The Gabonese government has decided to terminate its Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with the European Union, which formally expired on June 28, 2026, without renewal.
The agreement, first established in 2007 and renewed multiple times—most recently in 2021—has generated approximately 17 billion CFA francs for the Gabonese state over five years. However, authorities have deemed the financial returns insufficient compared to the volume of fish caught in Gabonese waters.
This decision, driven by the transitional government led by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema during a June 2025 cabinet meeting, marks the end of 19 years of fisheries cooperation between Gabon and the EU.
Moving forward, Gabon plans to prioritize local tuna processing to stimulate job creation, attract industrial investments, and enhance the country’s economic value through added domestic production.