Gabon ends three‑decade EU fishing agreement, halting European vessels in its waters

Gabon announced it will not renew its fishing partnership with the European Union that has been in place since 1998. The agreement will officially terminate on 29 June 2026, after which EU‑flagged vessels will no longer be permitted to fish in Gabon's exclusive economic zone.

Libreville said the deal failed to deliver fair economic benefits, noting that most caught tuna is exported without local processing and that the EU’s annual contribution of about €2.6 million is insufficient. The government also cited a lack of transparency in profit‑sharing mechanisms and wants any future partnership to be more equitable. Gabon mentioned Senegal’s termination of its own EU fishing pact at the end of 2024 as a precedent and said it remains open to new proposals that meet its interests.