Key data
| Regulation | Protocol implementing the EU-Seychelles Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (2026-2030) |
|---|---|
| Official reference | OJ:L_202601935 |
| Publication | 11 August 2026 |
| Entry into force | 1 January 2026 |
| Affected parties | Spanish and European shipowners and fishing companies operating in the Indian Ocean |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Period | 2026-2030 |
Spanish fishing companies with operations in the Indian Ocean must review their procedures before the end of 2026. The 2026-2030 Protocol of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (OJ:L_202601935), published on 11 August 2026 with effect from 1 January 2026, establishes a new framework of access conditions to the fishing ground that directly affects the operational planning and operating costs of the fleet.
Shipowners from the Basque Country and Galicia are the main historical beneficiaries of this fishing ground and, therefore, the most exposed to the new obligations introduced by the protocol.
What does this regulation establish?
The protocol regulates five major blocks of conditions for European fleet access to Seychelles waters:
| Matter | Obligation / Condition | Consequence of non-compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Catch quotas | Catch limits set for the European fleet, mainly tuna | Suspension of fishing licenses |
| Financial counterparts | The EU pays economic counterparts to Seychelles as compensation for access | Loss of right of access to the fishing ground |
| Catch declaration | Obligation to declare all catches made in Seychelles waters | Suspension of fishing licenses |
| Embarkation of local sailors | European vessels must embark national sailors from Seychelles | Suspension of fishing licenses |
| Fishing bans and sustainability | Mandatory respect for established fishing ban periods and environmental sustainability requirements | Suspension of fishing licenses |
The agreement is valid until 2030 and replaces the previous protocol, renewing the fisheries cooperation framework between the EU and Seychelles with a strengthened focus on environmental sustainability and catch control.
Economic and operational impact
The implications for shipowners are both direct costs and operational planning:
- Operating costs: The obligation to embark local sailors from Seychelles increases crew costs. Shipowners must incorporate these costs into their campaign budgets for the Indian Ocean.
- Campaign planning: The catch quotas set condition the duration and volume of fishing trips. Exceeding the limits puts the license for the entire season at risk.
- Financial counterparts: These are paid by the EU to Seychelles, not directly by shipowners. However, their negotiation and maintenance condition the continuity of access to the fishing ground for the entire European fleet.
- Risk of license suspension: Non-compliance with any of the conditions—catch declaration, fishing bans, local sailors—may result in license suspension, which implies immediate paralysis of fishing activity in those waters and loss of income for the entire campaign.
- Documentary compliance: Catch declaration requires precise recording and reporting systems, with impact on administrative processes on board and on shore.
Who does it affect?
- Basque and Galician shipowners with tuna vessels operating in the Indian Ocean: they are the main affected parties and beneficiaries of access to this fishing ground.
- Spanish fishing companies with fleet in Seychelles waters, both directly and through subsidiaries or operating agreements.
- Shipowners from other EU countries operating under the umbrella of the European cooperation agreement.
- Fleet managers and operations directors responsible for planning campaigns in the Indian Ocean.
- CFOs and financial managers of fishing companies that must budget for additional local crew costs and risks of paralysis due to non-compliance.
- Legal advisors and consultants in the fishing sector that support shipowners with activity in international waters.
Practical example
A Basque shipowner with a tuna purse seiner operating in the Indian Ocean under the previous protocol must adapt his 2026 campaign to the new framework. Specifically:
- He must verify that his catch quota assigned under the new protocol is sufficient to make the planned fishing trip profitable. If the quota is reduced compared to the previous period, it may be necessary to shorten the campaign or renegotiate production targets with the shipowner.
- He must incorporate national sailors from Seychelles into the vessel's crew, which involves managing employment contracts under local regulations and assuming corresponding salary and social security costs.
- He must implement or review the catch declaration system to ensure that all data is correctly reported to Seychelles authorities and the EU. An error in the declaration may be equivalent to non-compliance and result in license suspension.
- Before each fishing trip, he must consult the current fishing ban periods to avoid prohibited catches that put the license for the entire season at risk.
What should companies do now?
- Review catch quotas assigned under the new 2026-2030 protocol and compare with those from the previous period to adjust campaign planning and production targets.
- Adapt crew composition to comply with the obligation to embark local sailors from Seychelles: manage contracts, salary costs and required documentation.
- Audit the catch declaration system to ensure that on-board records and reports to authorities are complete, accurate and submitted within established timeframes.
- Identify and schedule fishing ban periods applicable in Seychelles waters for the 2026-2030 period and incorporate them into the operational planning of each fishing trip.
- Review insurance contracts and contingency plans against the risk of license suspension: an unexpected paralysis in the Indian Ocean has a very high economic cost for the shipowner.
- Consult with a legal advisor specialized in international fisheries law to verify compliance with all protocol conditions before the start of each campaign.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a shipowner does not comply with catch declaration in Seychelles waters?
Non-compliance with the catch declaration obligation may result in suspension of the fishing license, as established by the 2026-2030 protocol. This implies immediate paralysis of the vessel's activity in Seychelles waters, with consequent loss of income for the entire campaign.
Are all European vessels required to embark sailors from Seychelles?
Yes. The protocol establishes as a condition of access to the fishing ground the obligation to embark local sailors from Seychelles on board European vessels. Non-compliance with this requirement may result in suspension of the fishing license.
Who pays the financial counterparts to Seychelles, the EU or the shipowners?
The financial counterparts are paid by the European Union directly to Seychelles as compensation for access of the European fleet to the fishing ground. Shipowners do not pay them directly, but their negotiation and maintenance condition the continuity of access for the entire fleet.
When did the new EU-Seychelles protocol enter into force?
The protocol has effect from 1 January 2026, although it was published in the EU Official Journal on 11 August 2026. It is valid until 2030.
Which Spanish fishing companies are most affected by this agreement?
The main affected parties are shipping companies from the Basque Country and Galicia with tuna fleet operating in the Indian Ocean, which are historically the main beneficiaries of access to Seychelles waters under successive protocols of the EU-Seychelles fisheries cooperation agreement.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601935