Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement on cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the period 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2006
Date: 2002-03-08
Institutions: European Community, Mauritania
Subjects: Mauritania, cooperation agreement, financial compensation of an agreement, fishing agreement, fishing rights, sea fishing

L 341/128

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

setting out the fishing opportunities and financial compensation provided for in the Agreement on
cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic
of Mauritania for the period 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2006

PROTOCOL

Article 1

For a period of five years from 1 August 2001, the fishing
opportunities granted under Article 5 of the Agreement shall
be as fixed in the fishing datasheets included in this Protocol.

Article 2

1.
For the period of application of this Protocol, the total
financial contribution referred to in Article 7 of the Agreement
shall be EUR 86 million per year (comprising EUR 82 million
financial compensation and EUR 4 million for the financial
contributions set out in Article 5 of this Protocol).

2003 with a view to adjusting by mutual agreement the fishing
opportunities and conditions for cephalopods should this be
necessary. Any decision to hold a review shall be taken no later
than 31 December 2003.

Both Parties undertake to appoint the members of the scientific
working party before 31 December 2001. They shall also
schedule a meeting of the Joint Committee as soon as possible
in order to determine the necessary review procedure and a
detailed timetable.

Article 5

The Government of the Republic of Mauritania shall have
2.
full discretion regarding the use to which the financial
compensation is put.

The measures set out below shall be financed from the financial
compensation provided for in Article 2(1), broken down as
follows:

Article 3

1.
The financial compensation shall be paid into an account
opened by the Central Bank of Mauritania with a financial body
designated by the Mauritanian authorities.

2.
The financial contribution for the first year as provided
for in Article 2(1) shall be paid no later than 31 December
2001. The contribution for the subsequent years shall be paid
no later than 1 August each year.

Article 4

The state of resources shall be reviewed periodically by the
Joint Committee on the basis of the available scientific data.

The fishing opportunities referred to in Article 1 may be
adjusted in the light of the state of fisheries resources with the
agreement of both Parties from 1 January 2004. In that case,
the total financial contribution referred to in Article 2 shall be
adjusted proportionately by common agreement.

For the duration of this Protocol, the Commission and the
Mauritanian authorities shall take all the necessary measures to
assess the state of cephalopod stocks in Mauritania's fishing
zone. A joint scientific working party shall be set up for that
purpose, to meet regularly under the auspices of the Mauri-
tanian National Oceanographic and Fisheries Research Centre
(CNROP) at least once each year. This working party shall be
made up of scientists selected by mutual agreement by both
Parties.

On the basis of the conclusions of the scientific working party
and in the light of the best available scientific advice, the Parties
shall hold consultations in the Joint Committee provided for in
Article 10 of the Cooperation Agreement in the second half of

(a) EUR 800 000 per year

for assistance for

research to
improve information on fishery resources, monitoring
changes in the state of those resources in Mauritania's
fishing zone, running the CNROP and improving health
conditions in the fisheries sector;

(b) EUR 1,5 million per year for support for fisheries surveil-
lance,
the
DSPCM and possibly the introduction of new means of
surveillance;

intended to finance the operating costs of

(c) EUR 300 000 per year for institutional support to mari-
time training with a view to developing and strengthening
human resources;

(d) EUR 50 000 per year for institutional support for devel-

oping fisheries statistics;

(e) EUR 50 000 per year for institutional support for rescue

services at sea;

(f) EUR 50 000 per year for institutional support
arrangements for managing fishing licences;

for the

(g) EUR 50 000 per
managing seamen;

year

for

institutional

support

for

(h) EUR 400 000 per year to cover the expenses of organising
and participating in international seminars and meetings;

(i) EUR 800 000 per year for support to develop small-scale

fishing.

These measures, and the amounts to be allocated to them each
year, shall be decided on by the Ministry, which will inform the
Commission thereof. The annual amounts shall be paid into an
account of the Central Bank of Mauritania opened with a
financial body designated by the Mauritanian authorities, no
later than 31 December 2001 for the first year, and the anni-
versary date of the Protocol

in subsequent years.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/129

Article 6

Article 9

No later than three months after the anniversary date of the
entry into application of
the Mauritanian
Ministry shall
to the Commission Delegation an
annual report on the implementation of these measures and
the results achieved, as well as on any difficulties encountered.

this Protocol,

transmit

The Commission reserves the right to request additional infor-
mation on these results from the competent national authori-
ties and, if necessary, to review the payments concerned in the
light of
the measures, after
implementation of
holding consultations with the Mauritanian authorities in the
Joint Committee provided for in Article 10 of the Cooperation
Agreement.

the actual

Article 7

Should the Commission not make the payments provided for
in Article 2 of this Protocol, Mauritania reserves the right to
suspend application of the Cooperation Agreement.

Community shipowners shall own the authorised catches by
their vessels in their entirety and be free to decide upon their
sale. However, the Contracting Parties shall encourage their
own operators involved in marketing fishery products to estab-
lish permanent
joint consultation in order to prevent any
competition liable to destabilise the market. The shipowners
shall, wherever possible, use port services and other services
supplied by Mauritania.

Article 10

Community shipowners shall be free to choose the local agents
for their vessels, although they must be of Mauritanian nation-
ality.

The names and addresses of such agents shall be forwarded to
the Ministry.

Article 8

Article 11

among Community

The Contracting Parties shall mutual foster cooperation in the
fisheries sector. They shall encourage the convergence of inter-
ests
and Mauritanian private-sector
concerns through associations of undertakings, joint ventures
and other forms of partnership to exploit fisheries resources
and process and market fishery products.

This Protocol and the Annexes thereto shall enter into force on
the date on which the Contracting Parties notify each other
that the procedures necessary for its implementation have been
completed.

It shall apply with effect from 1 August 2001.

L 341/130

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

FISHING DATASHEET No 1

FISHING CATEGORY: FISHING VESSELS SPECIALISING IN CRUSTACEANS OTHER THAN CRAWFISH

1.

F i s h i n g c a t e g o r y :

1.1. North of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N, outside the zone marked by the following points:

20° 46,3(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

20° 40(cid:1) N

20° 05(cid:1) N

17° 07,5(cid:1) W

17° 07,5(cid:1) W

19° 35,5(cid:1) N

16° 47(cid:1) W

19° 28(cid:1) N

19° 21(cid:1) N

16° 45(cid:1) W

16° 45(cid:1) W

1.2. South of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: west of the six-mile line from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear: Bottom shrimp trawl

Doubling of the cod-end is prohibited.

Doubling of the twine forming the cod-end is prohibited.

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: 50 mm

4.

Biological recovery: Two months: September and October

The Contracting Parties may decide by common agreement within the Joint Committee to adjust,
increase or reduce the above period of biological recovery.

5.

By-catches: 20 % fish and 15 % cephalopods

6. Authorised tonnage/Fees:

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

6 000

6 000

6 000

6 000

6 000

355

358

361

364

367

Authorised tonnage
(GRT) per year

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
year

7.

Comments: -/-

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/131

FISHING DATASHEET No 2

FISHING CATEGORY: BLACK HAKE TRAWLERS (1) AND BOTTOM LONGLINERS

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e :

1.1. North of latitude 19° 15,6(cid:1) N, west of the line joining the following points:

20° 46,3(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

20° 36(cid:1) N

20° 36(cid:1) N

20° 03(cid:1) N

17° 11(cid:1) W

17° 36(cid:1) W

17° 36(cid:1) W

19° 45,7(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

19° 29(cid:1) N

16° 51,5(cid:1) W

19° 15,6(cid:1) N

16° 51,5(cid:1) W

19° 15,6(cid:1) N

16° 49,6(cid:1) W

1.2. South of latitude 19° 15,6(cid:1) N as far as latitude 17° 50(cid:1) N, west of the 18-mile line from the

low-water mark.

1.3. South of latitude 17° 50(cid:1) N: west of the 12-mile line from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear:

— bottom trawl

— bottom trawl for hake

Doubling of the cod-end is prohibited.

Doubling of the twine forming the cod-end is prohibited.

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: 70 mm for the trawl net.

4.

Biological recovery: September and October

The Contracting Parties may decide by common agreement within the Joint Committee to adjust,
increase or reduce the above period of biological recovery.

5.

By-catches: 25 % fish for trawlers and 50 % fish for bottom longliners; 0 % cephalopods and 0 %
crustaceans

6. Authorised tonnage/Fees:

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

8 500

8 500

8 500

8 500

8 500

154

159

163

167

172

Authorised tonnage
(GRT) per year

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
year

7.

Comments:

(1) This category does not include freezer trawlers.

L 341/132

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

FISHING DATASHEET No 3

FISHING CATEGORY: VESSELS FISHING FOR DEMERSAL SPECIES OTHER THAN BLACK HAKE WITH GEAR OTHER
THAN TRAWLS

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e :

1.1. North of latitude 19° 48,5(cid:1) N: 3 nautical miles from the baseline of Cap Blanc — Cap Timiris;

1.2. South of latitude 19° 48,5(cid:1) N as far as latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N, west of longitude 16° 45(cid:1) W

1.3. South of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: from 3 nautical miles from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear (1):

— longline

— fixed gillnets with a maximum depth of 7 m and a maximum length of 100 m. Gillnets made of

polyamide monofilaments are authorised

— handline

— basket

— seine for fishing for live bait

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: 120 mm for the gillnet.

4.

Biological recovery: two months: September and October

The Contracting Parties may decide by common agreement within the Joint Committee to adjust,
increase or reduce the above period of biological recovery.

5.

By-catches: 0 % cephalopods and 0 % crustaceans.

6. Authorised tonnage/Fees:

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

3 300

3 300

3 300

3 300

3 300

174

259

178

263

182

267

186

271

190

275

Authorised tonnage
(GRT) per year

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
year

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
year

7.

Comments:

(1) Notification of the type of fishing gear to be used should be made when applying for the licence.

Gillnets made of polyamide monofilaments are authorised provided they are not banned by Community
legislation or in the legislation of one of the Member States.

Seines may be used only to fish for bait for use in line and basket fishing.

Use of baskets is authorised for no more than seven vessels of less than 80 GRT each.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/133

FISHING DATASHEET No 4

FISHING CATEGORY: PELAGIC FREEZER TRAWLERS FISHING FOR DEMERSAL SPECIES

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e :

1.1. North of latitude 19° 15,6(cid:1) N, west of the line joining the following points:

20° 46,3(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

20° 36(cid:1) N

20° 36(cid:1) N

20° 03(cid:1) N

17° 11(cid:1) W

17° 36(cid:1) W

17° 36(cid:1) W

19° 45,7(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

19° 29(cid:1) N

16° 51,5(cid:1) W

19° 15,6(cid:1) N

16° 51,5(cid:1) W

19° 15,6(cid:1) N

16° 49,6(cid:1) W

1.2. South of latitude 19° 15,6(cid:1) N as far as latitude 17° 50(cid:1) N, west of the 18-mile line from the

low-water mark.

1.3. South of latitude 17° 50(cid:1) N: west of the 12-mile line from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear: trawl net

Doubling of the cod-end is prohibited.

Doubling of the twine forming the cod-end is prohibited.

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: 70 mm

4.

Biological recovery: two months: September and October.

The Contracting Parties may decide by common agreement within the Joint Committee to adjust,
increase or reduce the above period of biological recovery.

5.

By-catches: 10 % of which a maximum of 5 % shrimp and 5 % squid and cuttlefish (0 % octopus)

6. Authorised tonnage/Fees:

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

4 000

4 000

4 000

4 000

4 000

203

207

211

215

219

Authorised tonnage
(GRT) per year

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
year

7.

Comments: -/-

L 341/134

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

FISHING DATASHEET No 5

FISHING CATEGORY: CEPHALOPODS

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e : Same as laid down by the Mauritanian law applying to its national vessels.

North of latitude 19° 15,6(cid:1) N, outside the zone marked by the following points:

20° 46,3(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

20° 40(cid:1) N

19° 57(cid:1) N

17° 07,5(cid:1) W

17° 07,5(cid:1) W

19° 28,2(cid:1) N

16° 48(cid:1) W

19° 18,5(cid:1) N

16° 48(cid:1) W

19° 18,5(cid:1) N

16° 40,5(cid:1) W

19° 15,6(cid:1) N

16° 38(cid:1) W

South of latitude 19° 15,6(cid:1) N as far as latitude 17° 50(cid:1) N, west of the 9-mile line from the low-water
mark.

South of latitude 17° 50(cid:1) N: west of the 6-mile line from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear: bottom trawl

Doubling of the cod-end is prohibited.

Doubling of the twine forming the cod-end is prohibited.

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: 70 mm

4.

Biological recovery: two months: September and October

The Contracting Parties may decide by common agreement within the Joint Committee to adjust,
increase or reduce the above period of biological recovery.

5.

By-catches: -/-

6. Authorised tonnage/Fees:

Authorised tonnage
(GRT) per year (1)

Number of vessels

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
year

7.

Comments:

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

16 500

16 500

16 500

16 500

16 500

55

447

55

450

55

453

55

456

55

459

(1) The authorised tonnage (GRT) may vary by a maximum of 2 %.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/135

FISHING DATASHEET No 6

FISHING CATEGORY: CRAWFISH

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e :

1.1. north of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: 20 nautical miles from the baseline Cap Blanc — Cap Timiris

1.2. south of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: 15 nautical miles from the low-water mark

2. Authorised gear: pots

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: -/-

4.

Biological recovery: two months: September and October.

The Contracting Parties may decide by common agreement within the Joint Committee to adjust,
increase or reduce the above period of biological recovery.

5.

By-catches: 0 %

6. Authorised tonnage/Fees:

Authorised tonnage
(GRT) per year

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
year

7.

Comments: -/-

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

200

315

200

321

200

327

200

333

200

339

L 341/136

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

FISHING DATASHEET No 7

FISHING CATEGORY: FREEZER TUNA SEINERS

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e :

1.1. north of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: 30 nautical miles from the baseline Cap Blanc — Cap Timiris

1.2. south of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: 30 nautical miles from the low-water mark

2. Authorised gear: seine

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: recommended ICCAT standard

4.

5.

Biological recovery: -/-

By-catches: 0 %

6. Number of vessels/Fees:

Number of vessels
authorised to fish

Advance in EUR/
vessel/per year

7.

Comments: -/-

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

36

36

36

36

36

1 250

1 250

1 250

1 250

1 250

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/137

FISHING DATASHEET No 8

FISHING CATEGORY: POLE-AND-LINE TUNA VESSELS AND SURFACE LONGLINERS

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e :

1.1. north of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: 15 nautical miles from the baseline Cap Blanc — Cap Timiris

1.2. south of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: 12 nautical miles from the low-water mark

2. Authorised gear: Pole-and-line and surface longlines

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: -/-

4.

5.

Biological recovery: -/-

By-catches: 0 %

6. Number of vessels/Fees:

1.8.2001—
31.7.2002

1.8.2002—
31.7.2003

1.8.2003—
31.7.2004

1.8.2004—
31.7.2005

1.8.2005—
31.7.2006

31

31

31

31

31

2 500

2 500

2 500

2 500

2 500

Number of vessels
authorised to fish

Advance in EUR/
vessel/per year

7.

Comments:

L i v e - b a i t

f i s h i n g

7.1. Fishing zone authorised for live-bait fishing:

North of latitude 19° 48,5(cid:1) N: 3 nautical miles from the baseline of Cap Blanc — Cap Timiris;

South of latitude 19° 48,5(cid:1) N as far as latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N, west of longitude 16° 45(cid:1) W

South of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N: from 3 nautical miles from the low-water mark.

7.2. Minimum authorised mesh size for live-bait fishing: 8 mm

7.3.

In accordance with the relevant ICCAT and FAO recommendations, fishing for the basking shark (Cetorhinus
maximus), white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) and tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus)
is prohibited.

L 341/138

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

FISHING DATASHEET No 9

FISHING CATEGORY: PELAGIC FREEZER TRAWLERS

1.

F i s h i n g z o n e :

1.1. North of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N, outside the zone marked by the following points:

20° 46,3(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

20° 36(cid:1) N

20° 36(cid:1) N

19° 57(cid:1) N

17° 11(cid:1) W

17° 24,1(cid:1) W

17° 24,1(cid:1) W

19° 45,7(cid:1) N

17° 03(cid:1) W

19° 29(cid:1) N

19° 21(cid:1) N

16° 51,5(cid:1) W

16° 45(cid:1) W

1.2. South of latitude 19° 21(cid:1) N as far as 17° 50(cid:1) N: from 13 nautical miles from the low-water mark.

1.3. South of latitude 17° 50(cid:1) N as far as 16° 04(cid:1) N: from 12 nautical miles from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear: Pelagic trawl

3. Minimum authorised mesh size: 40 mm

4.

5.

Biological recovery: -/-

By-catches: 3 % fish, 0 % cephalopods and 0 % crustaceans

6. Authorised tonnage/Number of vessels/Fees:

1.8.2001-
31.7.2002

1.8.2002-
31.7.2003

1.8.2003-
31.7.2004

1.8.2004-
31.7.2005

1.8.2005-
31.7.2006

Number of vessels
authorised to fish at
the same time

Fees in EUR/GRT/per
month

15

2,5

7.

Comments:

The vessels fall

into three categories:

15

2,5

15

2,5

15

2,5

15

2,5

— Category 1: gross tonnage of less than or equal to 3 000 GT; ceiling: 12 500 T/vessel/year.

— Category 2: gross tonnage of more than 5 000 GT but less than or equal to 8 000 GT; ceiling: 17 500

T/vessel/year.

— Category 3: gross tonnage of more than 5 000 GT but less than or equal to 9 500 GT; ceiling: 22 500

T/vessel/year.

During the first year of application of this protocol, the Contracting Parties shall examine the possibility of including
under this Cooperation Agreement fishing by vessels of more than 9 500 GT which have already fished in the
Mauritanian EEZ before 31 July 2001.

The decision will be taken on the basis of the situation of stocks, their rational exploitation, the technical
characteristics of the vessels, the history of those vessels in Mauritania's EEZ and taking account of the benefits for
Mauritania of allowing these vessels into its zone.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/139

CONDITIONS FOR THE EXERCISE OF FISHING ACTIVITIES BY COMMUNITY VESSELS IN MAURITANIA'S
FISHING ZONE

ANNEX I

C h a p t e r

I

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR LICENCE APPLICATIONS

1. On each vessel's first licence application, the Commission shall submit to the Ministry a licence application form
duly completed in respect of each vessel for which a licence is requested in accordance with the model in Appendix
1 to this Annex. The particulars relating to the name of the vessel, its tonnage in GRT, external registration number,
radio call sign, engine power, overall length and home port, shall be as contained in the register of Community
fishing vessels.

2. On a first licence application, the shipowner shall

include with the application:

— a copy certified by the Member State of the tonnage certificate giving the tonnage of the vessel expressed in GRT;

— a recent, certified colour photograph showing a side view of the vessel in its current state. The photograph shall

be at least 15 cm by 10 cm.

3. Any alteration to the tonnage of a vessel shall oblige the shipowner concerned to submit a copy certified by the
in
Member State of the new tonnage certificate and any supporting documents concerning the alteration and,
particular, the copy of the application lodged by the shipowner with the competent authorities, the agreement of
those authorities and the details of the changes made.

Where the structure or external appearance of the vessel is changed, a new photograph must also be submitted.

4. Applications for fishing licences shall be lodged for those vessels for which the documents required under points 1, 2

and 3 have been sent.

5.

Before the end of 2003, the Contracting Parties, acting in the Joint Committee, undertake to replace all references in
this Protocol to GRT with GT and to adapt all the provisions affected thereby accordingly. This replacement will be
preceded by appropriate technical consultations between the parties.

C h a p t e r

I I

LICENCES — APPLICATION, ISSUE AND VALIDITY

1.

Eligibility to fish

1.1. Each vessel wishing to fish under this Agreement must be eligible for fishing in Mauritania's fishing zone.

1.2. For a vessel to be eligible, neither the owner, the master nor the vessel itself must be prohibited from fishing in
Mauritania. They must be in order vis-à-vis the Mauritanian authorities insofar as they must have fulfilled all prior
obligations arising from their fishing activities in Mauritania under fisheries agreements concluded with the
Community.

2.

Licence applications

2.1. For licences for ocean-going freezer trawlers, the Commission shall submit applications to the Fisheries Ministry at
least eight days before the start of fishing operations accompanied by the documents attesting to the technical
characteristics. For all other types of licence, the Commission shall submit to the Ministry quarterly lists of the vessels
wishing to engage in fishing activities within the limits specified for each fishing category in the fishing datasheets
included in the Protocol, at least 30 days before the start of the period of validity of the licences requested. Such lists
shall be accompanied by proof of payment. Licence applications failing to arrive within the deadline will not be
handled.

2.2. These list shall specify clearly, by fishing category, the tonnage, the number of vessels and, for each vessel, its main
characteristics, including its fishing gear, the amount of fees and the scientific observers' expenses due for the period
concerned and the number of Mauritanian seamen.

Any changes to the particulars of the vessel occurring either since the licence application form was submitted or
since the last licence application for such vessels, shall be indicated on a supplementary list. No amendment relating
to particulars contained in the register of Community fishing vessels may be made until that register itself has been
updated.

L 341/140

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

2.3. A datafile containing all the particulars required to draw up the fishing licences, including any amendments to the
vessel data, shall also be attached to the licence application in a format compatible with software used by the
Ministry.

2.4. Licence applications shall be accepted only in respect of eligible vessels which have completed all the formalities

specified in points 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3.

2.5. In order to facilitate inspections on entering or leaving the zone, vessels holding fishing licences for neighbouring
countries may indicate in their licence applications the country and species concerned and the period of validity of
such licences.

3.

Issue of licences

3.1. The Ministry shall issue the licences to the vessel following receipt of the appropriate payments referred to in
Chapter 4 at least 10 days before the start of their period of validity. That deadline shall be five days in the case of
ocean-going vessels. The licences may be obtained from the offices of the Ministry in Nouadhibou or Nouakchott.

3.2. Licences shall be drawn up in accordance with the data in the fishing datasheets included in the Protocol. They shall
also mention the period of validity, the vessel's technical characteristics, the number of Mauritanian seamen and the
payment references of the fees.

3.3. Fishing licences may be issued only for vessels which have complied with all the administrative formalities required

for the issue of licences.

3.4. The Commission Delegation shall be notified of licence applications refused by the Mauritanian authorities. Where
appropriate, the Ministry shall provide a credit note against payments relating to these after deduction of the balance
of any outstanding unpaid fines.

4. Validity and utilisation of licences

4.1. Licences shall be valid only for the period covered by the fees paid and for the fishing zone, the type of gear and

fishing category specified in the licence in question.

Licences shall be issued for periods of three, six or twelve months. They shall be renewable.

Licences for ocean-going trawlers may be issued for one month.

The period of validity of licences shall be determined on the basis of the following annual periods:

first period: from 1 August 2001 to 31 December 2001

second period: from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002

third period: from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003

fourth period: from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004

fifth period: from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005

sixth period: from 1 January 2006 to 31 July 2006

Licences may not start running during one annual period and expire during the next.

4.2. Licences shall be issued for a given vessel and shall not be transferable. However, in the event of force majeure duly
established by the competent authorities of the flag Member State and at the request of the Commission, a licence
issued for one vessel shall be replaced as soon as possible by a licence issued for another vessel of the same category
on condition that the tonnage authorised for that category is not exceeded.

4.3. The licence to be replaced shall be returned to the Ministry, which shall then issue the new licence.

4.4. Any adjustments in the amounts paid as a result of withdrawal before the first day of validity of the licence or a

licence being transferred shall be effected before the replacement licence is issued.

4.5. Licences must be held on board the eligible vessel at all times and presented to the inspection authorities on the

occasion of any inspection.

C h a p t e r

I I I

FEES

1.

2.

Fees shall be calculated for each vessel on the basis of the annualised rates laid down in the fishing datasheets
included in the Protocol. In the case of three-month and six-month licences, the fees shall be calculated on a pro rata
basis according to the length of time, plus 3 % and 2 % respectively.

They shall be payable in quarterly periods with the exception of the shorter periods stipulated in the Agreement or
consequent on its application, in which case they shall be payable pro rata for the actual duration of the licence.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/141

3. A quarter shall consist of one of the three-month periods beginning 1 October, 1 January, 1 April or 1 July, except

for the first period of the Protocol, commencing on 1 August 2001.

C h a p t e r

I V

METHODS OF PAYMENT

1.

Payments shall be made in euro as follows:

(a)

fees:

— by transfer to one of the foreign accounts of the Central Bank of Mauritania payable to the Trésor de la

Mauritanie;

(b) scientific observers' expenses

— by transfer to one of the foreign accounts of the Central Bank of Mauritania payable to the Ministry;

(c)

fines

— by transfer to one of the foreign accounts of the Central Bank of Mauritania payable to the Trésor de la

Mauritanie.

2.

The amounts referred to in point 1 shall be considered as actually received on receipt of confirmation from the
Treasury or the Ministry following notification by the Central Bank of Mauritania.

C h a p t e r V

COMMUNICATION OF CATCH DATA

1.

The duration of a voyage by a Community vessel shall be defined as follows:

— either the period elapsing between entering and leaving Mauritania's fishing zone;

— or the period elapsing between entering Mauritania's fishing zone and a transhipment;

— or the period elapsing between entering Mauritania's fishing zone and a landing in Mauritania.

2.

Fishing log

2.1. Masters of vessels shall make a daily record of all the operations specified in the fishing log as shown in the model
attached as Appendix 2 to this Annex. This document must be completed legibly and signed by the master of the
vessel. For vessels fishing for highly-migratory species, Chapter XIV of this Annex shall apply.

2.2. Fishing logs from which entries have been omitted or which contain invalid information shall be deemed not to have

been duly kept.

2.3. At the end of each voyage, the original of the fishing log shall be sent by the master of the vessel direct to the

surveillance authorities. The shipowner must forward a copy of the log to the Delegation.

2.4. Failure to comply with points 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 shall entail, irrespective of the penalties laid down by Mauritanian law,

automatic suspension of the fishing licence until the shipowner has met such obligations.

3.

Fishing log annex

3.1. Masters of vessels shall keep the fishing log annex as shown in the model attached as Appendix 3 to this Annex. The
log shall be completed legibly on each landing or transhipment and signed by the master of the vessel.

3.2. At the end of each landing, the shipowner shall send the original of the fishing log annex by mail to the surveillance

authorities within a period of no more than 30 days.

3.3. At the end of each authorised transhipment, the shipowner shall immediately send the original of the fishing log

annex to the surveillance authorities.

3.4. Failure to comply with points 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 shall entail automatic suspension of the fishing licence until the

shipowner has met such obligations.

L 341/142

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

4. Quarterly catch declarations

4.1. By the end of the third month of each quarter the Commission shall notify the Ministry of the quantities caught in

the previous quarter by all Community vessels.

4.2. This information should be broken down by month, by type of fishing, by vessel and by species.

5. Reliability of data

The information in the documents referred to in points 1, 2, 3 and 4 must reflect the actual fishing situation in order
to constitute one of the bases for monitoring changes in marine resources.

C h a p t e r V I

BY-CATCHES

1.

In accordance with Mauritanian law, the percentage of by-catches laid down in the datasheet in the Protocol shall be
calculated at any time during fishing according to the total weight of the catch.

2. Where these percentages exceed the authorised by-catches, penalties shall be imposed in accordance with Mauri-
tanian law and may result in the complete banning of the offenders, both masters and vessels, from all fishing
activities in Mauritania.

3.

The keeping of crawfish on board vessels other than crawfish pot vessels shall be forbidden. Offenders shall be
punished in accordance with Mauritanian law.

C h a p t e r V I I

LANDINGS IN MAURITANIA

Vessels shall not be obliged to land fishery products, except in the case of the compulsory landings provided for below:

Category 4 vessels,

i.e. demersal trawlers, shall be obliged to land catches as follows:

1st year of the Protocol: 8 landings

2nd year of the Protocol: 11 landings

3rd year of the Protocol: 14 landings

4th year of the Protocol: 17 landings

5th year of the Protocol: 20 landings

General conditions and financial incentives

1.

2.

Landings shall be made at the Mauritanian port of Nouadhibou. Shipowners shall choose the landing dates. They
shall inform the Mauritanian port authorities of the chosen date by fax 72 hours before their expected arrival at the
port, indicating the estimated total quantity to be landed. The port authorities shall confirm by fax within 24 hours,
to the shipowner or agent, that the landing operations can take place within 24 hours of the vessel's arrival in port.
Where the port authorities fail to confirm the landing notification within the deadline laid down, the landing
obligation of the vessel concerned shall be deemed to have been fulfilled.

Landing operations must have been completed within 24 hours following a vessel's arrival in port, failing which the
vessel shall be entitled to leave the port and its landing obligation shall be deemed to have been fulfilled. A certificate
equivalent to the certificate provided for in point 3 below must be issued to the master.

3. At the end of landing operations, the competent port authorities shall issue a landing certificate to the master.

4.

If the number of landings provided for in this Protocol has not been achieved by the end of the third quarter of a
given year, the Commission shall notify the Ministry of the list of vessels which are due to make landings during the
fourth quarter when it makes its application for licences for that quarter.

5. Where a vessel included in the list referred to in point 4 is unable to make a landing, it may either defer its landing
to a subsequent trip or arrange to be replaced by another vessel in the same category. The Commission must be
notified immediately to that effect, and shall

inform the Ministry forthwith.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/143

6. Any vessel failing to comply with the point of exit and to fulfil its landing obligation shall be penalised in accordance

with Chapter I of Annex II to this Protocol.

7. Deep-sea fishermen shall be entitled to free transit with a seaman's licence.

8.

Community vessels making landings at Nouadhibou shall have their licence fees reduced for the period during which
the landings are made. That reduction shall be 25 % of the cost of the current licence.

9. Detailed rules: Copies of the landing certificate(s) for the landing operations carried out by the vessel concerned shall
be transmitted to the Delegation. When submitting a new licence application for that vessel, the Delegation shall
send the Ministry the copies of the certificates together with a request for reduction of the fees. Unless the Ministry
decides otherwise, the reduction shall be applied automatically to the amount of the fee for the new licence.

Before the end of the first three months of application of this Protocol, the Ministry shall send the following
information to the Delegation:

— the general rules on landings,

including port charges;

— the establishments approved under the relevant Community regulations;

— the bonded warehouses;

— the maximum size and number of vessels which can have access to them;

— storage conditions and capacity for fresh, chilled and deep-frozen (– 22o C) products;

— means and frequency of transport to bring fresh fishery products to external markets;

— average supply prices and terms (fuel, provisions, etc.);

— radio call sign, telephone and fax numbers, telex addresses, working hours of the port authorities' offices;

— any other information which can facilitate landing operations.

Tax and financial conditions

Community vessels landing at Nouadhibou shall be exempt from all taxes or charges having an equivalent effect other
than port fees and charges which apply on the same terms to Mauritanian vessels.

The fishery products landed shall be under customs control arrangements in accordance with Mauritanian legislation.
They shall therefore be exempt from all customs procedures and duties or charges having an equivalent effect when they
enter the Mauritanian port or at the time of export, and shall be treated as ‘temporarily-admitted goods’ (temporary
storage).

Shipowners shall decide on the destination of the their vessels' production. It may be processed, stored under customs
control, sold in Mauritania or exported (in foreign currency).

Sales in Mauritania intended for the Mauritanian market shall be subject to the same charges and levies as Mauritanian
fishery products.

Profits may be exported without additional charges (exemption from customs duties and charges having an equivalent
effect).

Vessels not covered by the obligation to land under this Protocol but which nevertheless choose to land catches in
Mauritania shall receive favourable treatment.

C h a p t e r V I I I

SIGNING-ON OF MAURITANIAN SEAMEN

1.

Each Community vessel shall take on board Mauritanian seamen, including officers, trainee officers and the scientific
observer for the duration of the voyage. There shall be at least:

1.1. — 4 seamen on vessels of less than 200 GRT;

— 5 seamen on vessels of at least 200 and less than 250 GRT;

— 6 seamen on vessels of at least 250 and less than 300 GRT;

— 7 seamen on vessels of at least 300 and less than 350 GRT;

— vessels of 350 GRT or more shall take on board a number of seamen equivalent to 35 % of the crew, but not less

than 7.

L 341/144

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

1.2. Shipowners shall endeavour to take on board additional Mauritanian seamen.

1.3. Shipowners shall be free to choose the Mauritanian seamen, officers and trainee officers to take on board their

vessels.

2.

3.

The seamen's employment contracts shall be drawn up in Mauritania between the shipowners or their representatives
and the seamen. The contracts shall cover the social security arrangements applicable to the seamen concerned,
including life, accident and health insurance.

The pay conditions may not be less than those applying to the crews of Mauritanian vessels. To avoid discrimination,
the agreed wages shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the contract of employment.

4. Owners of Community vessels shall ensure the same terms for the signing-on of, and shall entrust equivalent tasks
to, Mauritanian seamen, officers and trainee officers as those reserved for seamen, officers and trainee officers of
other countries.

5.

Seamen shall report to the master of the vessel designated on the day before its proposed sailing date. If a seaman
fails to report at the time scheduled for its departure, the vessel is authorized to leave the Mauritanian port once in
possession of a certificate of absence for the seaman issued by the surveillance authorities.

The shipowner shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the number of seamen required by this Protocol sign on
his vessel by the next trip at the latest.

6.

Twice a year on 1 January and 1 July shipowners shall send the Ministry a list by vessel of Mauritanian seamen
signed on board.

Pending receipt of the list, the issue of the licence shall be suspended.

7.

Failure to comply with any of the provisions contained in point 1 shall be penalised in accordance with Mauritanian
law and may entail the suspension or definitive withdrawal of the licence in case of repeated offending.

C h a p t e r

I X

TECHNICAL INSPECTION

1. Once a year and after any alteration in tonnage or changes to the fishing category necessitating the use of a different
type of gear, all Community vessels shall report to the port of Nouadhibou to undergo the inspections required by
the legislation in force. Such inspections shall take place within 48 hours of the vessel's putting into port.

As an exception to the previous paragraph, the technical inspection procedures applying to tuna vessels, surface
longliners and freezer trawlers fishing for pelagic species shall be as laid down in Chapters XIV and XV of this
Annex.

2. Once the technical inspection has been completed satisfactorily, the captain of the vessel shall be issued with a
certificate having the same period of validity as the licence and which shall be automatically extended in the case of
vessels renewing their licence within the year. However, the maximum validity may not exceed one year. This
certificate must be kept on board at all times.

3.

4.

5.

The technical inspection shall check the conformity of the vessel's technical characteristics and gear and ensure that
the provisions relating to its Mauritanian crew have been complied with.

The cost of the inspection shall be borne by the shipowner at the rates laid down by Mauritanian law. It may not be
greater than the amount normally paid by other vessels for the same services.

Failure by the shipowner to comply with points 1 and 2 shall result in automatic suspension of the fishing licence
until such obligations have been met.

C h a p t e r X

VESSEL IDENTIFICATION

1.

The identification marks of all Community vessels must conform to the relevant Community legislation. The
Ministry must be notified of such legislation before this Protocol enters into force. The Ministry must further be
notified of any amendment to the legislation at least 30 days before its entry into force.

2. Any vessel attempting to disguise its external identification marks shall be liable to the penalties laid down in the

legislation in force.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/145

C h a p t e r X I

SUSPENSION OR WITHDRAWAL OF LICENCES

Where the Mauritanian authorities decide to suspend or definitively withdraw the licence of a Community vessel, in
application of this Protocol and Mauritanian law, the master of that vessel shall cease fishing activities and make for the
port of Nouadhibou. On arrival at Nouadhibou, he shall send the original of his licence to the competent authorities.
Once the required obligations have been duly completed, the Ministry shall notify the Commission of the lifting of the
suspension and the licence shall be returned.

C h a p t e r X I I

OTHER INFRINGEMENTS

1.

2.

Except for the cases specifically provided for in this Protocol, all other infringements shall be penalised in accordance
with Mauritanian law.

In the event of serious or very serious fisheries infringements as defined by Mauritanian law, the Ministry reserves the
right to prohibit the vessels, masters and, where applicable, the shipowners concerned, provisionally or definitively
from all fishing activities in Mauritanian waters.

C h a p t e r X I I I

FINES

The amount of fines imposed on Community vessels shall be calculated within minimum and maximum limits specified
in Mauritanian law. This amount shall be decided in accordance with the procedure laid down in point 3 of Chapter VII of
Annex II.

C h a p t e r X I V

PROVISIONS RELATING TO VESSELS FISHING HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES

(TUNA VESSELS AND SURFACE LONGLINERS)

1. As an exception to Chapters I and II of Annex I, licences for tuna seiners shall be issued for a periods of 12 months.

The original licence must be kept on board at all times and presented on request of the competent Mauritanian
authorities.

to the Mauritanian authorities by the
However, on receipt of notification of payment of
Commission, the vessel shall be entered on a list of vessels authorised to fish, which shall be sent to the Mauritanian
authorities responsible for fisheries inspection. A copy of the said licence may be obtained by fax pending arrival of
the licence itself; that copy shall be kept on board.

the advance sent

2.

3.

4.

Before receiving its licence, each vessel must be presented for the inspections required by the legislation in force. As
an exception to Chapter IX of this Annex, such inspections may be carried out in a foreign port to be agreed. All
expenses linked to such inspection shall be borne by the shipowner.

The fee to be paid by the shipowner shall be set at EUR 25 per tonne caught within Mauritania's fishing zone.

Licences shall be issued following payment to one of the foreign accounts of the Central Bank of Mauritania, payable
to the Trésor de la Mauritanie, of a lump sum corresponding to the advance specified in the datasheets in the
Protocol.

5. A log-book in accordance with the ICCAT model in Appendix 4 to this Annex shall be kept on vessels for each

fishing period spent in Mauritanian waters. It shall be filled in even when no catches are made.

For periods when a vessel is not in Mauritanian waters, the words ‘Outside Mauritania's EEZ’ shall be entered in the
abovementioned log-book.

The log-books referred to in this paragraph shall be sent to the Mauritanian authorities within 15 working days of
vessels arriving in a port.

Copies of these documents shall be sent to the scientific institutes referred to in the third subparagraph of paragraph
6 below.

L 341/146

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

6.

The Mauritanian authorities shall draw up the statement of fees due for the past calendar year on the basis of the
catch declarations for each Community vessel and of any other information in their possession.

The previous year's statement shall reach the Commission by 31 March, for forwarding simultaneously to the
shipowners and national authorities of the Member States concerned by 15 April.

Where the shipowners dispute the statement presented by Mauritania, they may request the relevant scientific
institutes, e.g. France's Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), the Instituto Español de Oceanografía
(IEO) and the Insituto Português de Investigacão Marítima (IPIMAR), to verify the catch data before consulting with
the Mauritanian authorities with a view to drawing up the final statement by 15 May of the current year. In the
absence of any observations from the shipowners by that date, the statement drawn up by the Mauritanian
authorities shall be deemed final. Member States shall forward to the Commission the final statements relating to
their own fleets.

Any payment due in addition to the advance shall be made by the shipowners to Mauritania's fisheries authorities no
later than 31 May of that year.

However, if the amount of the final statement is lower than the advance referred to in paragraph 4, the resulting
balance shall not be reimbursable to the shipowner.

7. As an exception to Chapter I of Annex II, vessels shall be obliged within three hours of entering or leaving the zone
to communicate their position and the volume of the catch on board direct to the Mauritanian authorities preferably
by fax or, failing that, by radio.

The fax number and radio frequency shall be notified by the surveillance authorities.

A copy of the fax messages or of the record of radio communications shall be kept by the Mauritanian authorities
and the shipowners until both parties have approved the final statement of fees referred to in paragraph 6.

8. As an exception to Chapter VIII of this Annex, tuna seiners shall endeavour to sign on at least one Mauritanian
seaman per vessel while pole-and-line tuna vessels must sign on three Mauritanian seamen per vessel for the duration
of the voyage. This includes officers, trainee officers and scientific observers.

9. As an exception to point I of Chapter V of Annex II, one scientific observer per vessel may be taken on board tuna
seiners for an agreed period at the request of the Mauritanian authorities and by common agreement with the
shipowners concerned.

C h a p t e r X V

RULES ON OCEAN-GOING FREEZER TRAWLERS

1.

The fishing licence shall be held on board each vessel. If for practical reasons the original licence cannot be delivered
to the vessel, a copy or fax may also be kept on board.

2. As an exception to Chapter IX of this Annex, prior inspections of vessels shall take place in Europe. The travel and
subsistence expenses of two persons designated by the Ministry to carry out the said inspections shall be payable by
the shipowners.

3.

The fees, inclusive of all national and local charges and taxes, and the ceilings for catches by type of vessel are
specified in the datasheets contained in the Protocol.

Shipowners shall pay a sum of EUR 19 to the Mauritanian public treasury for each tonne caught in excess of the
ceiling fixed by type of vessel. Declarations of catch shall be drawn up by common agreement no later than one
month after the end of each year.

The fees and any additional amounts due shall be paid to one of the Central Bank of Mauritania's foreign accounts
payable to the Trésor de la Mauritanie.

4. As an exception to Chapter I of Annex II, all vessels shall communicate to the surveillance authorities the date, the
time and their position each time they enter or leave Mauritania's fishing zone, giving 12 hours' advance notice
when entering and 24 hours' when leaving.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/147

5. As an exception to Chapter VIII of this Annex, for the first three years of the Protocol vessels must sign on at least

the following numbers of Mauritanian seamen:
— 5,

including one scientific observer, on board each vessel with a total crew of 30 or less;

— 6,

including one scientific observer, on board each vessel with a total crew of 30 or more.

For the last two years of the Protocol, those figures shall be increased by one.

6.

Shipowners must take all appropriate measures to transport the Mauritanian seamen and scientific observers at their
expense.

7. At least 15 transhipments shall be carried out in Mauritania's territorial waters each year, in accordance with the

procedure set out in Chapter III of Annex II to the Protocol.

8.

If an offence is detected during an inspection, the master shall sign the statement to that effect. As an exception to
point 2 of Chapter VII of Annex II, the vessel shall thus be allowed to continue its fishing activities. The shipowners
shall immediately contact the Ministry in order to reach a solution. If a solution cannot be found within 72 hours,
the owners must provide a bank security covering the amount of any fines imposed.

L 341/148

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

Appendix 1

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/149

2

x
i
d
n
e
p
p
A

L 341/150

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

3

x
i
d
n
e
p
p
A

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/151

4

x
i
d
n
e
p
p
A

L 341/152

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

COOPERATION IN THE MONITORING OF FISHING ACTIVITIES BY COMMUNITY VESSELS IN
MAURITANIA'S FISHING ZONE

ANNEX II

C h a p t e r

I

ENTERING AND LEAVING THE FISHING ZONE

1.

Except for tuna vessels and surface longliners and pelagic freezer trawlers, Community vessels operating under this
Agreement shall enter and leave Mauritania's fishing zone by one of two passages in the presence of the surveillance
authorities:

— the northern passage, the coordinates of which are 20° 40(cid:1) N — 17° 04(cid:1) W,

— the southern passage, the coordinates of which are 16° 20(cid:1) N — 16° 40(cid:1) W.

2.

Shipowners shall notify the surveillance authorities of their entry into and exit from Mauritania's fishing zone by
telex, fax or mail to the numbers or address in Appendix 1 to this Annex.

The Commission Delegation shall be given 15 days prior notice of any changes in the numbers or addresses for
notification.

3.

The notification referred to in point 2 shall be given in the following manner:

(a) Entry:

Notice must be given at least 24 hours beforehand and contain the following particulars:

— the position of the vessel at the time of notification,

— the point of entry,

— the day, date and time of exit,

— the amount and species of catch held on board at that time, where vessels have previously stated that they
hold a fishing licence for another fishing zone in the subregion, in which case the surveillance authorities will
have access to the fishing log concerning that zone and the checks may last longer than the period laid down
in point 5 of this Chapter.

(b) Exit

Notice must be given at least 48 hours beforehand in the case of the northern passage and at least 72 hours
beforehand in the case of the southern passage. The following particulars must be provided:

— the position of the vessel at the time of notification,

— the point of exit,

— the day, date and time of exit,

— the amount and species of catch held on board at that time.

4. At each entry or exit, vessels shall tune their radios to the frequency of the surveillance authorities at least six hours

before the time specified in the notification.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Controls should not normally exceed more than one hour on entry and three hours on exit.

In the event of the surveillance authorities being overdue or failing to appear, vessels may continue on their way
once the periods laid down in point 5 have expired.

In the event of a vessel being overdue or failing to appear, the surveillance authorities may consider the entry or exit
notice void once the periods laid down in point 5 have expired.

In the event of mass entries or exits, control operations shall be accelerated.

Failure to comply with the provisions of points 1 to 6 shall result in the following sanctions:

(a) the first time:

— the vessel shall be diverted,

— the catch on board shall be unloaded and confiscated on behalf of the Treasury,

— the vessel shall pay the minimum fine provided for in Mauritanian law;

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/153

(b) the second time:

— the vessel shall be diverted,

— the catch on board shall be unloaded and confiscated on behalf of the Treasury,

— the vessel shall pay a fine in accordance with Mauritanian law,

— the licence shall be revoked for the remainder of its period of validity;

(c) the third time:

— the vessel shall be diverted,

— the catch on board shall be unloaded and confiscated on behalf of the Treasury,

— the licence shall be definitively revoked,

— the master and the vessel shall be banned from exercising their activities in Mauritania.

C h a p t e r

I I

INNOCENT PASSAGE

When Community fishing vessels are exercising their right of innocent passage and navigation in Mauritania's fishing
zone in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and relevant national and international
legislation, they shall keep all their fishing gear stowed on board in such a way that it cannot be immediately utilised.

C h a p t e r

I I I

TRANSSHIPMENT

1.

The catches of Community vessels shall be transhipped within Mauritanian ports.

2. Any Community vessel wishing to tranship catches shall be subject to the procedure laid down in points 3 and 4

below.

3.

The owners of such vessels shall notify the surveillance authorities at least 24 hours beforehand, using the means of
communications specified in point 2 of Chapter I of this Annex, of the following:

— the names of the transhipping fishing vessels,

— the name of the cargo vessels,

— the tonnage by species to be transhipped,

— the day, date and time of transhipment.

4.

Transhipment shall be considered as an exit from Mauritania's fishing zone. Vessels must therefore provide the
surveillance authorities with the originals of the fishing log and the fishing log annex and state whether they intend
to continue fishing or leave Mauritania's fishing zone.

5. Any transhipment of catches not covered by points 1 to 4 shall be prohibited in Mauritania's fishing zone. Any

person infringing this provision shall be liable to the penalties provided for by Mauritanian law.

C h a p t e r

I V

INSPECTION AND MONITORING

1. Masters of Community fishing vessels shall allow and facilitate boarding and the discharge of their duties by any

Mauritanian official responsible for the inspection and control of fishing activities.

These officials shall not remain on board for longer than is necessary for the discharge of their duties.

Once the inspection has been completed, a certificate shall be issued to the captain of the vessel.

2.

The Community hereby undertakes to maintain the specific monitoring programme in Community ports. Summaries
of reports on the controls carried out shall be sent periodically to the Ministry.

L 341/154

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

C h a p t e r V

MAURITANIAN SCIENTIFIC OBSERVERS ON BOARD COMMUNITY VESSELS

A system for observation on board Community vessels is hereby established.

1. Any Community vessel holding a licence for Mauritania's fishing zone, except for tuna seiners, shall take on board a

Mauritanian scientific observer. There shall be only one observer at a time per vessel.

The Ministry shall supply the Commission each quarter before licences are issued with a list of vessels designated to
take on board an observer.

2.

The period spent on board a vessel by a scientific observer shall be the length of a trip. However, at the express
request of the Ministry this period may be spread over several trips according to the average duration of trip for a
particular vessel. This request will be made by the Ministry when the name of the observer designated to board the
vessel

in question is notified.

Likewise, in the event of a trip being curtailed, the observer may have to make a further voyage on the same vessel.

3.

The Ministry shall inform the Commission of the names of designated observers, along with the requisite documents,
at least seven working days before the scheduled date of their embarkation.

4. All costs arising out of the activities of observers, including their salary, emoluments and allowances, shall be borne
by the Ministry. If an observer is taken on board or disembarked at a foreign port, travelling expenses and daily
allowances shall be borne by the shipowner until the observer boards the vessel or arrives at a Mauritanian port.

5. Masters of vessels designated to take on board a scientific observer shall make all the arrangements to facilitate

boarding and disembarkation by the observer.

Observers shall enjoy the same treatment on board as the vessel's officers.

Observers shall be offered every facility needed to carry out their duties. The master shall give them access to the
means of communication needed for the discharge of their duties, to documents directly concerned with the vessel's
fishing activities, i.e. to the fishing log, the fishing log annex and navigation log, and to those parts of the vessel
necessary to facilitate the exercise of their tasks as observer.

6. Observers shall normally board (and disembark) at a Mauritanian port at the start of the first trip, following
notification of the list of designated vessels, which must take place at least 20 days before the beginning of the trip.

Within 15 days of that notification, the shipowners concerned shall give notice using the means of communication
specified in Chapter I to this Annex, of the date and port selected for taking on the observer.

7. Observers must report to the master of the designated vessel the day before the proposed date of embarkation.
Should the observer fail to report at the time specified, the vessel is entitled to leave the Mauritanian port with a
certificate from the surveillance authorities confirming the absence of an observer.

8.

Shipowners shall contribute EUR 3,5 per GRT per quarter per vessel to the costs of scientific observation. This
contribution shall be payable at the same time as, and be additional to, the fee payable by the shipowner.

The owners of ocean-going vessels shall pay a contribution of EUR 350 per month and per vessel to the cost of
scientific observers, regardless of whether an observer is on board.

9.

Failure by a shipowner to comply with the provisions relating to observers shall result in the automatic suspension
of the fishing licence until the shipowner has complied with these obligations.

10. Scientific observers should have:

— a professional qualification,

— adequate fisheries experience, and

— a thorough understanding of this Protocol and the Mauritanian rules applicable.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/155

11. Scientific observers shall ensure that Community vessels operating in Mauritania's fishing zone comply with the

terms of this Protocol.

They shall compile a report on this subject. In particular, they shall:

— observe the fishing activities of vessels,

— verify the position of vessels engaged in fishing operations,

— take biological samples as part of scientific programmes,

— record particulars of the fishing gear and the mesh sizes of the nets used,

— verify the entries in the fishing log.

12. Observation shall be confined to fishing activities and related activities governed by this Protocol.

13. Scientific observers shall:

— take all appropriate steps to ensure that the conditions of their boarding and presence on the vessel neither

interrupt nor hamper fishing operations,

— use the instruments and procedures approved for measuring the mesh size of nets used under this Agreement,

and

— treat with due care property and equipment on board the vessel and respect the confidentiality of all the vessel's

papers.

14. At the end of the observation period and before leaving the vessel, observers shall draw up a report in accordance
with the model in Appendix 2 to this Annex. They shall sign such reports in the presence of the master, who may
add or cause to be added to it any observations which he considers relevant, followed by his signature. A copy of the
report shall be handed to the master when the observer is put ashore.

15. The competent authorities receiving reports from scientific observers shall be obliged to check their content and

conclusions as soon as possible.

Where the competent authorities find that infringements have been committed, they shall take appropriate action
including, in accordance with their national laws, the initiation of administrative proceedings against the natural or
legal persons responsible. The proceedings initiated must, in accordance with the relevant provisions of national law,
be such as effectively to deprive those responsible of any material gain from the infringement or to produce effects
proportional to the gravity of the infringement so as effectively to discourage other infringements of the same
nature.

Where the port of disembarkation is situated in a Member State other than the flag Member State the former shall
inform the flag Member State of the measures taken.

C h a p t e r V I

MUTUAL OBSERVATION SYSTEM FOR SHORE-BASED CONTROLS

The Contracting Parties agree to set up a mutual observation system for shore-based controls with a view to improving
their effectiveness.

1. Objectives

To observe the controls and inspections carried out by the national
compliance with the provisions of the Protocol.

inspection authorities in order to ensure

2.

Status of observers

The competent authorities of each Contracting Party shall designate an observer and notify the name to the other
Contracting Party.

This observer should have:

— a professional qualification,

— adequate fisheries experience, and

— thorough knowledge of the provisions of the Agreement and of this Protocol.

Inspections shall be carried out by the national inspection authorities and the observer in attendance may not, on his
own initiative, exercise the powers of inspection conferred on national officials.

When accompanied by national officials, the observer shall have access to the vessels, premises and documents
subject to inspection by the said officials.

L 341/156

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

3. Duties of observers

The observer shall accompany the national inspection authorities on their visits to the ports, on board ships in dock,
to public auction houses, fish wholesalers' shops, cold stores and other premises for unloading and stocking fish
before it is placed on the market.

The observer shall draw up and submit a report every four months detailing the inspections attended. This report
shall be addressed to the competent authorities, who shall send a copy to the other Contracting Party.

4.

Implementation

The competent inspection authority of each Contracting Party shall give ten days' written notice to the other
Contracting Party of the shore inspections, on a case-by-case basis, which it intends to carry out.

The other Contracting Party shall give five days' notice of its intention to send an observer.

The duration of the observer mission should not exceed 15 days.

5. Confidentiality

The observer shall respect the plant and equipment on board the vessel, and any other installations, and also the
confidentiality of all documents to which access is provided.

The observer shall disclose information on the results of the work solely to the competent authorities.

6.

Location

This programme shall be implemented in the Community ports of landing and Mauritanian ports.

7.

Financing

Each Contracting Party shall bear the costs of its observer,

including travel and board.

C h a p t e r V I I

BOARDING AND APPLICATION OF PENALTIES

1.

Transmission of information

The Ministry shall inform the Delegation within 48 hours of any boarding of or application of a penalty to a
Community fishing vessel operating in Mauritania's fishing zone and shall provide a brief report of the circumstances
and reasons for this boarding.

2.

Statement of boarding

After the Mauritanian surveillance authorities have drawn up a statement, the master of the vessel shall sign it.

This signature does not prejudice the rights of the master or any defence which he may make to the alleged
infringement.

He shall take the vessel to the port of Nouadhibou. In the case of minor infringements, the surveillance authorities
may authorise the vessel to continue its fishing activities.

3.

Settlement of boarding

3.1. In accordance with this Protocol and Mauritanian law, infringements may be settled administratively or by legal

proceedings.

3.2. In the case of an administrative settlement the amount of the fine shall be determined in accordance with

Mauritanian legislation laying down minimum and maximum figures.

3.3. If there is no administrative settlement and the matter is brought before a competent judicial body, a bank security
amounting to the equivalent in euro of the maximum fine provided for in Mauritanian legislation shall be lodged by
the shipowner with a bank designated by the Ministry.

3.4. The bank security shall be irrevocable until the legal proceedings have been concluded. It shall be released by the
Ministry once legal proceedings end without a conviction. Similarly, in the event of a conviction leading to a fine of
less than the security lodged, the balance shall be released by the Ministry.

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/157

3.5. The vessel shall be released and its crew authorised to leave the port:

— either as soon as the obligations imposed by the administrative settlement procedure have been completed on

presentation of the receipt for the settlement, or

— when the bank security referred to in point 3.3 has been lodged and accepted by the Ministry, pending

completion of the legal proceedings.

C h a p t e r V I I I

DISCARDING AT SEA

The Contracting Parties shall look into the problem of discards from fishing vessels and shall examine ways of making use
of them.

C h a p t e r

I X

FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING

In an effort to curb illegal fishing activities in Mauritania's fishing zone which jeopardise fisheries management policy, the
Contracting Parties agree to exchange information on these activities on a regular basis.

In addition to the measures already applied by the Contracting Parties under existing legislation, they shall consult one
another on the possibility of taking supplementary joint or individual action. To this end, they shall step up cooperation,
in particular on the fight against illegal fishing.

Appendix I

MAURITANIA-EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FISHERIES AGREEMENT

ADDRESS OF THE SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITIES

1. Address:

Boîte Postale (BP) 260 Nouadhibou
Mauritania

2. Telephone:

(222) 574 57 01/574 56 26

3. Fax:

(222) 574 63 12/574 90 94

4. E-mail:

dspcm@toptechnology.mr

L 341/158

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22.12.2001

Appendix 2

22.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 341/159