Overview
Status: Protocol in place
Type of agreement: Tuna
Protocol dates: 29 June 2021 – 28 June 2026
EU total financial contribution: €2,600,000 per year
The EU and Gabon have had a fisheries partnership since 1998.
The fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the Gabonese Republic applied from 11 June 2007 to 10 June 2013. It has been automatically renewed for six-year periods since then. The current fisheries protocol covers the period from 29 June 2021 to 28 June 2026.
Financial details
EU financial contribution: €2,600,000 per year, with €1,000,000 dedicated to supporting the sustainable development of Gabon’s fisheries policy.
Fees for operators: €75 until 31 December 2021, then €80 per tonne caught
- Advance payment for tuna seiners: €33,750 per year until 31 December 2021, then €36,000 (equivalent to the fees due for 450 tonnes)
- Advance payment for poles and lines: €2,400 per year until 31 December 2021, then €2,560 (equivalent to the fees due for 32 tonnes)
- Supply vessels: €7,500 per year
- Observer fees: €2,500.
Access to waters
Reference tonnage: 32,000 tonnes per year
Fishing access: Vessels from France and Spain can fish for tuna and tuna-like species in Gabonese waters. It also allows Spanish trawlers to conduct limited exploratory fishing campaigns targeting deep crustaceans.
| Fishing opportunities (number of vessels) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | France | TOTAL | |
| Tuna seiners | 15 | 12 | 27 |
| Poles and lines vessels | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Trawlers for deep sea crustaceans under exploratory fishery (optional) | 4 | 4 |
Sectoral support
The EU provides an envelope of €1,000,000 per year to support the national strategy for sustainable fisheries. It should contribute to good ocean governance and the promotion of responsible and sustainable fisheries.
EU funding supports the following priorities
- fisheries support and management measures, including for small-scale fisheries
- fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance
- the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
- the development and strengthening of scientific capacities in the field of fisheries and aquaculture
- the observation and management of the marine environment, to measures to protect fragile ecosystems contributing to healthy stocks and to the management of marine protected areas
Scientific advice
Tuna-like species are managed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which includes both the EU and Gabon as members. The EU and Gabon work together within ICCAT to evaluate and manage tuna stocks. The EU's tuna fleet fishes in compliance with ICCAT rules.
According to the agreement and its implementation protocol, the EU and Gabon support scientific cooperation. They consult a Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) to enhance monitoring of marine life and address scientific issues related to the protocol.
Reports