The new European Union (EU)-Mauritania fisheries deal initiated in July 2011 and intended to run for two years has led to the departure of the EU pelagic fleet, including freezer trawlers, as Mauritania tries to enforce the technical regulations in the EU deal on other flag states' vessels.
The EU pelagic industry has condemned the new deal as unworkable as it would put an average EU vessel's fishing licence costs up from €45,000 ($56,766) to €300,000 ($378,442) per month while also forcing vessels to fish outside 20 miles instead of the previous 12/13 miles.
EU vessels would also have to engage more Mauritanian crew, gift 2% of catches to a local trader, and work within a 2% log book margin of tolerance (compared to 10% in EU waters), which could lead to heavy fines every landing.
The agreement is not made conditional to development of a effective management plan for pelagic stocks in West African waters.
Many feel the idea of using limit lines...
