DECISION OF THE EU/MAURITANIA JOINT COMMITTEE

of 5 November 2013

on the implementing measures for the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

(2014/36/EU)

THE EU/MAURITANIA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania(1) (the ‘Fisheries Partnership Agreement’), and in particular Article 10(1) thereof,

Having regard to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a period of two years(2) (‘the Protocol’), and in particular Article 4 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The EU/Mauritania Joint Committee provided for in Article 10 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement met in Nouakchott on 17 and 18 September 2013 to adopt implementing measures entailing a review of some of the measures necessary for the application of the Protocol.

(2) These measures were recorded in the minutes of the Joint Committee.

(3) The measures entered in the minutes must be translated into a decision of the Joint Committee.

(4) These measures must be applied retroactively from 22 September 2013 so that their effects can benefit the parties as soon as possible, in accordance with Circular No 2758/MPEM/GCM of 22 September 2013 issued by Mauritania’s Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy.

(5) The aforementioned measures should therefore be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The technical conditions for category 1 — Vessels fishing for crustaceans other than spiny lobster and crab — concerning the fishing zone, by-catches of cephalopods, and charges, are revised in accordance with the technical data sheet set out in Annex 1 to this Decision.

Article 2

The technical conditions for category 7 — Pelagic freezer trawlers — concerning the fishing zone are revised in accordance with the technical data sheet set out in Annex 2 to this Decision.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply from 22 September 2013.

Done at Brussels, 5 November 2013.

For the European Union

European Commission The Head of the ‘Bilateral Agreements and Fisheries Control’ Unit of the Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs

Roberto CESARI

For Mauritania

The Technical Advisor to the Minister of Fisheries and the Marine Economy

Cheikh BAYA

(1)

OJ L 343, 8.12.2006, p. 4

(2)

OJ L 361, 31.12.2012, p. 43

ANNEX 1

CATEGORY 1 — VESSELS FISHING FOR CRUSTACEANS OTHER THAN SPINY LOBSTER AND CRAB

FISHING CATEGORY 1

VESSELS FISHING FOR CRUSTACEANS OTHER THAN SPINY LOBSTER AND CRAB

1. Fishing zone

Fishing is authorised to the west of a line defined as follows:

(a)

North of latitude 19°19′12″N, the line joining the following points:

20°46′30″N	17°03′30″W
20°40′00″N	17°08′30″W
20°10′12″N	17°16′12″W
19°35′24″N	16°51′00″W
19°19′12″N	16°45′36″W
19°19′12″N	16°41′24″W

(b)	South of latitude 19°19′12″N as far as 17°50′00″N, at 9 nautical miles calculated from the low-water mark.

(c)	South of latitude 17°50′00″N, at 6 nautical miles calculated from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear

—

Bottom shrimp trawl, including those fitted with a tickler chain or any other selective device.

—	The tickler chain is an integral part of the rigging of shrimp trawlers equipped with outriggers. It consists of a single length of chain with links of no more than 12 mm in diameter fastened between the trawl boards ahead of the foot rope.

—	The mandatory use of selective devices is subject to a decision of the Joint Committee based on a joint scientific, technical and economic assessment.

—	Doubling of the cod-end is prohibited.

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

—	Protective aprons are authorised.

3. Minimum authorised mesh

50 mm

4. Minimum size

For deep-water shrimp, the minimum size is to be measured from the tip of the rostrum to the end of the tail. The tip of the rostrum is an extension of the carapace, which is situated in the anterior median portion of the cephalothorax.

—

Deep-water shrimps:

—	rose shrimp or gambas (Parapeneus longirostrus) 6 cm

—

Coastal shrimps:

—	white shrimp or caramote prawn (Penaeus notialis) and common shrimp (Penaeus kerathurus) 200 indv/kg

The Joint Committee may determine the minimum size for species not listed above.

5. By-catches

Authorised

Not authorised

—	15 % fish, of which 2 % payment in kind

—	10 % crabs

—	spiny lobster

—	8 % cephalopods

The Joint Committee may determine by-catch rates for species not listed above.

6. Fishing opportunities/fees

Period

Year 1

Year 2

Volume of authorised catches (in tonnes)

5 000

Fees

EUR 400/t

The fee shall be calculated at the end of each period of two months in which the vessel is authorised to fish, taking into account the catches made during that period.

The licence shall be granted on advance payment of EUR 1 000 per vessel, to be deducted from the total amount of the fee. The advance payment shall be made at the beginning of each two-month period in which the vessel is authorised to fish.

The number of vessels authorised at the same time shall not exceed 36.

7. Biological recovery

Two (2) periods of two (2) months: May-June and October-November.

Any change to the biological recovery period, on the basis of scientific advice, shall be notified to the European Union without delay.

8. Comments

The fees are fixed for the entire period of application of the Protocol.

ANNEX 2

CATEGORY 7 — PELAGIC FREEZER TRAWLERS

FISHING CATEGORY 7

PELAGIC FREEZER TRAWLERS

1. Fishing zone

Fishing is authorised to the west of a line defined as follows:

(a)

North of latitude 19°00′00″N, the line joining the following points:

20°46′30″N	17°03′00″W
20°36′00″N	17°11′00″W
20°36′00″N	17°30′00″W
20°21′50″N	17°30′00″W
20°10′00″N	17°35′00″W
20°00′00″N	17°30′00″W
19°45′00″N	17°05′00″W
19°00′00″N	16°34′50″W
19°00′00″N	16°39′50″W

(b)	South of latitude 19°00′00″N as far as 17°05′00″N, at 20 nautical miles calculated from the low-water mark.

(c)	South of latitude 17°05′00″N as far as 16°04′00″N, at 13 nautical miles calculated from the low-water mark.

2. Authorised gear

Pelagic trawl

The bag of the trawl may be strengthened with a piece of netting with a minimum mesh size of 400 mm of stretched mesh and by straps placed at least 1,5 metres apart, except for the strap at the back of the trawl which may not be placed less than 2 metres from the window in the bag. Strengthening or doubling the bag by any other means is prohibited and the trawl may in no case target species other than the small pelagic species authorised.

3. Minimum authorised mesh

40 mm

4. Minimum size

For fish, the minimum size is to be measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the caudal fin (total length) (see Appendix 4).

The Joint Committee may determine the minimum size for species not listed above.

5. By-catches

Authorised

Not authorised

3 % of the total for the authorised target species or group of species (live weight)

Crustaceans or cephalopods except squid

The Joint Committee may determine by-catch rates for species not listed in Appendix 4.

6. Fishing opportunities/fees

Period

Year 1

Year 2

Volume of authorised catches (in tonnes)

300 000

Fees

EUR 123/t

The fee shall be calculated at the end of each period of three months in which the vessel is authorised to fish, taking into account the catches made during that period.

The licence shall be granted on advance payment of EUR 5 000 per vessel, to be deducted from the total amount of the fee. The advance payment shall be made at the beginning of each three-month period in which the vessel is authorised to fish.

The number of vessels authorised at the same time shall not exceed 19.

7. Biological recovery

A biological recovery period may be agreed by the Parties within the Joint Committee on the basis of the scientific advice of the Joint Scientific Committee.

8. Comments

The fees are fixed for the entire period of application of the Protocol.

The conversion factors for small pelagic species are specified in Appendix 5.

Unused category 8 fishing opportunities may be used at a rate of a maximum of two licences per month.