22.12.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 341/125 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 17 December 2001 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the provisional application of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement on cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the period 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2006 (2001/926/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 300(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas: (1) The Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania have held negotiations with a view to determining amendments or additions to be made to the Agreement on cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Maur- itania (). (2)  As a result of these negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 31 July 2001. (3)  Under that Protocol, Community fishermen have fishing opportunities in the waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the period 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2006. (4)  In order to ensure uninterrupted fishing activities by Community vessels, it is essential that the new Protocol be applied as quickly as possible; for this reason, the two parties have initialled an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters providing for the provisional application of the initialled Protocol from 1 August 2001. (5)  The method for allocating the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 An Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the provisional application of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement on cooperation in the sea fisheries sector between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the period 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2006 is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The texts of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters and of the Protocol are attached to this Decision. Atticle 2 The fishing opportunities fixed in the Protocol shall be allo- cated among the Member States as follows: 1 Gross registered Number of vessels which Fishing category Member State tonnage mav be used (GRT) Y Crustaceans except lobsters Spain 4364 Italy 1091 Portugal 545 () O] L 334, 23.12.1996, p. 20.