Visiting Spanish Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa has expressed her government's willingness to boost bilateral cooperation with Angola and promote negotiations for a new fishing accord between the European Union (EU) and this South African country.
On her arrival in the Angolan capital Monday night, Espinosa underlined Spain's interest in continued and broadened cooperation with Luanda. She said she would discuss with Angolan officials on a new fishing accord between EU and Angola.
The last EU-Angola fisheries agreement ran from 2002 until this August, which gave EU vessels access to fishing grounds in the South Atlantic ocean where tuna and shrimp are just some of the species caught.
However, the agreements have been criticized by environmental groups for giving European fishermen the right to plunder the valuable resources of poor developing countries.
Mrs. Espinosa was to meet with her Angolan counterpart Salomao Xirimbimbi, Foreign Minister Joao Miranda, and possibly with Prime Minister Fernando Dias dos Santos.
Until August 2003, a total of nine tuna purseseiners, 14 longliners and 2 trawlers from Spain were operating in Angolan waters after paying a minimum stipulated amount for 100,000 tons and an additional Euros 25 for every exceeding ton.
Angolan authorities are trying to reach an agreement where it would own the majority share on each vessel with the creation of joint ventures. However, the Spanish Minister considers that this would create an insecure legal position for the vessels, which would also have to return most of the subventions obtained from the EU.
The EU wants to continue with the current status for another year and gradually transfer the boats to Angola until granting this country with majority shares by the fourth year. This would reflect negatively on the communitarian subventions since the 80 percent have less than 10 years of antiquity. The Angolan Minister of Fisheries Xirimbimbi recognized that its country has excessive tuna fishing boats a.o. and are ready to negotiate the establishment of joint ventures. However, he said, the companies have the last word on this issue.