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ANNEX XVIII

JOINT DECLARATION ON SEA FISHING

1 . THE COMMUNITY AND THE ACP STATES RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF FISHERY RESOURCES IN WATERS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF COASTAL ACP STATES AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THESE STATES . SUCH ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE UNDER THE POLICIES FOR THE CONSERVATION AND USE OF THOSE RESOURCES AS DETERMINED BY EACH ACP STATE CONCERNED .

2 . CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR CONTINUED COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF FISHERIES , THE ACP STATES DECLARE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE COMMUNITY BILATERAL FISHERY AGREEMENTS LIKELY TO GUARANTEE MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS FOR FISHING ACTIVITIES OF VESSELS FLYING THE FLAG OF ONE OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE SEA WATERS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE ACP STATES . ACP STATES THAT CONCLUDE SUCH AGREEMENTS WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN MEMBER STATES OR AGAINST THE COMMUNITY , WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AMONGST NEIGHBOURING STATES WITHIN A SUB-REGION , INCLUDING ANY RECIPROCAL FISHING ARRANGEMENTS .

3 . THE COMMUNITY WILL ACT IN THE SAME SPIRIT IN CASES IN WHICH ACP STATES , WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE SAME SUBREGION AS TERRITORIES TO WHICH THE ROME TREATY APPLIES , WISH TO CARRY OUT FISHING ACTIVITIES IN THE CORRESPONDING FISHING ZONE .

4 . THE MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 2 BEAR IN PARTICULAR ON THE NATURE AND SCALE OF THE COMPENSATION TO BE RECEIVED BY THE ACP STATES CONCERNED UNDER BILATERAL AGREEMENTS .

SUCH COMPENSATION MAY SERVE TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY OF THE ACP STATES CONCERNED AND SHALL BE ADDITIONAL TO ANY ALLOCATION RELATING TO PROJECTS IN THE SAME SPHERE UNDER THE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROVISIONS OF THIS CONVENTION .

5 . THE CONTRACTING PARTIES SHALL COOPERATE DIRECTLY , OR ON A REGIONAL BASIS , OR THROUGH APPROPRIATE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING CONSERVATION AND TO PROMOTING THE OBJECTIVE OF OPTIMUM USE OF FISHERY RESOURCES , INCLUDING HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES .