EU-Gabon Fisheries Partnership Agreement

EU-Gabon fisheries agreement – negotiation mandate for a new protocol

Update

This public consultation relates to the intended renewal of the protocol implementing the EU’s Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with Gabon. The current protocol will expire in June 2026.

Impacted Products

Tuna and tuna-like species

What is changing?

The EU will evaluate the current protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the EU and Gabon before it expires in June 2026. This will help the EU and Gabon draw conclusions about the performance of the protocol over the period 2021–2026.

The evaluation will also consider developments in Gabon’s fisheries policy and the local fishery sector. It will assess the EU fleet’s fishing activities and the impact of its landings on fish processing and trade in Gabon, as well as the performance of the EU’s support for the sector, with emphasis on its added value for both partners.

Why?

For the EU fleet to continue to fish in Gabonese waters, a new protocol needs to be in place as soon as possible after the current protocol expires in June 2026. This public consultation helps ensure that the evaluation of the agreement, and intended renewal of the protocol with Gabon, takes into account the views of stakeholders.

Timeline

The EU expects to initiate negotiations with Gabon in the third quarter of 2025.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

The continuation of the EU-Gabon FPA under a new protocol would benefit Gabon’s population by providing economic revenue and employment opportunities through the presence and possible landings of the EU fleet. Implementing the Agreement promotes good governance and supports the local fishing sector.

Recommended Actions

The European Commission’s call for evidence on the impacts of the SFPA closed on 10 March 2025. These views will be taken into account by the Commission when setting the conditions for the EU fleet’s fishing activities in Gabon’s waters in a new protocol.

Background

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) ensure consistency between the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy and other European policies, including sustainable use of partner country resources; combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; integration of partner countries into the global economy; and better political and financial governance of fisheries.

The EU-Gabon Fisheries Partnership Agreement allows EU vessels to fish in Gabon’s waters and the EU to support the country’s sustainable fisheries policy. Technical and financial conditions are agreed in an implementing protocol. The FPA with Gabon entered into force in June 2007. It has been implemented by several successive protocols. The current protocol will expire in June 2026.

The current protocol is part of the tuna network fisheries agreements in West Africa, and allows for a maximum of 37 vessels, flying the flags of Spain and France to operate year-round in Gabon’s waters. Over the course of the protocol, the EU makes an estimated total financial contribution of €13 million. It also provides for the possibility to conduct exploratory fishing targeting deep sea crustaceans.

Regulation 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy sets out how SFPAs must be evaluated. These evaluations form the basis for concluding a new implementing protocol.

Resources

Sources