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# [SEYCHELLES] EU-Seychelles Fisheries Deal: €23 Million and 55,000 Tonnes of Tuna Over Four Years
- URL: https://businessoi.media/en/seychelles-accord-ue-seychelles-23-millions-deuros-et-55-000-tonnes-de-thon-pour-quatre-ans-en/
- Published: 2026-08-01T02:50:37.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-01T02:50:37.000Z
- Description: Signed on July 27, 2026, the new EU-Seychelles fishing protocol secures €23 million in funding and grants European fleets access to 55,000 tonnes of tuna per year through 2030.
- Author: Emmanuel TAOCHY
- Tags: Seychelles, Économie, Investissement, Revue matinale, #en

**A new fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and Seychelles has come into force, committing €23 million over four years and granting EU fleets access to 55,000 tonnes of tuna annually. Signed on July 27, 2026, this protocol signals renewed confidence in sustainable fishing cooperation across the Indian Ocean.**

## A Renewed and Strengthened Partnership

The EU-Seychelles Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement is among the oldest and most significant of its kind in the Indian Ocean. The new protocol, effective July 27, 2026, extends the arrangement for four more years with a €23 million financial commitment from the European side. The agreement authorises up to 30 purse seine vessels and 8 surface longliners targeting skipjack, bigeye, and yellowfin tuna. Vessel operators pay €90 per tonne landed — a direct, predictable revenue stream for the Seychellois government.

## €3 Million Earmarked for Local Fisheries Development

Beyond fishing access, the protocol sets aside €3 million to strengthen sustainable fisheries governance in Seychelles. These funds will support maritime surveillance, improve scientific data collection, and finance local fishermen training programmes. This reflects a broader shift in European fisheries diplomacy: replacing pure access arrangements with genuine development partnerships that build lasting local capacity.

Tuna accounts for roughly 11% of total EU fish and seafood imports (2024 figures). Seychelles — home to Port Victoria and the IOT cannery, one of Africa's largest tuna processing facilities — remains a critical transhipment hub for the Indian Ocean fishing industry.

## A Lifeline Amid Tourism Headwinds

The deal arrives at a critical juncture for the Seychellois economy. Tourist arrivals fell 11.7% in the first five months of 2026 — a sharp blow to an economy where tourism accounts for roughly 60% of GDP. The fisheries agreement provides a counter-cyclical buffer: combined licence fees, catch levies, and the structural EU contribution guarantee a stable multi-year revenue stream regardless of tourism fluctuations.

## Why It Matters

This renewal confirms Seychelles' position as a sovereign blue economy player, not merely a tourist destination. It demonstrates that the archipelago's marine resources — managed sustainably — attract serious, long-term institutional partners. For regional investors, it's a signal that Seychelles has strategic assets well beyond its beaches, and that Europe is willing to pay for access to them.

*Source: EUNews, July 27, 2026\. Data: Seychelles Trade Portal, European Commission.*