Gabon is preparing to formalise its withdrawal from fisheries agreements with the European Union, a move the government says is aimed at reclaiming control over its marine resources and boosting local economic value.
The decision is due to be reviewed on January 15 by the Ministerial Steering Committee (CMP), chaired by the vice-president of the government, as Libreville accelerates plans to overhaul its fisheries sector. Officials say the shift marks a decisive break from what they describe as unbalanced agreements that have failed to deliver sufficient benefits to the country.
Gabon began a unilateral process to denounce its fisheries accords with the EU in June 2025, targeting a protocol first signed in 2007 and renewed in 2021. Under the arrangement, European vessels mainly tuna fleets were granted access to Gabonese waters in exchange for financial compensation and support for sectoral development.
Government officials argue the deal has become increasingly unfavourable. According to authorities, EU financial contributions amounted to about 17 billion CFA francs (US$28 million) over five years — a figure they say does not offset the high costs of monitoring Gabon’s vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or the loss of potential revenue from local fish processing.
“The balance is no longer there,” a senior fisheries official said. “Our resources are extracted, but the added value is created elsewhere.”
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Under the current framework, most tuna caught in Gabonese waters is landed and processed abroad, depriving the local economy of jobs, tax revenue and industrial development, officials say.
The CMP is expected to examine detailed technical assessments prepared by the Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGPA), which form the basis for the government’s new fisheries policy. The review is seen as the final step before definitively ending cooperation with the EU under the existing agreements.
Beyond the break with Europe, the government is seeking to redefine the role of fisheries in Gabon’s economy. Authorities plan to validate a national strategy built around industrialisation, job creation and sovereignty.
The proposed reforms include the construction of fish processing plants, the development of dedicated fishing ports, and the revival of a domestically controlled tuna industry. Officials say the aim is to build integrated value chains capable of absorbing local labour and retaining more wealth within the country.
Currently, fisheries contribute about 1.5% of Gabon’s gross domestic product, a figure the government wants to raise significantly over the medium term.
“We want our maritime wealth to become a real engine of inclusive growth,” an official involved in the reform process said.
Analysts note that Gabon’s move reflects a broader trend among African coastal states seeking to renegotiate or exit foreign fishing agreements they see as skewed in favour of external partners. Similar debates have emerged in countries such as Senegal, Mauritania and Madagascar.
However, the shift also carries risks. Ending EU access could reduce short-term revenue and strain diplomatic relations, while the success of Gabon’s strategy will depend on its ability to attract investment, enforce fishing regulations and build the necessary infrastructure.
The government insists it is ready. Officials say the new plan includes a clear timetable, defined budgets and mechanisms to strengthen surveillance of national waters, long plagued by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
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If approved this week, the decision would mark one of Gabon’s most assertive economic policy shifts in recent years, signalling a determination to turn sovereignty over natural resources into tangible domestic gains.
