2003/431/EC: Council Decision of 11 June 2003 on the signing, on behalf of the Community, and provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Mauritius on fishing in Mauritian waters for the period 3 December 2002 to 2 December 2003

• Articles: 5

Article 1

The signature of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of Mauritius on fishing in Mauritian waters for the period 3 December 2002 to 2 December 2003 is hereby approved on behalf of the Community, subject to the Council decision on the conclusion of the said Agreement.

The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on behalf of the Community, subject to its conclusion.

Article 3

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall be applied provisionally in the European Community with effect from 3 December 2002.

Article 4

The fishing opportunities fixed in Article 1 of the Protocol shall be allocated among the Member States as follows:

(a) Tuna seiners:

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(b) Surface longliners:

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(c) Vessels fishing by line:

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If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State.

Article 5

The Member States whose vessels fish under the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock caught within the Mauritian fishing zone in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001(4).

Done at Luxembourg, 11 June 2003.

For the Council

The President

G. Drys

(1) OJ L 159, 10.6.1989, p. 2.

(2) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 30.

(3) OJ L 64, 6.3.2001, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 73, 15.3.2001, p. 8.