Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the allocation of the fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (2026-2030)
Date: 2026-05-12
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: Seychelles, agreement (EU), catch area, fishing agreement, fishing rights, protocol to an agreement, sea fishing, ship's flag, sustainable fisheries

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 12.5.2026  COM(2026) 194 final 2026/0108 (NLE)  Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the allocation of the fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (2026-2030)  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

• 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

Reasons for and objectives of the proposal 

The  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  (SFPA)  between  the  European  Union  and 
Seychelles1 entered into force on 24 February 2020 for a duration of six years and is tacitly 
renewable for additional periods of six years. 

On the basis of the Council Decision of 23 June 20252 authorising the opening of negotiations 
on behalf of the European Union of a new Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable 
Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  with  the  Republic  of  Seychelles,  and  the  negotiating 
directives  contained  therein,  the  Commission  conducted  negotiations  with  the  Republic  of 
Seychelles (hereinafter ‘Seychelles’). Following those negotiations, a Protocol was initialled 
by the negotiators on 1 April 2026. The new protocol covers a period of four years from the 
date of provisional application set out in Article 19, i.e. the date of signature by the parties. 

The  purpose  of  the  new  Protocol  is  to  grant  fishing  opportunities  to  Union  vessels  in  the 
fishing zones located in the waters of Seychelles, in accordance with scientific advice and the 
recommendations  of  the  relevant  regional  fisheries  management  organisation,  the  Indian 
Ocean  Tuna  Commission  (IOTC).  The  new  Protocol  provides  for  the  following  fishing 
opportunities: 

- 30 tuna purse seine vessels; 

- 8 surface longliners. 

The  objective  of  the  proposal  is  to  allocate  those  fishing  opportunities  among  the  Member 
States. 

• 

Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area 

The main aim of the new Protocol to the Agreement is to provide an updated framework that 
takes  into  account  the  priorities  of  the  common  fisheries  policy  (CFP)  and  the  external 
dimension.  This  will  help  maintain  and  strengthen  the  strategic  partnership  between  the 
European Union and Seychelles. 

The new Protocol provides for fishing opportunities for Union vessels. It is based on the best 
available scientific advice and on the recommendations made by the IOTC.  

• 

Consistency with other Union policies 

The  negotiation  of  a  new  protocol  to  implement  the  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership 
Agreement  with  Seychelles  is  part  of  the  EU’s  external  action  towards  the  countries  of  the 
Organisation  of  African,  Caribbean  and  Pacific  States  (OACPS),  and  takes  into  account 
Union objectives, in particular the respect of democratic principles and human rights. 

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EUR-Lex - 22023A0322(01) - EN - EUR-Lex. 
Ares(2025)5139411. 

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2. 

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LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY 

Legal basis 

The  legal  basis  is  Article 43(3)  of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union 
(TFEU), which establishes that the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, is to adopt 
measures on the allocation of fishing opportunities. 

• 

Subsidiarity 

The  proposal  falls  within  the  exclusive  competence  of  the  European  Union  pursuant  to 
Article 3(1), point (d), TFEU. The subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply. 

• 

Proportionality 

The  proposal  is  proportionate  to  the  objective  of  establishing  a  legal,  environmental, 
economic and social governance framework for fishing activities carried out by Union vessels 
in third-country waters, as set out in Article 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 establishing 
the common fisheries policy. 

3. 

• 

RESULTS 
CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 

EVALUATIONS, 

EX POST 

OF 

STAKEHOLDER 

Ex post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation 

In 2025, the Commission carried out an ex post evaluation of the current Protocol to the SFPA 
with  Seychelles  and  an  ex  ante  evaluation  of  a  possible  renewal  of  the  Protocol.  The 
conclusions of the evaluation are set out in a staff working document dated 25 June 20253. 

The evaluation concluded that the Union fishing  sectors are  strongly interested in  fishing in 
Seychelles and that the renewal of the Protocol is in the interest of both parties. Furthermore, 
the renewal of the Protocol would help strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance, and 
would contribute to improved governance of the fisheries sector in the region. 

For  the  Union,  it  is  important  to  maintain  an  instrument  allowing  deep  sectoral  cooperation 
with Seychelles, which is a strategic player at subregional level due to the fishing area under 
its jurisdiction and  is  an important  ally in the framework of the  IOTC.  Furthermore, for the 
Union fleet this means maintaining access to an important fishing area for the deployment of 
harvesting  strategies  under  a  multiannual  international  legal  framework.  Moreover,  the 
importance  of  Seychelles  in  terms  of  processing  tuna  caught  in  the  Indian  Ocean  and 
consequent  exports  of  tuna  products  to  the  Union  increases  the  relevance  of  the  envisaged 
new  Protocol,  both  for  the  Union  fishing  industry  and  for  the  partner  country.  For  the 
Seychelles authorities, the aim is to continue relations with the Union with a view, inter alia, 
to  strengthening  ocean  governance,  thereby  benefiting  from  dedicated  sectoral  support  that 
provides multiannual funding opportunities. 

• 

Stakeholder consultations 

Member States, industry representatives, international civil society organisations, the fisheries 
administration and representatives of civil society in Seychelles were consulted as part of the 
assessment.  

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eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025SC0136 

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• 

Collection and use of expertise 

The Commission  used an independent  consultant for the  ex post  and  ex ante evaluations,  in 
accordance  with  Article 31(10)  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 1380/2013  establishing  the  common 
fisheries policy. 

• 

Impact assessment 

Not applicable. 

• 

Regulatory fitness and simplification 

Not applicable. 

• 

Fundamental rights 

A  clause  on  the  consequences  of  violations  of  human  rights  and  democratic  principles  is 
included in the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

The proposed Regulation does not affect the Union budget. 

5. 

• 

OTHER ELEMENTS 

Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements 

This procedure is initiated in parallel with the procedures related to the Council Decision on 
the  signing,  on  behalf  of  the  Union,  and  provisional  application  of  the  Protocol  on  the 
implementation  of  the  SFPA  between  the  European  Union  and  the  Republic  of  Seychelles 
(2026-2030)  and  the  Council  Decision  on  its  conclusion.  The  Regulation  shall  apply  on  the 
date of provisional application of the Protocol. 

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2026/0108 (NLE) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

on the allocation of the fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol on the 
implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the 
European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (2026-2030) 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 43, paragraph 3 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the European Union, a new Protocol on 
the  implementation  of  the  Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  between  the 
European  Union  and  the  Republic  of  Seychelles  for  a  duration  of  four  years  (‘the 
Protocol’). 

This  Protocol  replaces  the  most  recent  protocol  implementing  the  Sustainable 
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic 
of Seychelles4, which was signed on 24 February 2020 for a  duration of six years, and 
expired on 23 February 2026. 

Following these negotiations the new Protocol was initialled on 1 April 2026. 

On […], the Council adopted Decision (EU) […] [footnote reference] on the signing 
and  provisional  application  of  the  new  Protocol,  subject  to  its  conclusion  at  a  later 
date. 

The fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol should be allocated among the 
Member States for the entire period of application of the Protocol. 

This  Regulation  should  enter  into  force  as  soon  as  possible  given  the  economic 
importance  of  Union  fishing  activities  in  Seychelles’  fishing  zone  and  the  need  to  . 
reduce as much as possible the interruption of such activities. 

Article 19 of the Protocol provides  for  the Protocol’s provisional application from the 
date  of  its  signature  in  order  to  allow  the  fishing  activities  of  Union  vessels.  This 
Regulation should therefore apply from the same date, 

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Sustainable  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  between  the  European  Union  and  the  Republic  of 
Seychelles, OJ L 60, 28.2.2020, pp. 5–ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2020/272/oj 

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HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

The  fishing  opportunities  set  out  in  the  Protocol  on  the  implementation  of  the  Sustainable 
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles 
(‘the Protocol’) shall be allocated among the Member States as follows: 

(a) 

tuna purse seine vessels:  

Spain: 17 vessels  

France: 12 vessels  

Italy: 1 vessels  

(b) 

 surface longliners:  

Spain: 2 vessels  

France: 4 vessels  

Portugal: 2 vessels 

This  Regulation  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  day  following  that  of  its  publication  in  the 
Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 2 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. It 
shall apply from the date of the signature of the Protocol.  

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

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