Brussels – The European Union and the Seychelles signed today (27 July) a new protocol under the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement, which grants EU vessels access to Seychelles’ waters for a period of four years, allowing them to catch up to 55,000 tonnes of tuna and other migratory species per year. Under the protocol, up to 30 EU purse seine vessels and 8 longline vessels will be able to obtain a licence and resume their activities. Operations had been suspended following the expiry of the previous protocol on 23 February 2026, pending the finalisation and signing of the new one.
“Today’s renewal of our partnership with the Seychelles demonstrates the values on which the EU is founded: reliable cooperation, sustainable fishing, and a stronger economy. The renewal of our partnership is good news for our fishermen, for the Seychelles, and for the long-term health of our shared ocean,” commented the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis.
For Brussels, this protocol reinforces the shared commitment between the EU and the Seychelles to sustainable fisheries and mutual economic progress, as well as their fruitful cooperation in fisheries governance. As active participants in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), “both the EU and the Seychelles are committed to reconciling environmental sustainability with economic viability, ensuring significant fishing opportunities for the European fleet while respecting the needs of the ecosystem,” it states in a press release from the Berlaymont Building.
The total EU contribution, under the new protocol, will amount to €23 million over four years, of which €3 million is earmarked to support the sustainable fisheries sector in the Seychelles. In addition to the EU contribution, European shipowners will pay the Seychelles a licence and catch fee of €90 per tonne, as well as a specific fee for environmental management and the monitoring of marine ecosystems in Seychelles waters.
Tuna is the most widely consumed fish product in the European Union. In 2024, it accounted for 11 per cent of the total volume of EU imports of fish and aquaculture products. “This agreement enables EU vessels to meet part of that demand and reduce the EU’s dependence on fish imports,” the Commission added.
The new protocol will enter into force on 27 July 2026, once the ratification process has been completed by both parties. As far as the EU is concerned, this requires the consent of the European Parliament.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
