EU/Seychelles Agreement: access for Seychelles fishing vessels to the waters of Mayotte

The European Parliament adopted by 364 votes to 139, with 25 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles on access for Seychelles fishing vessels to the waters of Mayotte.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The aim of this new Agreement is to enable further strengthening of a strategic partnership with Seychelles and to contribute to responsible fishing in EU waters and developing fisheries policy in Mayotte. The technical and financial conditions of the Fisheries Access Agreement are also aligned with those the SFPA with Seychelles and its Implementing Protocol signed in 2020.

This Agreement establishes the principles, rules and procedures governing cooperation in the fisheries sector with a view to ensuring responsible fishing and the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources in waters around Mayotte based on the principle of non-discrimination between the different fleets fishing in those waters.

The conditions governing access by Seychelles fishing vessels to these EU waters are further detailed in the annex to the agreement (fishing opportunities, fishing authorisations, monitoring, and observers, etc).

Under the agreement, eight Seychelles-flagged vessels (purse seiners) will be able to fish in Mayotte's waters, beyond 24-nautical miles from its coasts. Fishing opportunities are based on the best available scientific advice (and where applicable within the limits of the surplus available) and in line with the recommendations of the regional fisheries management organisation responsible, namely the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).