On 30 November 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania1 (‘the Partnership Agreement’).

On 24 May 2016, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2016/8702 on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Partnership Agreement for a period of four years from 16 November 2015 (‘the Protocol’).

Council Regulation (EU) 2015/21923 allocates among the Member States the fishing opportunities fixed under the Protocol.

Scientific advice by the Independent Joint Scientific Committee established under Article 4 of the Protocol identified a surplus of black hake and took note of the 2014 scientific advice of the IMROP (Institut Mauritanien de Recherches Océanographiques et des Pêches) confirming a surplus of squid and cuttlefish.

In accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the Protocol, the Joint Committee established under Article 10 of the Partnership Agreement decided, at its meeting in Nouakchott on 15 and 16 November 2016, to modify the Protocol by introducing new fishing opportunities, within the available surplus, for freezer trawlers targeting black hake as a primary species and squid and cuttlefish as secondary species.

It is appropriate to allocate these new fishing opportunities among the Member States for the remainder of the period of application of the Protocol.

Since the introduction of new fishing opportunities has an impact on Union vessels' economic activities and planning of their fishing seasons, this Regulation should enter into force immediately after its publication.

Regulation (EU) 2015/2192 should be modified accordingly,