By Daniel Itai.
Victoria, Seychelles. (News of The South) -Seychelles and the European Union (EU) will sign a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement in February.
The sustainable fisheries partnership agreement is a longstanding cooperation agreement between Seychelles and the EU. It enables EU vessels to fish in Seychelles’ waters under the jurisdiction of the southern African island.
“We are waiting for the EU council to approve the legal text of the agreement which is a long and thorough process and this has resulted in the delay.
That is why it hasn’t been implemented and the EU-flagged vessels cannot conduct their activities in Seychelles’ waters,” said Charles Bastienne, Seychelles’ minister of fisheries.
The European Union has given Seychelles a provisional date of February 17 for the council to give its green light for the signing of the agreement.
Bastienne confirmed that as a result of the delay, the US$55 million in access fees that are paid in advance to the Seychelles government will also be delayed.
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