NOUAKCHOTT, July 27 (Reuters) – Mauritania and the European Union have agreed to extend the rights of European fishermen to operate in Mauritanian waters in a deal that will earn the impoverished West African nation 113 million euros ($139.78 million) per year for the next two years.
The accord, signed in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott on Thursday, grants European fishermen the right to a take of 307,400 tonnes of fish. In addition, 30 tuna boats will be allowed to operate in the country’s territorial waters.
Sixty percent of crew members aboard European operators are required to be Mauritanian.
Stephaan Depypere, the EU’s chief negoitator, said the deal was “fair and respected the scientific basis of resource preservation”.
The agreement replaces a deal which expires next week that allowed 110 mainly Spanish ships to fish in Mauritanean waters in exchange for annual compensation of 75.5 million euros.
Fishing revenues account for a quarter of Mauritania’s GDP. ($1 = 0.8084 euros) (Reporting by Kissima Diagana; Writing by Joe Bavier)
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