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On 23 June, Angola announced that negotiations on a fisheries agreement between Angola and the EU had ended as a result of disagreements over Angola’s new Biological and Aquatic Resources Act (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 21 October 2004). The Angolan Law, which was adopted in October 2004, stipulates that foreign firms can fish in Angolan waters only as part of a joint venture with an Angolan company, which must own a majority stake in the partnership. All catches would be deemed Angolan property and subject to domestic export controls and fishing activities would be prohibited from targeting species in decline or species crucial for local food supply. According to the Angolan Ministry of Fisheries, the EU on 15 June had called off negotiations on a successor agreement to the 1989-2004 fisheries agreement because of dissatisfaction with the draft document the Angolans had presented. “This draft protocol is even more restrictive than any other presented up to now by Angola and cannot be considered as a basis for further negotiations,” the European Commission Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs reportedly said in the letter. Victoria Christovao de Barros Neto, Angolan Deputy Fisheries Minister, defended the government’s position, saying that “it is important for us to develop this fishing sector in Angola in a sustainable way which creates jobs, reduces poverty and feeds the people.” Whereas Angola’s fish stocks have long attracted foreign fishing vessels, new regulations “put Angolans first”, she added. Environmental group WWF had criticised the last EU-Angola agreement owing to concerns the deal would threaten resource health and a food source in a nation grappling with a food crisis (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 10 October 2002).
“Discordant Points Hinder Angola And EU Fishing Accord,” ANGOLAN NATIONAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT AGENCY, 24 January 2005; “Angola closes net on foreign fishing,” BUSINESS REPORT, 30 June 2005; “Fisheries Minister On Accord With European Union,” ANGOLAN PRESS AGENCY, 22 June 2005; ” Angola, EU Terminate Agreement On Fisheries,” ANGOLAN PRESS AGENCY, 23 June 2005; ” Govt Clarifies Competence Of Fisheries Ministry,” ANGOLA PRESS, 20 June 2005.
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