On 14 May, the Fisheries Council was briefed by Poland on the consequences for the EU fleet of the early closing, from 24 April, of the fishery in Mauritanian waters. The European Commission ordered the closing because European vessels had already used up by that date their annual fishing quota set by the fisheries protocol between the EU and Mauritania. Several member states have supported Poland’s request to the Commission to relaunch negotiations (currently at a standstill) for renewal of this protocol, which will expire on 31 July. The protocol gives access to Mauritania’s waters to vessels from 12 European countries, but fishing vessels from Poland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, the United Kingdom and Germany are most affected by the decision. The measure particularly concerns freezer trawlers fishing for pelagic species (sardines, sardinella and mackerel).