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NEW EU SEYCHELLES FISHERIES AGREEMENT EXPECTED SOON
New EU Seychelles fisheries agreement expected soon. A new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement and protocol between Seychelles and the European Union (EU) is expected to be signed during the second half of February, reports the Seychelles News Agency (SNA).
The Minister responsible for fisheries, Charles Bastienne, told a news conference that negotiations for the new agreement were completed in October, and that Seychelles is now awaiting the EU’s final approval before signing the agreement.
“We are waiting for the EU council to approve the legal text of the agreement which is a long and thorough process and this has resulted in the delay. That is why it hasn’t been implemented and the EU-flagged vessels cannot conduct their activities in Seychelles’ waters,” explained Bastienne.
The previous agreement expired on January 16 and a new one was expected to have been signed by now.
The sustainable fisheries partnership agreement is a longstanding cooperation agreement between Seychelles and the EU. It enables EU vessels to fish in the waters under the jurisdiction of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.
The French Ambassador to Seychelles, Dominique Mas, told SNA that in the absence of a new agreement, the EU-flagged vessels are not allowed to fish in Seychelles’ jurisdiction, so they are leaving to fish in international waters.
“If it goes on for a couple of weeks it will not have a major impact on the sector. However, if they take longer to sign the agreement this will definitely have an impact on the fishermen,” said Mas.
Forty EU vessels are licensed to fish in Seychelles’ waters but there are 27 active vessels, mostly Spanish and French purse seiners.
He added that the EU Council is expected to meet in the second half of next month when the agreement is expected to be ready then for signing.
The European Union has given Seychelles a provisional date of February 16 or 17 for the council to give its green light for the signing of the agreement.
