Source: La Opinion de Coruna
According the new fisheries agreement between the European Union and Mozambique, which came into effect this month, Spain obtains 38 tuna fishing licenses for fishing in waters of this African country.
The licenses are for 22 for tuna purse-seine vessels, mostly fishing in Indian waters, and 16 surface longliners, based in Galicia.
The EU Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries ratified the bilateral agreement this week, which will have duration of three years, effective as of January 1 and which will replacing the previous pact.
Mozambique distributed a total of 75 fishing permits to the Community fleet, Spain being the main beneficiary.
However, the number of licenses granted by Mozambique to Spanish fishing vessels has declined compared to the previous agreement, which amounted to 43 permits. Nevertheless, this reduction will have no practical implications because, according to industry sources, the Spanish vessels were using only 23 licenses.
The beneficiary countries now are France with 28 licenses, Portugal with 7 permits, Italy and the UK, with a license each.
In return, the EU will pay Mozambique a total of Euro 2.9 million during the three year duration of the agreement.
The EU Council also authorized the European Commission (EC) to open negotiations with the Republic of Mauritius, another Indian country to agree a new fisheries protocol, as the former expired in 2007.