishing, for the period from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1993, the fishing  rights and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic  Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast Article  1For a period of two years from 1 January 1992, the fishing rights granted under Article 2 of the  Agreement shall be as follows: 1.   Trawlers: 12  000 (twelve thousand) grt a month, annual average. 2. Freezer tuna seiners: 24 vessels. 3. Pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface longliners: 8 vessels. 4. Surface longliners: 5 vessels. Article 21.    The financial compensation referred to in Article  8 of the Agreement shall be, for the period referred to in Article 1, ECU 6  700  000, payable in  two equal annual instalments. 2.    The use to which this compensation is put shall be the sole responsibility of the Government  of the Republic of Guinea. 3.    The compensation shall be paid into an account opened with a financial institution or any  other body designated by the Government of the Republic of Guinea. Article 3At the request of the  Community, the fishing rights referred to in point 1 of Article 1 may be increased by successive  instalments of 1  000 grt a month, calculated on an annual average basis. In this case, the  financial compensation referred to in Article 2 shall be increased proportionately. Article 4The  Community shall also contribute during the period referred to in Article 1 the sum of ECU 400  000  towards the financing of a Guinean scientific or technical programme to improve information on the  fishery resources within the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Guinea. This sum shall be made available to the Government of the Republic of Guinea and paid into the  account indicated by the Guinean authorities. Article 5The two Parties agree that improving the  skills and knowledge of those involved in sea fishing is a vital element in the success of their  cooperation. To that end, the Community shall make it easier for nationals of Guinea to find places  in establishments in its Member States and shall provide for that purpose awards for study and  practical training in the various scientific, technical and economic disciplines relating to  fisheries. The awards may also be used in any country linked with the Community by a cooperation agreement.  The total cost of the awards may not exceed ECU 400  000. At the request of the Guinean  authorities, part of this sum may be used to cover the costs of participation in international  meetings or training courses concerning fisheries or for the organization of seminars on fishing in  Guinea, or to strengthen the administrative infrastructure of the fisheries department. The sum  shall be payable as and when it is used. Article 6Should the Community fail to make the payments  provided for in Articles 2 and 4, the application of this Protocol may be suspended. Article 7The  Annex to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic  of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast is hereby repealed and replaced by the Annex to this  Protocol. Article 8This Protocol shall enter into force on the date on which it is signed. It shall be applicable from 1 January 1992. ANNEX CONDITIONS FOR THE EXERCISE OF FISHING ACTIVITIES BY COMMUNITY VESSELS IN GUINEA'S  FISHING ZONE A.   Licence application and issuing formalitiesThe relevant Community authorities  shall present to the Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries of the Republic of Guinea, via  the Commission Delegation in Guinea, an application for each vessel that is to be used for fishing  under the Agreement, at least 30 days before the date of commencement of the period of validity  requested. The applications shall be made on the forms provided for that purpose by the Government of the  Republic of Guinea, a specimen of which is attached hereto (Annex 1). Each licence application shall be accompanied by proof of payment of the fee for the period of the  licence's validity. Payment shall be made into the account opened with the Public Treasury of  Guinea. The fees shall include all national and local charges except for port taxes and service costs. Licences for all vessels shall be issued by the Guinean authorities within 30 days following  receipt of proof of payment as laid down above to the shipowners or their representatives via the  Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities in Guinea. Licences shall be issued for a specific vessel and shall not be transferable. However, where force  majeure is proven and at the request of the European Economic Community, a vessel's licence shall  be replaced by a new licence for another vessel whose features are similar to those of the first  vessel. The owner of the first vessel shall return the cancelled licence to the Office of the  Secretary of State for Fisheries of the Republic of Guinea via the authorities of the Commission of  the European Communities. The new licence shall indicate: -   the date of issue,  - the validity of the new licence, covering the period from the date of arrival of the replacement  vessel to the date of expiry of the licence of the replaced vessel.  In this case, no fee as laid down in the second subparagraph of Article 5 of the Agreement shall  be due for unexpired periods of validity. The licence must be held on board at all times. I.   Provisions applicable to trawlers1.   Each vessel shall be obliged to report to the port of  Conakry once a year, prior to the issue of the licence, to undergo the inspection laid down by the  rules and regulations currently in force. Inspections shall be carried out exclusively by duly  authorized persons and must be effected within 24 working hours of arrival of the vessel in port if  arrival has been announced at least 48 hours in advance. If the licence is renewed during the same  calendar year the vessel shall be exempt from further inspection.  2. Each vessel must be represented by an agent appearing on a list drawn up by the Office of the  Secretary of State for Fisheries.  3. (a)  For the duration of this Protocol the fees for annual licences shall be as follows: ECU 126 per GRT per year for fin-fish trawlers, ECU 150 per GRT per year for cephalopod trawlers, ECU 152 per GRT per year for shrimp trawlers. Payment may be made in quarterly or half-yearly instalments at a fee 5 and 3  % higher  respectively.  (b)For the duration of this Protocol the fees for half-yearly licences shall be as follows: ECU 82 per GRT per half-year for fin-fish trawlers, ECU 97 per GRT per half-year for cephalopod trawlers, ECU 99 per GRT per half-year for shrimp trawlers.  However, vessels failing to land 100 kg of fish per GRT per quarter in accordance with the  provisions of part C shall be obliged to pay an additional fee of ECU 10 per GRT per year.  II.   Provisions applicable to tuna vessels and surface longliners(a)   The annual fees shall be  ECU 20 per tonne caught within Guinea's fishing zone.  (b) Licences shall be issued following payment to the Office of the Secretary of State for  Fisheries of a lump sum of ECU 1  500 a year for each tuna seiner and ECU 300 a year for each  pole-and-line tuna vessel and surface longliner, equivalent to the fees for: -   75 tonnes of tuna caught per year in the case of seiners,  - 15 tonnes caught per year in the case of pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface longliners.  The final statement of the fees due for the fishing period shall be drawn up by the Commission of  the European Communities at the end of each calendar year on the basis of the catch statements made  for each vessel and confirmed by the scientific institutes responsible for verifying catch data  (Orstom and IEO - Spanish Institute of Oceanography). The statement shall be forwarded  simultaneously to the Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries and to the shipowners. Any  additional payment due shall be made by the shipowners to the Office of the Secretary of State for  Fisheries of Guinea no later than 30 days after notification of the final statement, to be paid  into the account opened with the Public Treasury of Guinea. However, if the amount of the final statement is lower than the abovementioned amount, the  resulting balance shall not be reimbursable. B.   Statement of catchFor all Community vessels authorized to fish in Guinea's waters under the  Agreement a statement of their catch must be provided to the Office of the Secretary of State for  Fisheries, with a copy to the Commission Delegation in Guinea, in accordance with the procedures  set out below: -   for trawlers a statement shall be made out according to the specimen annexed hereto (Annex 2).  The statements shall be drawn up each month and presented at least once each quarter,  - for tuna seiners, pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface longliners a fishing log shall be kept,  in accordance with Annex 3, for each fishing period spent in Guinea's fishing zone. The form must  be sent, within 45 days of the end of the fishing voyage spent in the Guinea fishing zone, to the  Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries via the Delegation of the Commission of the European  Communities in Guinea,  - forms must be completed legibly and be signed by the master of the vessel.  Should this provision not be adhered to, the Government of Guinea reserves the right to suspend  the licence of the offending vessel until the formality has been complied with. In this case, the Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities in Guinea shall be  informed. C. Landing of catchTrawlers authorized to fish in the Guinea fishing zone shall, in order to make  a contribution towards supplying the local population with fish caught in the Guinea fishing zone,  be obliged to land 100 kilograms of fish per GRT per year free of charge. Landings may be made individually or collectively, mention being made of the vessels concerned. D.   By-catch1.   Fin fish trawlers may not hold on board species other than fish representing  more than 15  % of their total catch in the Guinea fishing zone. Cephalopod trawlers may not hold on board crustaceans representing more than 20  % or fish  representing more than 30  % of their total catch in the Guinea fishing zone. Shrimp trawlers may not hold on board cephalopods representing more than 25  % or fish representing  more than 50  % of their total catch in the Guinea fishing zone. A maximum tolerance of 5  % of these percentages shall be authorized. These limits shall be indicated on the licence.  2. Pole-and-line tuna vessels shall, moreover, be authorized to fish for live bait in order to  carry out their fishing activities in the Guinea fishing zone. E. Signing-on of seamenOwners who have been issued fishing licences under the Agreement shall  contribute to the on-the-job vocational training of Guinea nationals, subject to the conditions and  limits set out below: 1. Each trawler owner shall undertake to employ: -  three seamen/fishermen on vessels up to 350 GRT,  -a number of seamen/fishermen equivalent to 25  % of the number of seamen/fishermen signed on for  vessels with a tonnage greater than 350 GRT.  2. For the fleet of tuna seiners, three Guinea seamen shall be signed on permanently.  3. For the fleet of pole-and-line tuna vessels, three Guinea seamen shall be signed on for the  tuna fishing season in the Guinea fishing zone, all of them to be assigned to different vessels.  4. For the fleet of surface longliners, shipowners shall undertake to sign on two seamen/fishermen  per vessel.  5. The wages of these seamen/fishermen shall be fixed, before licences are issued, by mutual  agreement between the shipowners or their representatives and the Office of the Secretary of State  of Fisheries; the wages shall be borne by the shipowners and must include the social contributions  to which the seaman is subject (including life assurance and accident and sickness insurance).  Should the seamen not be signed on, owners of tuna seiners, pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface  longliners shall be obliged to pay the Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries a lump sum  equivalent to the wages of seamen not signed on. This sum will be used for the training of seamen/fishermen in Guinea and is to be paid into an  account specified by the Guinean authorities. F. Taking on board of observers and seamen-observers1. The observers, and seamen-observers, task  shall be to check on fishing activities in the Guinean fishing zone and collect all statistical  data on the fishing activities of the vessel concerned. They shall be offered every facility needed  to carry out their duties, including access to premises and documents and weekly radio  communication of fishing data.  2. For each trawler the Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries shall designate one of the  Guinean seamen signed on to discharge the additional function of observer. The master of the vessel shall facilitate the work of the seaman-observer outside the actual  fishing operations. The seaman-observer shall be paid by the owner as a seaman in line with the  terms in force. The seaman-observer shall not normally remain on board for more than two trips.  3. Tuna vessels and surface longliners shall take an observer on board at the request of the  Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries. He must not remain on board any longer than is  necessary for the accomplishment of his duties. The master of the vessel shall facilitate the work of the observer, who shall be accorded the  conditions enjoyed by officers of the vessel. The salary and the social contributions of the observer shall be borne by the Government of  Guinea. Should the observer be taken on board in a foreign port, his travelling costs shall be borne by the  shipowner. Should a vessel with an observer on board leave the Guinean fishing zone, all measures must be  taken to ensure the observer's return to Conakry as soon as possible at the expense of the  shipowner. G. Inspection and monitoringAny Community vessel fishing in Guinea's fishing zone shall allow on  board any official of Guinea responsible for inspection and monitoring and shall assist him in the  accomplishment of his duties. The official must not remain on board any longer than is necessary  for the verification of catches by random checks and for any other inspection relating to fishing  activities. H. Fishing zonesAll the vessels referred to in Article 1 of the Protocol shall be authorized to  fish in waters beyond 12 nautical miles. I. Meshes authorizedThe minimum mesh size authorized for the trawl body (mesh fully extended)  shall be: (a)  40 mm for shrimps;  (b)40 mm for cephalopods;  (c)60 mm for fin fish.  These minimum sizes may be altered to conform to the standardization of the Member States of the  Subregional Fisheries Commission. Any such alterations shall be examined in the Joint Committee. J. Entering and leaving the zoneAll Community vessels fishing under the Agreement in the Guinean  zone shall communicate to the radio station of the Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries  the date and time and their position when entering and leaving the Guinea fishing zone. The call sign and operating frequencies and times of the station shall be communicated to the  shipowners by the Office of the Secretary of State for Fisheries at the time the licence is  issued. In cases where this radio communication cannot be used, vessels may use alternative means, such as  telex (No 22315) or telegram. K.   Procedure in case of boarding1.   The Delegation of the Commission of the European  Communities in Guinea shall be notified within 48 hours of any boarding within the Guinea exclusive  economic zone of a fishing vessel flying the flag of a Member State of the Community and operating  under an Agreement concluded between the Community and a third country and shall at the same time  receive a brief report of the circumstances and reasons leading to the boarding.  2. In the case of vessels authorized to fish in Guinean waters, before any measures regarding the  master or the crew of the vessel or any action regarding the cargo and equipment of the vessel are  considered, other than those to safeguard evidence relating to the presumed infringement, a  consultation meeting shall be held, within 48 hours of receipt of the abovementioned information,  between the Delegation of the Commission of the European Communities, the Office of the Secretary  of State for Fisheries and the inspection authorities, possibly attended by a representative of the  Member State concerned. At the meeting, the parties shall exchange any relevant documentation or information, in particular  automatically registered data showing the vessel's positions during the trip up to the time of  boarding, helping to clarify the circumstances of the established facts. The shipowner or his representative shall be informed of the outcome of the meeting and of any  measures resulting from the boarding.  3. Before any judicial procedure, an attempt shall be made to resolve the presumed infringement  through a compromise procedure. This procedure shall end no later than three working days after the  boarding.  4. Should the case not be settled by means of compromise, and therefore be brought before a  competent judicial body, a bank security shall be fixed by the relevant authority within 48 hours  following the conclusion of the compromise procedure, pending the judicial decision. The amount of  the security must not exceed the amount of the penalty laid down under national legislation for the  presumed infringement in question. The bank security shall be returned to the shipowner by the  relevant authority once the case is settled without incrimination of the master of the vessel  concerned.  5. The vessel and its crew shall be released either: -   at the end of the consultation meeting, if the established facts permit,  - or once the obligations arising under the compromise have been fulfilled,  - or once a bank security is deposited (judicial procedure).  6. Should one of the parties consider that there is a difficulty in the application of the  abovementioned procedure, it may request urgent consultations under Article 10 of the Agreement.  Annex 1APPLICATION FORMFOR AFISHING LICENCE>TABLE>Technical remarksAuthorization  of the Office of the Secretary of State  Annex 2 >TABLE>  Annex 3>TABLE>  Remarks1.  Use one sheet per month, and one line per day. 2.  At the end of each trip, forward a copy of the log to your correspondent or to ICCAT, General  Mola 17, Madrid 1, Spain. 3.  'Day` refers to the day you set the line. 4.  Fishing area refers to the noon position of the boat. Round off minutes, and record degrees  of latitude and longitude. Be sure to record N/S and E/W. 5.  The bottom line ('landing weight`) should be completed only at the end of the trip. Actual  weight at the time of unloading should be recorded. 6.  All information reported herein will be kept strictly confidential. O LonglineO BaltboatO Purse seineO TrollingO Others Pageofpages