EU/Seychelles Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Implementation Protocol (2020-2026)

The European Parliament adopted by 504 votes to 70, with 112 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles and its implementing protocol (2020-2026).

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement and the protocol.

The European Union signed a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) with the Republic of the Seychelles and an accompanying implementing protocol, both of which will be in force for a six-year period (2020-2026).

In line with the priorities of the Common Fisheries Policy from 2014 and the rules concerning the SFPAs, the new agreement and the accompanying protocol stressed the need to adhere to the principles of sustainability and to fish only the surplus which must be calculated on the basis of the best available scientific advice.

The agreement between the EU and Seychelles is a tuna agreement. It grants fishing rights to European vessels targeting mainly the different species of tuna present in Seychelles waters.

The new protocol provides fishing opportunities for 40 tuna purse seiners (stable compared to the previous protocol), 8 surface longliners (2 additional vessels compared to the previous protocol) and support vessels, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission).

The financial contribution from the EU amounts to EUR 5.3 million per year, comprising EUR 2.5 million for access to fisheries resources and EUR 2.8 million to support the development of Seychelles' sectoral fisheries policy.