§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist between the Government of Gambia and the European Union relating to access to the continental shelf and the coastal waters of the Gambia for fishing vessels from European Union member states.
§ Mr. JackA new protocol to the EU-Gambia fishing agreement, setting out the technical and financial terms governing fishing by European Union vessels in all Gambian waters for the period of 1 July 1993 to 30 June 1996, was adopted by the Council on 10 March 1994.
The protocol provides for licensing of 23 tuna freezer seiners and seven pole and line tuna vessels. Additionally, there are opportunities for fresh fish trawlers up to a capacity of 410 gross registered tonnes, freezer trawlers fishing for shrimps up to a capacity of 2000 gross registered tonnes and other freezer trawlers up to a capacity of 750 gross registered tonnes.