Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the amendment to the Agreement on cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania initialled in Brussels on 20 June 1996.

With reference to the Agreement on cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, initialled in Brussels on 20 June 1996, they agree to the amendments to the following technical provisions of the Agreement regarding: cephalopods, pelagic fishing, pole-and-line tuna vessels, surface longliners, etc. Fees shall continue to be calculated on the basis of the annual statement of catches per vessel and be subject, in accordance with datasheet No 8, to payment of an advance of ECU 2,000 per year. whether or not scientific observers are present on board, owners of pelagic vessels who are in possession of a licence shall contribute ECU 350 per month per vessel to the cost of scientific observation. Clearly, shipowners shall not be liable for the salaries of scientific observers on board their vessels. Annex establishes according to the different fishing activities: fishing zone, authorized gear bottom trawl, minimum authorized mesh size, by-catches, vessel requirements, etc.