EU And Mozambique To Sign New Tuna Fishing Agreementff

European Union (EU) representatives and the Ministry of Fishery of Mozambique are finalizing the last details to renew their tuna fishing agreement which is effective since January 2004.

The new fishery agreement will be valid for a period of four years. It is especially focused on tuna, according to the European Commission director Cesar Deben.

The agreement will allow the EU fishing fleet to catch 8,000 tons of tuna annually in Mozambican waters, during a three-year period, in exchange for Eur 600,000, or Eur 75 per ton of tuna caught.

Furthermore, the new agreement will include an increase of the tuna catching volumes from 10,000 tons to 11,000 tons, in an open quota, since the Eu should pay for this quota even if it is not extracted, and if the volume is exceeded.

The agreement will allow about 100 EU vessels to operate in Mozambique waters; mainly French, Italian and Spanish purse seiners and longliners.