Seychelles signs strategic fisheries access accord

Seychelles signs strategic fisheries access accord

28-May-2014
Seychelles has signed a fisheries access agreement which will allow Seychelles flagged vessels to continue their operations in Mayotte waters, regardless of the transition of this Indian Ocean island to the European Region as of January 1, 2014.

The agreement was signed in Brussels, Belgium by Seychelles’ ambassador to the EU, Vivianne Fock-Tave, and follows a meeting between delegations from the EU and Seychelles held in Victoria in November 2013, where the accord was initialed.

The agreement will allow eight tuna purse seine vessels to operate in the waters of Mayotte under the jurisdiction of the EU for the next six years against the payment of licence and catch fees coming directly from the ship-owners.

The culmination of these efforts have led to the successful conclusion of the Seychelles EU talks with the view of strengthening Seychelles’ stake in the sustainable operative framework with regard to fisheries.

“This highlights Seychelles importance as a responsible tuna fishing nation and confirms the strategic partnership and high regard in which the European Union views Seychelles,” says a communiqué from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This agreement will consolidate cooperation between the EU and Seychelles and establish general fishery governance of the highest standard in terms of sustainability, transparency, control and monitoring of the respective fleets, encompassed in the newly reformed EU Common Fishery Policy,” adds the communiqué.

It is to note that this is also the first tuna agreement whereby the European Union allows vessels of a non-EU member country to fish in its waters on the payment of fees.

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