Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa that covers 36,125 square kilometres (13,948 sq mi) with an estimated population of 1,815,698

EU and Guinea Bissau renew fishing agreement

SPAIN
Monday, June 17, 2019, 21:20 (GMT + 9)

The European Union (EU) and Guinea Bissau have signed a new fisheries protocol in Brussels. The Agreement was suspended from November 23, 2017.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas has expressed his satisfaction for the renewal of this agreement, of great importance for the Spanish fleet, as it will benefit a maximum of 54 vessels, of which 24 may be tuna vessels and up to 30 trawlers.

The main beneficiaries are boats based in Galician, Andalusian and Canary ports, which carry out trawling operations directed to demersal species and crustaceans (in the case of Andalusian vessels). The signing of this agreement is essential for this segment of the fleet, and serves as a complement to the one signed with Mauritania.

Spain has actively participated in the negotiation of this protocol and its subsequent ratification by the institutions of the European Union. From now on, the provisional application of the agreement begins, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food processes the licenses as quickly as possible so that Spanish vessels can return to this fishing ground as soon as possible.

The new protocol, which will last for five years, maintains fishing opportunities for trawlers targeting fish and cephalopods, shrimp trawlers, pole-and-line tuna vessels, tuna seiners and longliners.

In addition, a new mode of small pelagic trawlers is created, which increases the activity options of these vessels with respect to the previous protocol. The authorization of support vessels for tuna seiners is also contemplated, with payment of an annual fee not specified.

At the same time, the limits for by-catches are improved and an obligation of contribution in kind is established for food security, as well as the increase by one unit of the number of Guinean seamen to be embarked per vessel.

The annual financial contribution of the agreement will be EUR11.6 million for access to resources, in addition to EUR 4 million for sector support.

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