COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2021/2061

of 11 November 2021

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

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (‘Mauritania’), approved by Council Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 (1), has been applied on a provional basis since 8 August 2008. The Protocol thereto setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement, which has been applied on a provisional basis since the same day, has been replaced several times.

(2) The Protocol currently in force will expire on 15 November 2021.

(3) On 8 July 2019, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with Mauritania with a view to concluding a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement and a new protocol implementing that agreement.

(4) Between September 2019 and July 2021, eight rounds of negotiations were held with Mauritania. Following those negotiations, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (‘the Partnership Agreement’) and the Implementing Protocol thereto (‘the Protocol’) were initialled on 28 July 2021.

(5) In accordance with Council Decision ST 12392/21 (2), the Partnership Agreement and the Protocol were signed on 15 November 2021.

(6) The fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol should be allocated among the Member States for the entire period of its application.

(7) This Regulation should enter into force as soon as possible in view of the economic importance of Union fishing activities in the Mauritanian fishing zone and the need to avoid or to reduce as much as possible the duration of any interruption of those activities.

(8) The Protocol will apply on a provisional basis as from the date it is signed to allow Union vessels to continue their fishing activity. This Regulation should therefore apply from the same date,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The fishing opportunities established under the Protocol shall be allocated among the Member States as follows:

(1) Category 1 – Vessels fishing for crustaceans other than spiny lobster and crab:

In this category, no more than 15 vessels may operate in Mauritanian waters at any one time.

(2) Category 2 – Black hake (non-freezer) trawlers and bottom longliners:

In this category, no more than four vessels may operate in Mauritanian waters at any one time.

(3) Category 2a – Black hake (freezer) trawlers:

Spain:

In this category, no more than six vessels may operate in Mauritanian waters at any one time.

(4) Category 3 – Vessels fishing for demersal species other than black hake with gear other than trawls:

In this category, no more than six vessels may operate in Mauritanian waters at any one time.

(5) Category 4 – Tuna seiners (14 000 tonnes – reference tonnage):

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

(7) Category 6 – Pelagic freezer trawlers:

During the period of application of the Protocol, the Member States shall have the following number of quarterly licences:

The Member States shall inform the Commission if certain licences may be made available to other Member States.

In this category, no more than 19 vessels may operate in Mauritanian waters at any one time.

(8) Category 7 – Non-freezer pelagic vessels:

If not used, these fishing opportunities shall be transferred to category 6 according to the method of allocation of that category.

In this category, no more than two vessels may operate in Mauritanian waters at any one time.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union

.

It shall apply from 15 November 2021 (date of signature of the Protocol).

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 11 November 2021.

For the Council

The President

Z. POČIVALŠEK

(1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 of 30 November 2006 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (

OJ L 343, 8.12.2006, p. 1

).

(2)  Council Decision ST 12392/21 of 11 November 2021 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Implementing Protocol thereto (not yet published in the Official Journal).