Gabon terminates long-standing sustainable fishing agreement with the EU

The Gabonese government has officially decided not to renew its Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with the European Union, which expired on June 28, 2026. The termination marks a definitive break in nearly two decades of collaborative fishing practices between Libreville and Brussels.

Originally signed in 2007 and renewed multiple times, the last agreement was finalized in 2021. Over the five-year period following that renewal, the deal reportedly generated 17 billion CFA francs in revenue for Gabon’s national treasury.

The decision to end the partnership was formally endorsed during the June 2024 council of ministers, under the leadership of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who emphasized the need for a new economic approach to the country’s marine resources.

Libreville has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the financial returns from the agreement, arguing that the earnings did not reflect the true value of fish catches in Gabonese waters. Officials have highlighted that the current terms undervalued local marine assets and failed to align with national development goals.

In response, the Gabonese administration is shifting its strategy toward local processing of tuna and other marine species. The move aims to boost domestic employment, attract industrial investment, and maximize economic benefits for Gabonese communities.

The termination of the SFPA signals a broader policy shift toward economic sovereignty in Gabon’s fisheries sector, prioritizing long-term industrial growth over short-term financial gains from foreign partnerships.