Gabon ends fishing deal with the European Union

The European Union has expressed readiness to address Gabon’s concerns over their longstanding fishing partnership with transparency and constructive dialogue, as stated in an official communication.

In June 2025, President Brice Oligui Nguema initiated unilateral steps to terminate the existing agreement, describing it as an «imbalanced and unsustainable» arrangement that required urgent renegotiation.

The EU has since signaled openness to finalizing a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement, emphasizing a forward-looking approach aimed at establishing a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial framework for both parties.

First established in 2007, the original deal granted European vessels access to Gabon’s rich marine resources under terms outlined in the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (APPD).

According to government records from the June cabinet meeting, key criticisms included the fact that financial returns from the partnership failed to reflect the true value of fish catches, while also failing to cover the Gabonese state’s expenses for monitoring, control, and the loss of added value due to the absence of local processing facilities.

The administration also highlighted insufficient investments in local development, job creation, and national capacity-building initiatives by European partners. Additionally, there were concerns about the growing threat of overfishing due to the lack of shared transparency and scientific monitoring mechanisms.

The most recent renewal of the APPD, which took place in 2021, extended the agreement for another five years with an estimated total value of approximately 17 billion CFA francs, equivalent to around 26 million euros, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.