On 24 February 2020, the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles signed a new 6-year sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) and associated implementing protocol setting out the fishing opportunities for EU vessels, the financial compensation to be paid by the Union and the modalities of sectoral support to the fishing sector of the Seychelles. The current protocol covers the period 24.02.2020- 23.02.2026 with an EU financial contribution of €5.3 million per year, out of which €2.8 million is earmarked for the support of the fisheries policy of Seychelles.
This fisheries agreement allows EU vessels from Spain, France, Italy and Portugal to fish in the Seychelles’ fishing zone and is part of the tuna network fisheries agreements in the Indian Ocean.
Main features of the SFPA
Duration of the agreement
6 years renewable (24.2.2020 – 23.2.2026)
Duration of the protocol
6 years (24.2.2020 – 23.2.2026)
Initialisation
22.10.2019
Nature of the SFPA
Tuna fishery agreement
Financial contribution
€5,300,000 per year, of which €2,800,000 is dedicated to the support of the fisheries sector of Seychelles.
Fee for ship owners
€80 per tonne for the first and second year of protocol’s application
€85 per tonne from the third to the sixth year of protocol’s application
Advances
Tuna seiners: Annually incremental from €56,000 per year to €59,500 per year (from the third to the sixth year of protocol’s application)(ref catches: 700 t)
Surface longliners = Annually incremental from €7,200 per year to €7,650 per year (year (from the third to the sixth year of protocol’s application )(ref catches: 90 t)
Reference tonnage
50.000 t./year
Environmental management and observation of marine ecosystems contribution
€2,25 per GT (purse seine vessels only) per year
| CURRENT PROTOCOL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fishing possibilities | |||||
| SPAIN | FRANCE | ITALY | PORTUGAL |
TOTAL VESSELS |
|
| Tuna seiners | 22 | 16 | 2 | - | 40 |
| Surface longliners | 2 | 4 | - | 2 | 8 |
History
The first fisheries agreement concluded between the EU and Seychelles dates back from 1987. The previous protocol expired on 17 January 2020. The negotiations for the new SFPA and Implementing protocol applying as of 24 February 2020 were based on an external ex-post and ex-ante evaluation of the previous Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Seychelles and of its implementing protocol (2014-2020).
Documents
Current legal framework
Framework agreement : Adopted by Council Regulation (EC) No 1562/2006 of 5.10.2006 (OJ L290 of 20.10.2006)
Protocol: Provisional application adopted by Council Decision 2014/5/EU of 16.12.2013 (OJ L4, 9.1.2014)
Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles on access for Seychelles fishing vessels to the waters of Mayotte (OJ L 83, 22.3.2023)
Council decision of 14 April 2014 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union (2014/331/EU)
Framework agreement and protocol: Provisional application adopted by Council Decision (EU) 2020/272 of 20 February 2020 (OJ L60, 28.2.2020)
Allocation of the fishing opportunities, adopted by Council Regulation (EU) 2020/271 of 20 February 2020
Council decision on the conclusion of the current SFPA and implementing protocol (pending adoption)