Aimé Martial Massamba, Gabon’s Minister of Fisheries, Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, has been tasked with steering preparations for a fresh fisheries partnership with the European Union. Meeting on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the presidential palace in Port-Gentil, the Council of Ministers gave the green light to launch negotiations on a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) and its implementing protocol.
The strategic question facing Gabon
The core dilemma is straightforward: can Gabon secure a deal that genuinely protects its marine resources and boosts local value, or will it repeat the imbalances of the past? The Council of Ministers also authorized the official notification of Gabon’s position to the European Union, the creation of a national negotiating team, and a timetable for the various rounds of talks. The government aims for a partnership described as renewed, balanced, and mutually beneficial, while safeguarding Gabon’s sovereignty over its fisheries resources and their sustainable exploitation.
What happened to the previous agreement?
This move follows Gabon’s denunciation on June 4, 2025, of the fisheries agreement that bound it to the European Union. The protocol signed in June 2021, which expired on June 28, 2026, had allowed up to 33 European vessels to fish for tuna species in Gabonese waters. In return, the EU paid Gabon around €1.6 million per year, supplemented by contributions from shipowners.
Why Gabon walked away
The Gabonese government had announced its intention not to renew the agreement in its current form, arguing that it was unbalanced to Gabon’s detriment, both economically and in terms of local processing of fisheries resources.
Europe’s response: dialogue over confrontation
The renewal of the partnership comes as Libreville and Brussels have already engaged in discussions about the future of their cooperation in the sector. In June 2026, the European Union declared itself willing to negotiate a “new generation” agreement and a new implementing protocol, taking into account the concerns expressed by Gabon.
In this context, the EU Ambassador to Gabon, Cécile Abadie, gave an exclusive interview in which she called for prioritizing dialogue over confrontation, stating: “My wish is that we can sit around the table and discuss each of these points as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
That statement reflects Brussels’ desire to maintain dialogue and pave the way for negotiating a new partnership.
Minister’s priorities for the talks
Minister Aimé Martial Massamba has placed fisheries sovereignty, the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the development of a sustainable blue economy among his department’s priorities.
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The stakes are clear: Gabon wants a deal that serves its people, protects its waters, and ensures that the benefits of its marine wealth stay at home.
