3. International Agreements 



From 1987 to 1992, the Mauritanian government 

 signed two fishery agreements, one with the 

 European Community (EC) and the other with Japan. 

 These agreements facilitated increased fish production 

 during this period, The Government of Mauritania 

 and the Government of the Ukraine signed and 

 agreement in April 1993. The Government of 

 Mauritania recently renewed its agreement with the 

 EC for the period August 1993-July 1996 for 

 approximately 100 EC-flag fishing vessels. The 

 highlights of the Mauritania-EC Fishery Agreement 

 are as follows: 



Specialized vessels (maximum catches allowed): 



 fishing vessels specializing in crustaceans, 

 with the exception of lobsters: 10,000 tons per 

 month annual average. 



 black hake trawlers and bottom longliners: 

 15,000 tons per month annual average. 



 pelagic trawlers and seiners: 9,000 tons per 

 month annual average. 



Vessels with licenses for lobster fishing may 

 keep on board no fishing gear other than baskets. 

 These vessels are not authorized for live-bait fishing. 

 In addition, lobster fishing is prohibited between July 

 1 and September 30 of each year, since this is the 

 height of the spawning season for lobsters. 



Vessels fishing for highly migratory species (number 

 of vessels allowed): 



 38 pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface 

 longliners. 



 25 freezer tuna seiners: 

 Authorized mesh sizes: 



The minimum mesh sizes authorized as follows: 



 Fishing vessels specializing in harvesting 

 crustaceans with the exception of lobster: 40 

 centimeters (cm). 



 Black hake trawlers: 60 cm. 



 Pelagic seiners: 20 cm. 



 Pelagic trawlers: 30 cm. 



 Pole-and-line tuna vessels fishing with live 

 bait: 8 cm. 



The financial compensation to the Government of 

 Mauritania under the agreement for the three-year 

 period amounts to approximately $32.9 million, 

 payable in three annual installments. In addition, the 

 EC is required to contribute approximately $1.1 

 million towards the financing of the Government of 

 Mauritania's fishery development programs. The EC 

 also undertook to provide training in fisheries at a 

 cost of $426,960. 



The following are the conditions for fishing by 

 EC vessels in Mauritania's waters: 



 The EC Commission will present to the 

 Mauritanian fishery authorities an application for 

 each vessel, drawn up by shipowners seeking 

 authorization to fish under the agreement. 



 Before receiving a license, each vessel, with 

 the exception of freezer tuna seiners, must enter 

 the Port of Nouadhibou for inspection. 



 Licenses are issued to a given vessel for 

 twelve months. 



 The fee to be paid to the Government of 

 Mauritania by the shipowners is set at 

 approximately $23.72 per ton of fish caught 

 within the Mauritanian fishing zone. 



 All vessels, authorized to fish in Mauritania's 

 fishing zone under the agreement, with the 

 exception of tuna vessels and longliners, are 

 obliged to report their catch. 



 With the exception of freezer tuna seiners, 

 owners of EC vessels operating in Mauritania's 

 fishing zone must employ crews whose 

 composition is at least one-fourth Mauritanian. 

 Shipowners are free to choose which Mauritanian 

 sailor they take on board their vessel. 



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