Libreville, September 23, 2026 — Gabon and the European Union are set to restart negotiations that go far beyond mere access terms for European vessels to Gabonese waters. After the collapse of the previous partnership, Gabon is determined to reshape the economic, industrial, and operational framework governing its fisheries resources.
On September 18, the Gabonese government officially greenlit negotiations for a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) and its accompanying protocol. These talks follow Gabon’s denunciation of the prior deal on June 4, 2025, and the expiration of its protocol on June 28, 2026. Without a valid framework, European vessels lost their legal basis for fishing in Gabonese waters, and the clause preventing individual permits to circumvent the agreement remains in force.
The upcoming negotiations represent a critical opportunity for Gabon to address the shortcomings of a partnership that delivered limited local economic benefits relative to the value of its marine resources.
Redefining the financial and operational balance
The financial model of the previous agreement will be a key focus. Under the old protocol, a reference tonnage of 32,000 tonnes was used to calculate the EU’s annual contribution—1.6 million euros—but without guaranteeing that volume would be caught. An additional 1 million euros per year was allocated for sectoral development.
However, actual catches fell far short: between 2022 and 2024, European vessels averaged just 10,604 tonnes annually. Of the 27 purse seine authorizations, only 54% were used on average, while the six longline licenses set aside for tuna catchers went entirely unused.
These discrepancies highlight the need to reassess the next agreement’s structure. Key parameters up for discussion include vessel quotas, access fees per tonne, and the methodology for calculating the EU’s financial contribution. Yet the most pivotal issue lies in Gabon’s ability to convert fishing access into true local economic value.
From access to value creation: shifting the paradigm
The previous protocol mandated that at least 30% of catches be transshipped in Gabonese ports—contingent on acceptable commercial conditions. Any vessel using Gabonese ports was also required to land all bycatch locally. In practice, these measures were rarely enforced. European ships predominantly used ports in Côte d’Ivoire, where catches were processed. An EU assessment reveals that Gabon captured only 23% of the added value generated by the agreement, while 47% benefited other actors—particularly in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal—via port activities, onboard employment, and processing.
The new deal must clarify whether Gabon aims to monetize access to its waters or build an onshore value chain around its fisheries. Questions around landings, port infrastructure, local processing, and job creation are now as vital as financial compensation.
Sectoral funding also poses challenges. Of the 5 million euros allocated over five years for sectoral support, only 2 million had been disbursed by the time of the last evaluation (December 2024–May 2025). Less than 20% of the multi-year budget was utilized. Some infrastructure projects remain incomplete, and performance indicators prioritized deliverable completion over measurable economic impact.
Ensuring accountability and transparency in the next deal
Several technical weaknesses must also be addressed. The previous agreement included provisions for employing Gabonese seafarers, but no compliant crew lists were ever submitted to European shipowners, rendering related compensation clauses ineffective.
Catch monitoring systems were another weak point. An electronic declaration system was not fully operational, and discrepancies between EU and Gabonese data collection methods led to inconsistencies in reported figures. Transparency in actual catches will be essential to assess the agreement’s true value.
EU evaluators recommend revisiting the six unused longline licenses and adjusting purse seine quotas accordingly. The next negotiation is not merely about securing a financial transfer from Brussels in exchange for access to Gabonese waters. It must define a partnership where each tonne caught translates into tangible returns for Gabon’s economy—through revenue, employment, local landings, processing, and infrastructure development.
For both Libreville and Brussels, this round of talks marks a turning point. The new agreement will be judged not by its theoretical commitments but by its ability to deliver verifiable outcomes. For Gabon, reshaping this partnership could transform its fisheries resources from a bargaining chip into a tool for economic sovereignty and local value creation.
