On 28 January 2014, the Council adopted Decision 2014/146/EU1 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius (‘the Agreement’).

The first Protocol2 to the Agreement set out, for a period of 3 years, the fishing opportunities granted to Union vessels in the fishing zone under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Republic of Mauritius (‘Mauritius’) and the financial contribution granted by the Union. The period of application of that Protocol expired on 27 January 2017.

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2017/19603, a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius (‘the Protocol’) was signed on 8 December 2017.

The method for allocating the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined for the entire period of application of the Protocol.

Article 10(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/20084 provides that the Commission is to inform the Member States concerned if it appears that the number of fishing authorisations or the amount of fishing opportunities allocated to the Union under the Protocol are not fully utilised, and request them to confirm not making use of those fishing opportunities. The absence of a reply within a set deadline is to be considered as confirmation that the vessels of the Member State concerned are not making full use of their fishing opportunities during the period in question. That deadline should be set.

The Protocol will apply on a provisional basis from its date of signature, in order to ensure an expeditious start to fishing activities of Union vessels. This Regulation should therefore also apply from that date,